SEC shifts monitoring clearance requests online
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will require corporations seeking monitoring clearance from its Financial Analysis and Audit Department (FAAD) to file requests exclusively through a new digital platform starting next week.
In a notice issued on March 6, the regulator said the shift follows the successful onboarding of the FAAD to the Electronic Workbench and Analytics Technical Computing Hub (eWATCH), a system designed to streamline regulatory processes.
Beginning March 9, 2026, corporations with intended or pending applications before the FAAD must submit their requests for monitoring clearance solely through eWATCH, which can be accessed through the SEC’s online portal.
Monitoring clearance is typically required for corporations that are preparing to file certain applications with the commission, particularly those that undergo review by the FAAD as part of regulatory compliance.
The SEC said the new arrangement forms part of its continuing push to digitalize internal processes and improve efficiency in handling corporate submissions.
Requests submitted via electronic mail before the March 9 cutoff will still be processed under the existing procedure, the regulator said.
After the transition takes effect, however, all new requests must be coursed through the eWATCH platform.
Despite the change, the FAAD will continue using its official email account for specific internal processes.
These include the motu proprio issuance of monitoring sheets, particularly for corporations found to have equity-related violations during the evaluation of applications, as well as those that may need to undergo post-audit procedures by the department.
