By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Win Gatchalian said the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA) will encourage greater investment in the capital market.

Gatchalian made the statement following the Senate’s approval of the proposed measure on its third and final reading.

“CMEPA will not only make investments more affordable, but it will also empower our citizens to take control of their financial futures,” the senator said.

Once enacted, the measure will reduce the stock transaction tax from 0.6% to 0.1%.

“By slashing this rate to 0.1%, we significantly lower the cost of investing and trading, helping us better align with regional peers offering more competitive rates,” said Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

The senator emphasized that strengthening the capital market would provide people with the opportunity to grow their savings and encourage more investments.

According to the 2021 Financial Inclusion Survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, only 1 out of 10 Filipino adults have investment products, as many Filipinos often view the capital market as inaccessible to ordinary people and available only to the affluent.

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