DragonFi Securities Inc. has made history as the first Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-accredited Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) administrator in the Philippines, signaling a major step in expanding access to retirement savings.
The launch event, titled “Deepening the Philippine Capital Market: Launch of the 1st SEC-Accredited PERA Administrator,” was attended by SEC Commissioner McJill Bryant Fernandez, DragonFi CEO Jon Carlo Lim, and co-founder Edgar “Injap” Sia II.
“This is a key undertaking that reflects our shared commitment to advancing the Philippine capital market and ensuring the financial well-being of every Filipino,” Fernandez said.
The SEC recently strengthened the PERA framework through SEC Memorandum Circular No. 14, Series of 2024, expanding accreditation guidelines to include securities brokers, investment houses, and fund managers as PERA administrators.
To encourage more young Filipinos to start investing in PERA, Sia has pledged a PHP 10 million Matching Grant Fund to support 2,000 individuals aged 18-35.
Under this initiative, each participant who contributes PHP 5,000 to their PERA account will receive an additional PHP 5,000 in matching funds, effectively doubling their investment.
“This PHP 10 million Matching Grant Fund is one of my ways as a passionate Filipino entrepreneur, through my business endeavors now and in the future, here and abroad, to contribute as much as I can towards our common patriotic goal towards a first-world Philippines,” Sia said.
He added, “I hope that through the PERA program and this initial grant, we’re not only paving the way for 2,000 Filipinos to become future millionaires but also igniting a movement that will empower millions of young Filipinos to achieve financial independence within our lifetimes.”
With the creation of 2,000 new retirement accounts, the total number of PERA accounts in the country is expected to rise by 35%.
The PHP 20 million infusion into PERA—comprising PHP 10 million from contributors and PHP 10 million from the grant—will also lead to a 4% increase in total PERA contributions.
As the first SEC-accredited PERA administrator, DragonFi is committed to making retirement savings more accessible, transparent, and efficient.
“Our mission is to ensure that every working Filipino has the ability—and the motivation—to invest in their future,” Lim said.
He emphasized DragonFi’s commitment to working with corporations to implement employer-matching programs and advocating for further enhancements to the PERA framework.
“With strong support from regulators, businesses, and individual investors, PERA has the potential to reshape the way Filipinos prepare for retirement,” Lim added.
Filipinos will be able to open PERA accounts through DragonFi when the platform launches its PERA services in the second half of 2025.
