Portrait of a Dabawenyo as SEC Commissioner

BY HENRYLITO

(Photos

of ATTY. KELVIN LESTER K. LEE)

courtesy cial sector and capital markets.”

Being a SEC Commissioner is a great responsibility. This is the reason why he has become more cautious, he said. “I am more careful in my public statements, for instance, as any statement I make could affect the stock market,” he stressed.

When it comes to his family, he does not talk much about them as he is worried about their safety. “Back in 2019, I recalled that the chairperson and a few commissioners (myself included) received death threats in relation to some enforcement actions we authorized against investment scams,” he explained. “It was difficult experience because I hadn’t expected I would get such threats as a commissioner.”

Threats aside, Atty. Lee said the most challenging task being a commissioner is getting particular projects out in a certain time. He cited the time when he was overseeing the roll out of SEC’s digital services such as the Esparc (SEC registration program), the Efast (the online submission tool), the Epaysec (the online payment portal) and the SEC App, among others.

“Getting those out during the pandemic and having them operational within a specific timeframe was very, very challenging,” he said. “I am happy to say that with the collective efforts of the people in the SEC, we were able to successfully roll those out and now you can incorporate a company within minutes, online. In fact, you can access a full suite of online services of the SEC from end to end now, making the SEC one of the more advanced government agencies when it comes to digital transformation.”

As a SEC Commissioner, Atty. Lee is doing his job well. In fact, he recently received two international awards for his leadership in promoting fintech innovation in the country. Out of more than 800 nominations across the region, he clinched the Gold Stevie Award for Thought Leader of the Year at the 10th Annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards.

“It feels great,” he said of getting the prestigious award, which could be confirmation of his exemplary performance. “It’s always wonderful to be recognized for all the hard work and changes you are pursuing at a government agency. And I was quite surFPORTRAIT, P10