Will eNotarization make doing business easier?

How the Supreme Court’s digital initiative may help reduce business bottlenecks?

Every entrepreneur knows that running a business involves more than selling products or services. It also means preparing contracts, signing agreements, securing financing, and completing a steady stream of paperwork. Many of these documents require notarization, a step that can take time, especially for businesses operating across different cities or provinces.

The Supreme Court’s rollout of electronic notarization, or eNotarization, may not remove those requirements altogether, but it could make one part of the process easier.

Under the 2025 Rules on Electronic Notarization, qualified electronic documents may now be notarized online by accredited Electronic Notary Publics. Unlike the traditional system, where notaries generally serve clients within their territorial jurisdiction, the new framework allows accredited electronic notaries to provide services to principals anywhere in the Philippines. Signatories may also appear before the notary in person, remotely through videoconferencing, or through a combination of both.

The biggest advantage may not be convenience alone for businesses. It is the potential to reduce the time and effort spent completing routine legal requirements.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular, often operate without dedicated legal or administrative teams. Business owners or employees may have to set aside part of their workday simply to have documents notarized. While each trip may seem minor, those hours can add up over time, especially for companies that regularly process contracts, affidavits, board resolutions, lease agreements, and other legal documents.

The change could also benefit companies with branches, partners, or clients in different parts of the country. Instead of coordinating schedules and physical meetings solely for notarization, parties may be able to complete the process remotely, provided they comply with the safeguards under the new rules.

Viewed more broadly, eNotarization is another step in the country’s push to modernize public services through digitalization. While it may not dramatically change the business landscape on its own, reducing administrative friction can help make everyday transactions more efficient. Small improvements across multiple processes often have a cumulative effect, allowing entrepreneurs to spend less time on paperwork and more time growing their businesses.

That said, electronic notarization is only one piece of a much larger puzzle. Businesses will still need to navigate permits, licenses, tax requirements, and other regulatory obligations. The success of the new system will also depend on how quickly accredited Electronic Notary Publics become available and how widely businesses adopt the platform.

Even so, the initiative signals a recognition that improving the business environment is not always about sweeping reforms. Sometimes, making it easier to do business begins with simplifying the routine processes that companies deal with every day.

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