CIBI Inc. (Credit Information Bureau, Inc.), the Philippines’ pioneering and sole local credit bureau, is playing a key role in strengthening trust in the country’s financial ecosystem as the job market enters a period of renewed optimism.
According to Jobstreet’s Hiring, Compensation, and Benefits Report 2025, 44% of hirers and HR professionals expect higher job market activity in the second half of the year compared to 2024 — a signal that employers are preparing to expand their teams.
For businesses, this translates into stronger demand and new opportunities: more roles to fill, new markets to explore, and a workforce eager to contribute to growth. Yet, beneath this promising outlook lies a challenge that is becoming harder to ignore — fraudulent job applications.
The cost of fraud in a growing economy
As companies scale up hiring, the sheer volume of applicants increases the risk of fraudulent entries slipping through the cracks.
Candidates exaggerating skills, faking credentials, or even manipulating identities have become more common, powered by easy-to-access online tools and rising competition in the job market.
A global study by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) shows that organizations lose an estimated 5% of their annual revenue to fraud. For MSMEs and other fast-growing Philippine firms, such losses not only raise costs but also disrupt operations, damage reputations, and threaten long-term competitiveness.
“While the job market in the Philippines continues to thrive, so does the risk of encountering fraudulent applications,” said Ivy Ramirez, CIBI’s Vice President for Service and Industrials. “Falsifying credentials is a deception that directly affects a business. Beyond immediate financial losses, fraudulent activity can undermine productivity, erode workplace trust, and damage a company’s reputation. Proactive verification is an essential step to protect both businesses and the integrity of the workforce.”
Fintech’s role in building trust
In a digital economy where everything from payments to investments is powered by fintech, trust and transparency have become non-negotiable. Hiring is no exception.
Just as financial institutions rely on credit scoring and identity verification to secure transactions, employers need robust systems to validate the people they bring into their organizations.
This is where CIBI Inc., the Philippines’ pioneering credit and information bureau, has been stepping up. Beyond background checks and workforce solutions, CIBI has moved to close a much bigger gap in the Philippine financial landscape — access to accurate regulatory data.
CIBI partners with SEC to bridge the information gap
Photo shows Pia L. Arellano (left), President and CEO of CIBI Information Inc., while shaking hands with Emilio B. Aquino, SEC Chairperson.
In a landmark move, CIBI forged a partnership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to enhance transparency and strengthen data integrity across industries. By securing access to the SEC’s cutting-edge eSEARCH platform, CIBI can now integrate vital regulatory data directly into its services.
This means employers, financial institutions, and even individual consumers will benefit from more reliable and comprehensive information when making decisions. MSMEs and local businesses can now conduct more thorough due diligence on potential partners, verify company legitimacy, and assess risks with greater accuracy.
“This collaboration between the Securities and Exchange Commission and CIBI Information, Inc. is a powerful step toward bridging the information gap and strengthening the financial ecosystem in our country,” said Pia Arellano, CIBI’s President and CEO. “With this partnership, we are opening new doors to opportunities for businesses, particularly MSMEs, helping them evaluate partners, assess risks, and build trust in their transactions.”
SEC Chairperson Emilio Aquino echoed this sentiment, underscoring the agency’s push to stay aligned with technological change. “It has been one of our foremost goals to keep the agency abreast with evolving technology to make sure that our stakeholders get the services they need in the best way possible. We hope this MOA will help both the SEC and CIBI in accelerating our shared commitment to improving the business environment in our country,” Aquino said.
Driving financial inclusion and economic growth
The benefits of this partnership go beyond corporate due diligence.
By enhancing access to credible regulatory data, the collaboration helps financial institutions extend credit with greater confidence and reduced risk. This is critical in a country where micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) form the backbone of the economy and where consumer trust remains fragile.
With fraudulent applications and identity manipulation becoming more common, these measures provide safeguards not only for businesses but also for honest jobseekers and entrepreneurs. By leveling the playing field, they ensure that growth is anchored in integrity — a principle at the heart of both fintech and financial inclusion.
As the Philippines’ job market heats up and fintech adoption accelerates, partnerships like the one between CIBI and the SEC will be central to building resilience. For small businesses eager to grow responsibly, the message is clear: in the fintech age, verification is not just a safeguard — it is a growth strategy.
About CIBI Information Inc.
CIBI Information Inc. is the Philippines’ pioneering credit reporting agency, established in 1982 under the Central Bank of the Philippines (now Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas). Accredited by the Credit Information Corporation (CIC), CIBI serves as a trusted intelligence partner to over 500 organizations across diverse industries.
With a team of over 200 professionals, CIBI offers solutions that make credit and employment more accessible and inclusive for Filipinos. Acquired by Creador in 2020, CIBI partners with global leaders such as FICO, GDS, and Smart Consulting, and works closely with CTOS, Malaysia’s leading credit reporting agency, to bring international best practices to the Philippine market.
For more information, visit www.cibi.com.ph.
