THE Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has released recommendations to enhance the processes of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Government records showed that the FDA garnered the highest number of complaints from the public in 2025.
ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez said the agency invited members of the House of Representatives and the FDA in April to address the issue.
Perez said he presented during the joint ARTA-FDA-Congressional-Stakeholders’ forum key recommendations that include streamlining the issuance of Certificates of Product Registration, strengthening the Information and Communications Technology Management Division, accelerating automation and digitalization initiatives, establishing a data-sharing mechanism across FDA offices and developing a comprehensive Information Systems Strategic Plan.
”Additional reform options included exploring automatic approvals for low-risk applications and studying the possible elevation of the FDA into a government-owned or -controlled corporation to improve personnel retention and preserve institutional knowledge,” Perez said.
Based on ARTA’s website, the FDA recorded the highest number of complaints at 599 in 2025.
Of that figure, 412 complaints were found to be outside ARTA’s jurisdiction and endorsed to the proper offices, while 187 were considered “ARTAble,” mostly involving delays or failure to act within the prescribed processing time under the Ease of Doing Business Law.
ARTA said that out of the number, 570 cases against the FDA have been closed, with 29 still active.
Perez said the forum served as a platform for the FDA to engage stakeholders, discuss regulatory concerns and solicit recommendations for addressing regulation issues on food, medicines and medical devices.
Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Dalog Jr. stressed during the forum that access to health care should never be hampered by health regulations.
”Our objective is to rethink FDA regulatory procedures, to make them quicker, more effective and more focused on people,” Dalog said.
Among the key concerns raised during the forum was the schedule of fees, with Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron citing that fees must be reasonable and not burdensome to stakeholders while private sector participants called for sufficient legal, economic and practical justification for any fee increases.
The private sector was represented in the forum by the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, Philippine Association of Medical Device Regulatory Affairs Professionals Inc., Chamber of Cosmetics Industry of the Philippines and Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers Inc.
