A delegation from the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) led by president Victor Lim, honorary president Dr. Cecilio Pedro and vice president Reynold Siy met with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) director-general Paolo Teston to discuss challenges related to the agency’s online application system.
Filipino Chinese Stationary Chamber of Commerce representative Charles Sy also joined the meeting.
Lim expressed gratitude to Teston for the meeting, saying its purpose was to report on issues faced by the business community.
He said the shift to online applications for food, drug, and other permits has made face-to-face communication with the FDA difficult.
It also led to delays and lack of real-time awareness regarding specific requirements or application problems, said Lim.
The FFCCCII proposed that for companies with multiple products requiring ingredient and quality verification, a single FDA representative should handle the applications to streamline the process.
The group said this would improve efficiency and allow for a one-time resolution of issues.
Teston thanked the FFCCCII for bringing the said concerns to his attention.
Teston acknowledged that the FDA’s application process involves multiple procedures designed to prevent red tape and corruption.
He assured the delegation that the FDA is committed to following the procedures carefully while promising to do their best to provide convenience and support to the business sector.
