THE ANTI-RED Tape Authority (ARTA) recommended charges against a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official for alleged delays in processing 412 drug use applications.

ARTA recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman 412 counts of failure to render government services under the time allotted in the Ease of Doing Business law against FDA Center for Drug Regulation and Research Director Jesusa Joyce N. Cirunay.

The FDA drug regulation center recently released 408 out of 412 automatic renewal applications following a show-cause order issued by ARTA in May.

Noting alleged delays in applications dating as far back as 2014, the order directed the center to conduct an inventory of all pending permits, release pending applications, and submit a compliance report.

ARTA said in a statement on Wednesday that Ms. Cirunay, in her responses to the order, admitted to delays in processing applications in her office.

“Cursory perusal of Respondent Director Cirunay’s attachment in both her Letters would show that there has been delay in the processing of the Four Hundred and Twelve (412) applications,” ARTA said.

Renewal application processing at the FDA should take 20 days, according to the agency’s citizen’s charter.

ARTA said that its recommendations were filed to initiate action against Ms. Cirunay “and for other appropriate crimes as the Honorable Ombudsman may see fit.”

Ms. Cirunay and the FDA have not yet responded to requests for comment as of deadline time.

The law requires government agencies to observe three types of deadlines: three business days for simple transactions, seven business days for complex transactions, and 20 business days for highly technical applications.

Government workers found to have violated Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act can be suspended or dismissed from public service, imprisoned, or fined. — Jenina P. Ibañez

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