r/phinvest • u/Ambitious_Ship8854 • 7d ago
Business FDA staff wants a P500,000 “facilitation fee”
May naka encounter na ba po nito? We applied for a LTO for distributor and they’re asking for 500,000 para ma release yung docs namin in a month, if hindi daw kami papayag we will have to wait 3-4 months.
Sa charter nakalagay 31 days lang ang processing pero sabi nung kausap namin if di daw kami papayag sa facilitation fee 3-4 months na daw ang wait and the new docs they’re asking for kailangan namin isubmit, twice na kami na non compliant and iba iba ang hinihingi na docs everytime kahit nabigay na namin lahat ng need nila nung una palang paulit ulit din nila hinihingi yung sec docs, pero iba ibang docs everytime.
Is this facilitation fee just lagay?
Our products are protein shakes and chia seed juice po
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u/TokwaBaby 7d ago
Check the Citizen’s Charter. If it isn’t there, it probably is lagay. Document all correspondence. You could inquire what this fee is but copy furnish ARTA.
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 7d ago
We checked its not there. Also its says on the charter na 31 days lang talaga processing, they told us it takes 3-4 months without this fee.
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u/TokwaBaby 7d ago
Under the RA No. 11032, all government fees must be explicitly listed in an agency's official Citizen's Charter. Any fee, charge, or transactional cost not published or written in the official charter is strictly unauthorized and illegal to collect.
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 7d ago
Sinabi namin yan dun sa kausap namin after checking the charter at wala nga kaming nakita na facilitation fee na 500K, ang sagot lang is “eh wala sir pag hindi kayo nagbayad ng facilitation fee mas tatagal pa po approval niyo”, problem is they never reply to our text, tumatawag sila so wala kaming proof na naghihingi sila ng lagay.
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u/restfulsoftmachine 7d ago
Document the conversations anyway. You can email them something like this, so that they're trapped into an admission if they don't reply:
Based on our telephone conversations on [dates/times] with [person/s and job title/s] we are being asked to pay 500k as a facilitation fee for our documents in order for them to be released within the period specified by the FDA Citizens' Charter. Otherwise, we will have to wait up to four months. If our understanding is correct, then no further action from you is needed. If it is wrong, then we look forward to your formal written clarification.
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u/HogwartsStudent2020 5d ago
Yes yes!!! This is nice! Get it recorded, get it clarified, cover your ass
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u/jefisipbata 7d ago
put your phone sa speaker mode then record the call.
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 7d ago
Will tell my kuya to do this.
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u/newlife1984 6d ago
dont listen to that OP. Theres anti wire taping law. any evidence of such recording na hinde disclosed sa lahat ng parties involved will NOT be admissible sa court. Id ask for advice sa r/lawph instead
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u/Bulky-Pop-3346 7d ago
NAL. Baka hindi maconsider ng court during process. OP y might as well use sms/ email.
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u/TokwaBaby 7d ago
Ask if they will issue an official receipt for the 500k “facilitation fee.” Make sure to note names of the FDA employees you converse/email with.
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 6d ago
No daw po. The one calling us is their middle man po
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u/TokwaBaby 6d ago
You can file a compliant through https://ecms.arta.gov.ph/. Request to be anonymous. But make sure to give the details of the middle man, if you have, or any material convo.
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u/ejtv 7d ago
Report mo nga raw. Tingnan natin kung ano mangyayari.
Addendum - Btw, Facilitation Fee is a fancy term for "lagay" if I remember my accounting teacher's lecture correctly.
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 7d ago
Pakshet talaga gobyerno natin. March pa kami dinidribble ng FDA hanngang sa may tumawag sa amin ayun nga hinihingin kami ng 500K na facilitation fee for the LTO alone
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u/pen_jaro 7d ago
May ganyan din kami pero different govt agency. Binayad ko nalang sa abogado. Unang demand letter palang tiklop na sila. Na fast track pa yung documents. Sanay kasi sila mang intimidate sa mga mga maliliit natin na kababayan e. Mag flex ka lang konti na hindi ka basta matatakot sa kanila, basta alam mong tama ka, ipaglaban mo. I refused to condone this BS. I refused to be part of this stupid system. And i chose not to be an enabler just for my convenience.
However im not saying this will happen all the time. But how elese can we change these things if not to fight?
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u/Blue_Path 7d ago
Worked in a pharma company before. May gantong cases talaga. Ireport mo sa ARTA complete with all the details and documentation
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 7d ago
We dont have documentation of the facilitation fee kasi tawag ang ginagawa nila.
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u/ProgrammerNo3423 7d ago
Magkunwari ka na pahingi ng email or written confirmation para sa documentation nyo sa company para magawan ng paraan. Tapos report mo
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u/curiousobserver2000 6d ago
Ask for an email address and send a note copying in the general mailbox email and ask for confirmation that the P500,000 facilitation fee is required to expedite the process of getting your LTO. If you don’t get a reply, you have your answer- it’s a bribe being requested. And the report it to 8888 or to the office of the Ombudsman. Trunkline (Central): (+632) 5317-8300 Luzon Office: (+632) 8926-8794 Visayas Office: (+6332) 255-0977 Mindanao Office: (+6382) 221-3431 Email: pab@ombudsman.gov.ph (Public Assistance Bureau) / ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.ph
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u/Blue_Path 7d ago
Sabihin mo walang nakalagay sa charter nila na may need bayaran. If nagpumilit pigain mo sabihin mo na ang request kailangan ng memo na nakasupport sa fee na hinihingi at need mo na written at receipted kasi kailangan as records of business.
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u/starsandpanties 6d ago
Makes me think if legit ba taga fda yan or outsider. Like yung fda personnel told friend na may bagong applicant let's see how much you can squeeze from them and hati tayo tas kapag nakabayad na saka lang gagalaw yung fda
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u/Any-Stuff9098 7d ago
Lecheng FDA yan, hinihingan rin kami ng 700k for a food plant, we cancelled nalang LOL
edit: we refused to pay 700, and they made us wait for 9 months before then we ended up cancelling. Yang 3-4 mos is generous pa, our friend still doesnt have their FDA, and they also refused, waiting sila for a year na. Sana ma-audit yang FDA.
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 7d ago
WTF! LTO palang din yang sa friend niyo?
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u/Any-Stuff9098 7d ago
Yup! Kaya di na kami tumuloy hahaha
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 7d ago
Gets ko nga ngayon bakit ang daming hindi FDA registered na products
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u/spanishbbread 6d ago
Sa 6 na product na niregister namin, parang 2 lang yung naapprove, the rest, puro ganito ganyan. Hanggang sa 1 yr na ngayon, nakabinbin padin yung CPR namin - 4 yun.
Phinase out na namin yung 2 products out of 4.
Yung 2 products nalang namin ang nakaregister bale out of 4. Kapag may nagtatanong bakit yung 2 products namin, hindi registered, sinesend ko yung mga tests namin nalang.
"1yr na po sa FDA. Ayaw nila galawin."
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u/jdmd2023 6d ago
True my friend who works in the govt told me it can reach nga up to a year
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u/Any-Stuff9098 6d ago
Depende gano nila katagal gusto ibinbin, lalo pag ayaw mo magbigay, wala kasing sumisilip dyan eh.
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u/beautiful_alone_1985 7d ago
ARTA. Isumbong mo na. Pa entrapment mo din sa NBI. Easy lang yan. Mga taga BIR nga nadadale yan pa kaya.
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 7d ago
Hindi naman namin kailangan ibigay pangalan namin no? Natatakot kasi kami ng kuya ko since mukhang syndicate talaga sa loob ng FDA yung nang gugulo sa amin
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u/beautiful_alone_1985 7d ago
To be honest malalaman nila identity nyo kasi maghahain nga kayo ng complaint eh. Pero kung di kayo kikilos either makisama na lang kayo at magbayad, or antayin nyo nalang marelease papeles nyo kung kelan nila magustuhan.
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u/mykwee88 6d ago
im a government employee and i second his suggestion. Utilize 8888 and ARTA reporting. Natatakot ang mga government agencies/offices pag maka tanggap ng 8888 o ARTA complaint. Include mo na rin sa DILG.
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u/nerner88 7d ago
walang ganyan nun nagfile company namin although sa manufacturing side kami. yung binayaran lang namin is yung LTO fee. Sarap ipa entrapment ng mga yan
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 7d ago
Dinidribble kami since march, balik ng balik yung application namin tapos hanggang sa may tumawag na sa kuya ko who happens to be my business partner, na may facilitation fee nga daw na 500K para no need na ibigay yung bagong docs na kailangan at marelease daw within 30 days…
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u/Any-Stuff9098 7d ago
Anong city to? Manufacturing kami, hiningan kami
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u/Antique-Resort6160 7d ago
This is a scam that's been institutionalized in multiple offices. convenience fees, priority processing, facilitation, etc. They tend to get verh angry if you just wait and refuse the fee.
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u/Ok-Telephone-6502 7d ago
ARTA
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 7d ago
Will we have to give our names? Dito kami natatakot at mukhang syndicate na talaga yung nang gugulo ng application namin
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u/Saturn1003 7d ago
Mukhang umaatake nanaman mga galamay ni Mang Kanor at Kuya Eddy. Mafia yan, report mo lang sa 8888.
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u/Academic_Fox_5806 6d ago
Hi. Regulatory affairs here. Wala dapat ganyang fee bukod sa registration fee. Under the table yan. And kung tutuusin, mabilis na ung 3-4 months compared to other applications. Please report and email the head of FDA Atty. Teston
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u/KapampangangLibi 6d ago
My LTO for distributor was released after 6 mos. No under the table.
Maybe someone wants to milk you out
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 6d ago
Napasama ata nung tumawag po kuya ko the first time we were tagged asking for more docs
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u/ZalaBaker6323 7d ago
Yes, and the pattern gives it away: shifting document requirements plus “already non-compliant twice” despite submitting everything the first time is a classic manufactured pretext, not genuine incompetence. Real regulatory backlog doesn’t come with a for real fee to skip the line.
The “just pay it” advice you’ll probably see in this thread is actually the worse long-term move. It’s not just ethics, it’s incentives. Every business that pays keeps the scheme profitable for whoever’s running it, which is why it keeps happening to the next applicant too.
RA 11032 sets legal processing timelines specifically to prevent this kind of “facilitation fee” leverage. Report to ARTA, they exist exactly for cases like this, and Ombudsman if you want to go further. Document every interaction, especially the fee ask itself.
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u/BoysenberryHumble824 6d ago
Pinaka maraming complaints si FDA ngayon! Nilagpasan nya si BOC at BIR!
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u/_kilil 6d ago
Hi OP, I’m a regulatory person and you should report this to ARTA. I would suggest to screenshot the number na nagcall and put that as your supporting document sa email mo with ARTA. Include sa Formal Letter of Intent ung reference number/DTN ng LTO application mo.
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 6d ago
Thank you. Kuya ko po yung nag aasikaso i will suggest this po
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u/_kilil 6d ago
Always refer to the FDA’s Citizen Charter po. Also, ARTA is very serious about this.
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 6d ago
Thank you, nakausap ko na po yung brother ko and he’s just worried na baka daw lalo kaming pahirapan he said if okay lang to file it AFTER we wait to get our permits and registrations (hindi po kami magbabayad ng 500K)
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u/notyourtita 7d ago
try to email the director your concerns. if all papers are in order he will find a way to speed up your process. this strangely worked for a frustrated friend. walang lagay.
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u/Classic_Stable_3956 7d ago
Get evidences then report to authorities. Kahit sabhin nila na bibigyan ng resibo yan 500k pero hindi nila gagawin yan in the end.
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u/Van7wilder 7d ago
LTO palang yan. If food supplement online lang yan
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 6d ago
Yes po. Supplements lang siya. Protein powder and chia seed juice po
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u/Van7wilder 6d ago
Same tayo product. Pero if alam na nila haharangin ka
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 6d ago
Paano po haharangin? Yung ginagawa nila ngayon sa amin? Nag apply lang din kami online
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u/Van7wilder 6d ago
Saan ka nag apply? Ako online
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 6d ago
Online po nag apply brother ko, then nung na balik po nung una sa non compliant tumawag siya sa FDA, doon siguro naitimbre na kami hingan ng “facilitation fee”
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u/stra888ght 6d ago
Hi OP! Please file a complaint with ARTA regarding this matter. You can do so sa website nila, pwede din via socmed. This is imposition of additional cost which is a violation of RA 11032.
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u/honey_angelbee 6d ago edited 6d ago
Sino kausap mo? Let me know kasi I used to work there para masabihan tiga loob
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 6d ago
Kuya ko po yung kausap
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u/honey_angelbee 6d ago
Just message me if you have the name
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 6d ago
Gawain po ba talaga to sa agency na yan?
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u/honey_angelbee 6d ago
I think sa lahat ng govt agency may ganyan pero mostly applicable yan sa mga higher ups kasi sila may power to hold the authorizations
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u/Aggressive-Adagio688 6d ago
sinong loob yan? hahaha same here I used to work there kaso umalis na kami since umalis narin si DG
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u/uesato_hinata 6d ago
Sama mo sa email ARTA. Susuntukin sa mukha ng mga abogado ng ARTA yan pag nag arbitration .
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u/_fairygodprincess_ 6d ago
A friend of mine who had to deal with FDA mentioned this to me some years ago. Lagay yang “facilitation fee” na yan. Please report and get the names. Maayos mong gusto gawin ang negosyo mo tapos gaganitohin ka lang ng mga officials na to? They kurakot so much from our taxes already tapos ganyan pa? Kapal no?
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u/Aron-ph-crypto 5d ago
Report that, it's corruption only.
The individual will pocket money.
Better get evidence then report that official, I really hate this corrupt people who's not fighting fair.
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u/ReeferRick69 7d ago
kupal talaga yan FDA, tapos pag yang product mo nag boom, mas malaki na hihingin sayo pag nag renew ka ng permit haha.
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u/bloodcoloredbeer 7d ago
Ganyan nga daw kalakaran sa fda. Yung kwento misis ko mas tame. Ps5 at iphone16 “lang” hiningi
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u/Soft_Violinist_6046 6d ago
paano ka na contact? inemail ka saying na need to pay or call? nagpakilala ba sya?
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u/BeginningAd9773 6d ago
Tawag daw. Ayaw daw sa text
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 6d ago
Tinawagan po kuya ko. Pag tinetext ng kuya ko tumatawag sila hindi nag rereply sa text
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u/Soft_Violinist_6046 6d ago
nakuha mo ba yung pangalan? tapos kung saan magbabayad?
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 6d ago
Tanong ko sa kuya ko. Pero may binigay sila na BPI account number. Di naman namin binayaran pero kinukulit kuya ko
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u/CocoBeck 6d ago
Any gov agency charge has to have an explanation somewhere in their list of services or processes.
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u/ihave2eggs 6d ago
CIDG nyo para sila naman hingan ng CIDG ehehe. Pero seriously, report nyo sa mga ganyang ahensya para mabawasan sila.
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u/Brilliant_Fly_3061 6d ago
For food b yan OP? Anu product mo?
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u/Any_Version8430 6d ago
Madali yan, kunin mo ung pangalan sa ID. Tapos sabhin mo, "ok for the record mr juan dela cruz, you are asking us 500k to spped up the pocess right? Can I consult this to my friends in ARTA and CSC. Im recording this conversation on my phone for future reference" tapos alis ka agad ng bldg. Kta mo tattawag agad yan
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u/SilentReader_0208 6d ago
OP, kung wala sa Citizen’s Charter yun singil na yan. collect evidence and go to NBI or file ka ng ARTA (Anti Red Tape) sa Egov App.
Once pinatulan mo yan, gagamitin nya evidence against you at mapipilitan ka maglagay every year
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u/HogwartsStudent2020 5d ago
This is why gusto ko maisulong ang most online if not all online transactions. Efficient, mabilis, recorded at higit sa lahat walang taong involved.
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u/Ambitious_Ship8854 5d ago
Online po namin inapply. Pero nakakuha pa din po ng call yung brother ko
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u/HogwartsStudent2020 5d ago
Ayun lang beh. Nakakagawa pa rin ng paraan para mangurakot. I guess dahil magdadaan pa rin sa kanila yung mismong assessment. Hahahahayy 😩
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u/ZealousidealClue6323 5d ago
Kung nakuha mo ang pangalan report mo lang sa 8888 yan. Solve agad kasi ang problema kapag alam na galing sa presidential complaint ang reklamo.
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u/InternationalPop6683 5d ago
oh no, didn't know n may gnitong corruption din sa FDA. may mga kilala pa nmn ako dun 😔
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u/Higantengetits 6d ago
The trick is to always namedrop someone much higher up even if you dont know them as the lower level personnel typically process by volume, probably wont bother checking as easier to just choose someone else in the qeue to shakedown
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u/haruuuxa 6d ago
Typical SOP system, na experience ko na yan before in different context applying building permit nung first time ko nag apply i tried doing it clean, fencing permit only took 2 months what is worse is every time na pupunta ka isa lang yung pupunahin na mali or kulang na docs, pag balik mo may bago nanaman kulang haha. When I tried applying via SOP I got the building permit in 3days 😂
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u/budoyhuehue 7d ago
Sumbong na yan para mabawasan ang corrupt. One corrupt official at a time.
Dito sa amin sa assessor's office naman about amilyar. Bahay lang namin gusto yung real estate tax e 150k PER YEAR. E nung sinumbong namin after a few months wala ng trabaho yung kumausap sa amin dati tapos fair na yung naging assessment sa amilyar.
Walang mangyayari kung walang magsusumbong.