Escudero Pushes Product Regulation Reform to Help Eastern Visayas Businesses

Posted on June 5, 2026 at 2:35 pm

TACLOBAN CITY — A bill filed by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero seeking to reorganize the country’s product regulation system could make it easier for food producers in Eastern Visayas to bring their products to market while keeping consumer protection in place.

The proposal is expected to matter for a region where farming, fishing, and food processing provide livelihoods to thousands of families. Coconut producers in Leyte, seafood processors in Samar, and many small businesses making native delicacies and other food products often have to comply with government requirements before selling their products beyond their local markets.

Escudero has filed Senate Bill No. 2310, or the proposed Product Regulatory System Reform Act, which would transfer some regulatory functions of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to agencies whose work is directly related to the products they oversee.

Under the bill, the Department of Agriculture (DA) would regulate raw and unprocessed food products, while the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) would take charge of processed food, cosmetics, and other consumer goods. Other products may also be placed under agencies with the appropriate technical expertise.

The Senate President said the proposal aims to remove overlapping functions among government agencies and shorten the processing time for permits and other regulatory requirements without lowering safety standards.

For producers in Eastern Visayas, the measure could mean a simpler process for bringing products such as dried fish, bottled seafood, coconut-based products, and other locally made food items to bigger markets.

In the bill’s explanatory note, Escudero said efficient product regulation is important in protecting consumers from substandard and unsafe products.

“Product regulation efficiency is critical for promoting public health and safety and for protecting consumers from trade malpractices and from substandard or hazardous products,” he said.

He added that product standards and inspections remain an important government responsibility because consumers cannot be expected to determine on their own whether products meet manufacturing and safety requirements.

Escudero said assigning regulatory work to agencies with the proper expertise would also help improve government services and reduce delays caused by overlapping responsibilities.

He noted that the country’s regulatory system should keep pace with changes in technology, the growing variety of products in the market, and new public health concerns.

The bill also contains transition provisions to avoid disrupting businesses. Existing permits and registrations will remain valid until they expire, while pending applications and enforcement cases will be handled by the agency that will assume responsibility for the product concerned.

If approved, the measure could benefit many small food enterprises in Eastern Visayas by making government regulation more straightforward while ensuring that products reaching consumers continue to meet safety and quality standards.

Photo courtesy: Official FB Page of Senator Chiz Escudero