Metro Manila, Philippines – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) received the most number of complaints among agencies in the first quarter, overtaking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).
“As of March 31, ang number one most complained na po iyong LTO,” ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez said.
[Translation: As of March 31, the LTO is now the most complained about agency.]
Perez said the FDA, which previously ranked first, has dropped to third place following improvements in its processes, while other high-volume agencies also remained among the top sources of complaints.
The data showed that aside from the Land Transportation Office, other agencies with the highest number of complaints in March 2026 include the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Food and Drug Administration, the Land Registration Authority, the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Department of Education, the National Telecommunications Commission, the Department of Migrant Workers, the Professional Regulation Commission, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, and the Department of Science and Technology.
Among government-owned and controlled corporations, the Social Security System topped the list, followed by the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth, the Philippine Postal Corporation, Land Bank of the Philippines, the Government Service Insurance System, the National Irrigation Administration, the Laguna Lake Development Authority, the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Food Authority.
Perez noted that agencies handling large numbers of transactions — such as licensing, permits, and registrations – tend to receive more complaints over volume and processing issues.
He said the most common complaints filed with ARTA were delays in processing applications, more requirements, and violations of the Citizen’s Charter.
Perez said more than 90 percent of complaints were resolved once referred to concerned agencies, noting that accountability falls on specific personnel rather than the entire institution.
ARTA said it will continue working with agencies like the LTO and FDA to streamline processes, reduce red tape, and improve service delivery.
NewsWatch Plus is reaching out to the LTO for a comment.
