The Department of Justice (DoJ) has issued a legal opinion clarifying that the appeals process for consumer complaints within the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is not subject to the mandatory processing time limits of the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA).

In the opinion dated 23 October 2025, Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida stated that the DTI’s function of hearing and deciding on consumer appeals is a “quasi-judicial function,” which falls outside the scope of Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act (ARTA).

The opinion was issued in response to a request from DTI Assistant Secretary Englebert Josef Chua, who sought clarification on whether ARTA had jurisdiction over the department’s internal appeals process for consumer cases.

In its opinion, the DoJ clarified that ARTA’s mandate is specifically limited to overseeing “frontline services,” such as the issuance of licenses, permits, and certifications.

Quasi-judicial functions, which involve investigating facts, holding hearings, and making binding decisions on the rights of parties, are not considered frontline services.

“This clearly qualifies as a quasi-judicial function,” the DoJ said, citing Supreme Court precedents that recognize the DTI’s adjudicatory powers in resolving administrative complaints.

Due to this finding, the DoJ disclosed that “ARTA does not have any jurisdiction or supervisory authority over the internal quasi-judicial and appellate processes of the DTI” and cannot impose its prescribed processing timelines on these proceedings.