QuestionsQuestions (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 298)
EO 298 cited Section 79 of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1177, as amended by Section 72, Book VI of Executive Order (EO) No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987), which allows travel allowance rates to be changed from time to time by the Travel Rates Committee.
Under EO 298, travels of less than 30 days and payment of travel expenses shall be approved by the head of office/bureau; travels lasting 30 days or more shall be approved by the Department Secretary (whose approval is equivalent to the approval of the Secretary of Budget and Management).
The daily allowable travel expense for local travels is P800.00 per day, apportioned as: 50% for hotel/lodging, 30% for meals, and 20% for incidental expenses.
Claims in excess may be allowed upon certification by the head of the agency that the excess is absolutely necessary for the performance of an assignment, with presentation of bills and receipts.
EO 298 states that certification or an affidavit of loss shall not be considered an appropriate replacement for required hotel/lodging bills and receipts.
Entitlement starts only upon arrival at the place of destination and ceases upon departure therefrom, with specific percentages depending on arrival/departure times.
If arrival is after 12:00 noon, the percentage is 80%, covering hotel/lodging (50%), dinner (10%), and incidental expenses (20%).
If departure is before 12:00 noon, the coverage is 30%, covering breakfast (10%) and incidental expenses (20%).
Claims are allowed only if proof is presented (supported by bills/invoices with official receipts) that the traveler stayed in the assignment place for the whole duration. If the traveler commutes daily, reimbursement is limited to actual authorized mode fare to and from the destination and a reasonable cost for meals, with total fare plus meals plus incidental expenses not exceeding P400.00 per day.
EO 298 added that reimbursement of the payment of the airport terminal fee at the point of embarkation to return to the Philippines upon completion of the official trip abroad is likewise authorized.
EO 298 provides that they shall be allowed official transportation of the restricted economy class unless otherwise authorized by the President of the Philippines.
Government personnel traveling abroad are entitled to DSA based on the UNDP Index (secured from the DFA). Unless otherwise stated, DSA is apportioned as 50% for hotel/lodging, 30% for meals, and 20% for incidental expenses; if the destination is not listed, the DSA for the nearest country is adopted.
EO 298 states that the daily subsistence allowance authorized is deemed equivalent to the per diems authorized under Section 75 of RA No. 7157 (Foreign Service Act of 1991).
Entitlement to DSA starts upon arrival at the country of destination and ceases upon departure. The percentages are: arrival not later than 12:00 noon = 100%; arrival after 12:00 noon = 80%; departure before 12:00 noon = 30%; departure at 12:00 noon and later = 40%, with corresponding meal coverage as specified in the EO.
EO 298 provides that, pursuant to Section 65 of RA 7157, they shall not collect living quarters allowance until the first day of the month following their arrival at the post of assignment; lodging portion is granted based on the classification of the post under EO No. 101, series of 1993, consistent with the 50% hotel/lodging entitlement.
Within 60 days after return to the Philippines for official travel abroad, or within 30 days after return to the permanent official station for official local travel, the employee must render an account of the cash advance in accordance with applicable rules and/or COA rules.
Payment of the salary of any official or employee who fails to comply shall be suspended until the employee complies.
Within 30 days after return to the permanent official station, the employee must submit a report with recommendations on conferences/seminars attended or missions undertaken. For international conferences where the Philippines is represented by a delegation, a delegation report must be submitted to the President through the department head concerned, copy furnished to the DFA, not later than 30 days after the closing of the conference/convention.