Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 298)
'Travel Expenses' refer to the amount authorized to cover hotel/lodging rate, meals, and incidental expenses, excluding transportation expenses going to and from the destinations.
'Hotel/Lodging Rate' is the daily hotel/lodging cost including the prescribed taxes and service charges.
The head of office/bureau or equivalent approves travels and payment of travel expenses for government officials traveling less than 30 days.
The Department Secretary or his equivalent must approve travels and payment of travel expenses if the travel lasts 30 days or more. This approval is considered equivalent to the approval of the Secretary of Budget and Management.
The allowable travel expense is Eight Hundred Pesos (₱800.00) per day.
It is apportioned as follows: 50% for hotel/lodging, 30% for meals, and 20% for incidental expenses.
Claims for actual expenses exceeding the authorized amount may be allowed upon certification by the head of the agency that the expenses are absolutely necessary for performance of an assignment, supported by bills and receipts. Affidavits or certifications of loss are not acceptable replacements for hotel/lodging receipts.
Claims within a 50-km radius are allowed only with proof (bills, invoices, official receipts) that the government personnel stayed at their assignment location for the whole duration. If commuting from residence to work, reimbursement is limited to actual fare and reasonable meals cost, not exceeding ₱400 per day.
Reimbursement of airport terminal fees at the point of embarkation to return to the Philippines upon completion of the official trip abroad is authorized.
The transportation class is restricted economy class unless otherwise authorized by the President of the Philippines.
DSA is based on the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Index from the Department of Foreign Affairs, apportioned as 50% for hotel/lodging, 30% for meals, and 20% for incidental expenses. If the destination country is not listed, the DSA for the nearest country will be adopted.
Entitlement to DSA starts upon arrival and ceases upon departure according to these percentages: arrival by 12:00 noon—100%, arrival after 12:00 noon—80%, departure before 12:00 noon—30%, departure at or after 12:00 noon—40%, apportioned accordingly to lodging, meals, and incidental expenses.
Officials/employees must render an account of cash advances within 60 days for foreign travel or 30 days for local travel, and submit a report with recommendations within 30 days after return. Failure to comply results in suspension of salary payment.
Section 17 of EO No. 248 and the last paragraph of Section 12 were deleted. Also, all inconsistent orders and regulations are repealed or modified.