Question & AnswerQ&A (MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 7)
Requests for travel authority and entitlement to travel expenses and allowances relative to trips abroad must be submitted at least ten (10) working days prior to the scheduled date of departure.
No, facsimile copies or requests will not be processed. Original and complete documents must be submitted.
The destination(s), duration of travel, purpose(s), and justification(s) should be clearly spelled out in the requests.
The representation allowance shall not exceed One Thousand US Dollars (US$1,000.00) per travel.
Except for long-haul travel or flights beyond four (4) hours, airfares are limited to restricted economy class.
The DSA is based on the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) rate, which covers accommodation, meals, and incidental expenses.
No, private individuals and consultants are not issued travel authorities and shall not be entitled to government funding when they go abroad.
In unavoidable cases where the lead time cannot be met, the reasons or justifications for the late submission should be stated in the requests; non-compliance may result in denial or non-processing of the requests.
Any official or employee authorized to travel abroad must submit a report with recommendations to the Head of Office/Agency within one (1) month after returning to the official station.
A report of the delegation must be submitted to the Office of the President through the Secretary of Foreign Affairs not later than one (1) month after the closing of the conference or convention.
Key documents include invitations and notices of meetings, confirmation of dates, administrative arrangements, itemized statement of expenses, flight itineraries, schedule of activities, justifications for additional allowances, list of delegation members, advice on acting head designation, and letters from sponsors if travel costs are covered externally.
For Undersecretaries and equivalents, the maximum is Five Hundred US Dollars (US$500.00); for Assistant Secretaries and equivalents, it is Three Hundred US Dollars (US$300.00).
Business class airfare may be justified and allowed only for Heads of Departments, Heads of GOCCs/GFIs and Agencies under or attached to OP, and for Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, subject to proper justification.
They must submit invitations to participate in competitions, performances, or similar activities, and endorsements by relevant government agencies concerned.
Non-compliance shall be sufficient ground for denial or non-processing of travel authority requests.