Policy and objective of the rules
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 addresses late submission of requests for authority to travel abroad that do not give sufficient time for the Office of the President to evaluate each request.
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 requires sufficient supporting documents to accompany travel requests.
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 corrects continued submission of requests for officials whose travel authority has already been delegated to heads of offices.
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 directs all heads of departments, bureaus, offices, including government-owned or controlled corporations and local government units to comply with specific procedural requirements.
Coverage and persons required to submit
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 enjoins all heads of departments, bureaus, offices, including government-owned or controlled corporations and local government units, to observe the rules on travel abroad.
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 requires submission to the Office of the President for approval for travel abroad authority requests of:
- Department Secretaries
- Undersecretaries
- Assistant Secretaries
- Other officials of equivalent rank of (a), (b), and (c)
- Provincial Governors
- Mayors of highly urbanized cities or independent component cities
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 requires that heads of government offices traveling abroad indicate the officials designated Acting/Officer-in-Charge during the trip.
Submission timing and operational requirements
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 requires requests for authority to travel abroad to be submitted at least ten (10) days before the expected date of departure.
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 requires traveling heads of government offices to indicate the Acting/Officer-in-Charge of the office for the duration of their trip.
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 requires requests for authority to travel to include an itemized expenses breakdown.
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 requires itemization to cover fare, per diems, hotel accommodation, and pre-travel.
Required cost itemization and chargeability
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 requires that travel expense requests include itemized expenses.
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 requires the request to indicate the chargeability of the itemized expenses.
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 specifies the required expense categories to be stated in the request: fare, per diems, hotel accommodation, and pre-travel.
Travel during leave or private purpose limits
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 prohibits travel abroad while on leave of absence or for a private purpose from exceeding ten (10) days.
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 requires that prolong absences be properly explained.
Adoption and authority
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 was adopted on 27 Oct. 1992.
- Memorandum Circular No. 18 is signed by FIDEL V. RAMOS as President.