Policy and purpose of RATA
- The circular requires uniformity and consistency in processing claims for RATA.
- RATA is primarily granted by law to national government officials and employees to cover expenses incurred in the discharge or performance of their duties and responsibilities.
Covered persons and positions
- The circular applies to national government officials and employees enumerated in Section 2.
- Coverage includes those whose positions are listed under Service Code 18 of the Index of Occupational Services issued by the DBM pursuant to National Compensation Circular No. 57, except the President, Vice-President, Lupon Member, and Lupon Chairman, and positions under the Local Executives Group (Section 2.1).
- Coverage includes those whose positions are identified as chiefs of division in the Personal Services Itemization (Section 2.2).
- Coverage includes those whose positions are determined by the DBM to be of equivalent rank with the officials and employees under Sections 2.1 and 2.2, as shown in Annex A (Section 2.3).
- Coverage includes those duly designated by competent authority to perform the full-time duties and responsibilities (whether in concurrent capacity or not) as Officers-in-Charge for one (1) full calendar month or more for positions under Sections 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 (Section 2.4).
Core RATA rules and rate table
- Payment of RATA—whether commutable or reimbursable—must be made in accordance with the rates prescribed for the officials and employees covered and the conditions enumerated under the pertinent Section of the General Provisions of the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) (Section 3.1).
- RATA rates are set as follows (Section 3.1):
- Department Secretaries or equivalent: PHP 2,500 (Category A)
- Department Under Secretaries or equivalent: PHP 1,700 (Category B)
- Department Assistant Secretaries or equivalent: PHP 1,500 (Category C)
- Directors IV (Bureau directors and Department Regional Directors) or equivalent: PHP 1,400 (Category D)
- Directors III (Assistant Bureau Directors, Department Assistant Regional Directors, Department Service Chiefs or equivalent;): PHP 1,400 (Category D)
- Directors II (Bureau Regional Directors) or equivalent: PHP 1,400 (Category D)
- Directors I (Assistant Bureau Regional Directors) or equivalent: PHP 1,200 (Category E)
- Chiefs of Division identified as such in the Personal Services Itemization or equivalent: PHP 1,100 (Category F)
- RATA is attached to the performance of duties and responsibilities of the incumbents and is not based on how positions were viewed and implemented before (Section 3.2).
- Salary grades do not automatically entitle incumbents to RATA; entitlement exists only for those enumerated under Section 2 who are actually performing the duties and responsibilities of their positions (Section 3.2).
When RATA may be continued or stopped
- Covered officials and employees under Sections 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 are no longer authorized to continue collecting RATA in the following cases (Section 3.3):
- While on full-time detail with another organizational unit of the same agency, another agency, or a special project for one (1) full calendar month or more, except when the duties and responsibilities performed are comparable with those of their regular positions, in which case they may continue to collect RATA on a reimbursable basis, subject to availability of funds (Section 3.3.1).
- While on vacation, sick, or maternity leave of absence with or without pay for one (1) full calendar month or more (Section 3.3.2).
- Officials and employees may be authorized to continue collecting RATA on a reimbursable basis, subject to availability of funds, during authorized attendance at a training course/scholarship grant/seminar or other similar activity tantamount to performance of their regular duties and responsibilities (Section 3.4).
- Officers-in-Charge designated to collect commutable RATA for entitled positions must have the authority clearly specified in the order designating them (Section 3.5).
- Officers-in-Charge are not allowed to collect commutable RATA (or are limited) in these instances (Section 3.5):
- If designated in a concurrent capacity and they are already entitled to commutable RATA in their permanent positions, they may collect only the difference, if any, between the RATA of the two positions (Section 3.5.1).
- If on full-time or part-time detail with another organizational unit of the same agency, another agency, or special project; attending a training course/scholarship grant/seminar or similar activity; or on vacation, sick or maternity leave of absence for one (1) full calendar month or more (Section 3.5.2).
Funding, exclusivity, and agency accountability
- Commutable and reimbursable RATA must be paid from the amount appropriated for the purpose and other personal services savings of the agency or project from where the covered officials and employees draw their salaries (Section 4).
- No one may collect RATA from more than one source (Section 4).
- The Head of Agency is held responsible and personally liable for any payment of RATA not in accordance with the circular’s provisions (Section 5).
- The Head of Agency’s liability is without prejudice to the refund of any excess payment by the official or employee concerned (Section 5).
Administrative implementation and resolution of gaps
- Appropriate cases not covered by the circular must be submitted to the DBM for resolution (Section 6).
Repeal and consistency rules
- All circulars, guidelines, rules, and regulations inconsistent with the circular are repealed (Section 7).