ALL heads of agencies in the Executive Department must now submit quarterly reports on government officials and employees traveling abroad, the Palace said Wednesday.
In a memorandum dated Jan. 3 and signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the Palace said no official foreign travel shall be allowed unless the purpose of the trip is strictly within the mandate of the official or personnel, the projected expenses for the trip are “not excessive,” and the trip is expected to bring “substantial benefit to the country.”
Under the new set-up, no government official or personnel shall be allowed to depart for any travel abroad, even if such is for a personal or private purpose without cost to the government, unless the official has obtained the appropriate travel authorization from his or her agency.
Quarterly lists would have to be submitted to the Office of the President by agency heads, including information on those trips, the names of the concerned officials, their destination, the duration of their trip, the nature and purpose of their travel, its total cost and a brief statement on how the official complied with the criteria issued by the Palace.
“The requirement to submit quarterly lists of travel authorities issued shall also be observed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government with regard to foreign travels of local government officials,” the executive secretary said.
The heads of agencies should also provide the Office of the Executive Secretary with recommendations on the seminars and conferences attended by their traveling personnel.
Failure to comply with the guidelines in the new memorandum might result in the filing of administrative actions for misconduct, insubordination and other offenses under the Civil Service Commission Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service and other laws against the traveling government employee and even his superior, Medialdea warned.