(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has officially banned travel junkets and team-building activities of government employees abroad.
Duterte, who had been vocal against the same in previous speeches, made the order official in Executive Order 77 which was made available to the media on Friday, March 22.
Under the order signed on March 15, the “taking of a personal leave immediately before or after the official activity” is also “highly discouraged.”
“If travel circumstances, such as the nature of activity, purpose and itinerary, indicate that the trip is mainly intended for personal purposes, no part thereof shall be considered official,” the order said.
According to the order, official local or foreign travel must be essential to the effective performance of an official or employee’s mandates or functions and required to meet the needs of the department, agency, bureau or office or there is substantial benefit to be derived by the state.
It said the presence of the official or employee in question should also be “critical to the outcome of the meeting, conference, seminar, consultation or any official activity to be attended,” and the “projected expenses are not excessive or involve minimum expenditure.”
It said private individuals, consultants and those engaged by way of contract of service by government agencies except in “highly meritorious circumstances, and spouses or children of government officials except when diplomatic protocol or established international practices provide otherwise” cannot be covered by government funding for such trips.