(Eagle News) — No official travel of government officials or personnel shall now be allowed unless it satisfies three “minimum” criteria.
According to the memorandum released by the Office of the Executive Secretary on Wednesday, the “purpose of the trip has to be strictly within the mandate of the requesting government official or personnel,” the “projected expenses for the trip are not excessive,” and the trip should bring “substantial benefit” to the country.”
“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 such official or personnel has obtained the appropriate travel authorization from his/her agency, has duly accomplished the requisite leave forms, and his/ her absence shall not hamper the operational efficiency of such agency,” it added.
According to the memo, all heads of agencies tasked to approve travels abroad shall “at the end of every quarter, submit a list to the Office of the President, through the Executive Secretary, of all travel authorities they have issued for the official and personal foreign trips of their respective officials and personnel..”
The memo said the list shall contain the names of the concerned official or employee, the destination, the duration of the trip, nature and purpose of travel, the total cost of travel of official trips, and a “brief statement explaining how each official trip complies with the minimum criteria…”
“All heads of agencies are directed to strictly enforce the requirement on submission of reports with appropriate recommendations, if any, on the conference or seminar attended, examination or investigation conducted, or mission undertaken by a government official or personnel to the head of agency within 30 days after his/her return to official station,” the memo said.
It said that failure of one to do so can result in the filing of administrative charges against the head of agency.
