REPUBLIC OF THE PIILiPPINES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL Francisco Gold Condominium I BIg asa or Mapsgmatal St. Diliman, Quezon City May 8, 2001 MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR ' NO. 2001-52 i TO ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, DILG REGIONAL 1 DIRECTORS AND OTHERS CONCERNED SUBJECT RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE FOREIGN TRAVEL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES Purpose ‘| 'n pursuance of, and to implement, Presidential Administrative Order No. 6 dated March 7, 2001, these rules and regulations are hereby promulgated These rules and regulations are likewise issued with the view to further promote efficiency in the performance or delivery of Departmental functions and services through the simplification of procedure in the processing and approval of a request for a foreign travel authority, support the overall efforts of the government 'n conserving scarce public funds, particularly the country's dollar reserves, and {o ensure that any foreign trip! particularly when it/involves the use of government funds, is beneficial to the country, | 4) Coverage Foreign travel of all elective and appointive local government officials and employees, whether official or unofficial, shall be covered by these rules and regulations, Nature of Travel - For purposes of these rules and regulations, nature of foreign travel refers to a study trip, non-study trip or a foreign trip for a personal or private purpose briefly explained, as follows:A study trip is a short-term technical training or scholarship grant which is either processed or coordinated by the Special Committee on Scholarships under the Overseas Development Assistance Program, or by other local or international agencies or entities, agencies of the national government, or foreign government where no public funds are involved but are considered on official time. In the event, however, that public funds are to be used, such funds shall be limited to the payment of pre-departure expenses and clothing allowance. A non-study trip refers to a foreign travel which is: (a),urgent and extremely necessary; (b) expected to bring immediate benefit to the country; (c) clearly essential to Philippine international commitments: or (d) part of a contractual obligation. Local government officials and employees on a non-study trip that does not involve public funds shall be considered on official time only. However, in the event thal the use 101 public funds is involved, the same may be authorized only under highly meritorious circumstances. A non-study trip where the use of public funds may be authorized shall be limited to the following purposes: (2) To attend conferences or seminars sponsored by foreign governments or intemational government organizations to which the Philippine Government is committed or invited to sknd representatives or participants: (b) To attend conferences or seminars sponsored by local or foreign private organizations. Provided, that if the activity is sponsored by an intemational private organization, invitations thereto should be sent through their respective governments to the Philippine Government; {c) To attend activities that are clearly intended to promote local government technical exchange and cooperation; " @) To undertake site or product inspection that are clearly stipulated in duly perfected contracts; or (©) To undertake any other official mission which cannot be assigned to any other Philippine Government Official or Officials already abroad. A personal or private trip means a foreign travel pursued for a personal or private jpurpose such as medical reason, emergencies, special occasion wherein the presence of a local government official or employee is deemed to be indispensable and other. humanitarian1 MY ae ~ " considerations. A personal or private trip shall be undertaken only While on an official leave of absence. Entitlements. 1. Government exfenditures relative to a Study trip shall be limited to pre- departure expenses in the amount not exceeding One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (PhP 1,500.00) and clothing allowance in the event that the latter is not provided by the organizer or donor of the technical \aining or scholarship grant. Pursuant to a Presidential Memorandum dated January 10, 2000, such clothing allowance may be granted on a graduated basis, as follows: More than one (1) month but less + than three (3) months USS 200.00 #) Three (3) months but less than six (6) months US$ 300.00 Six (6) months and more US$ 400.00 IP case of a study trip to a tropical County, the clothing aliéwance shall not exceed US$300.00. On the piher hand, when the study trip to a lemperate country coincides with the autumin or winter season, the Two (2) weeks or less US$ 200.00 More than two (2) weeks but less than one (1) month US$ 300.00 One (1) month and more USS 400.00