The Department of the Interior and Local Government recently issued new guidelines for the foreign travel authority of local officials and capped the leaves of absence of employees to 10 working days.

The DILG said that foreign travels of all elective and appointive local government officials and employees will be covered by the rules and regulations set under the Memorandum Circular 2022-134 it issued.

It added that leaves of absences for private purpose should not exceed 10 consecutive days, except in highly meritorious cases that should be explained and justified as local officials are prohibited from being absent for a cumulative of 30 days per year.

DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. also stressed that local chief executives and their presiding officers are discouraged from having simultaneous travel that may hamper the delivery of services in their localities.

The DILG warned that non-compliance with regulations might result in the filing of applicable administrative actions, which include those for misconduct, insubordination and other related administrative cases.

It also said that local officials should apply for the travel authority and complete all the required documents at least seven working days prior to the date of departure.

Under the memorandum, governors and mayors of highly urbanized cities and independent component cities should have their leaves of absence approved by the Interior secretary. However, the undersecretary for local government is also allowed to approve, by authority of the secretary, the official time and official business applications.

Meanwhile, other officials and employees may be approved by the authority of the secretary through the DILG regional directors and local chief executives.

The memorandum, signed by Abalos on 24 October, will take effect on 1 December 2022.