Request for Foreign Travel Authority
Who can file a request for authority with the DILG to travel abroad?
What are the requirements in securing a Travel Authority?
A request for a Travel Authority must be filed and submitted in the following manner:
- Letter request stating the nature and purpose of the travel, indicating also the inclusive dates and place(s) of destination;
- Endorsement from the DILG Regional Director, Provincial Director, City Director, City Local Government Operations Officer or Municipal Local Government Operations, as the case maybe;
- Endorsement from the Provincial Governor, City Mayor or Municipal Mayor, as the case maybe;
- Endorsement from the TESDA or CHED, and a copy of the acceptance or invitation-letter from the organizer or donor, in case of study trip;
- Endorsement from the DTI Central or Regional Office if the travel is for trade and investment purpose;
- Invitation from the host country, sponsoring agency or organizer, in the event of a non-study trip;
- Statement as to the immediate and direct benefits to the local government, when the travel involves the use of public funds;
- Sworn statement attesting that no administrative charge or criminal case has been filed against the applicant;
- Clearance from Money and Property Accountabilities; and
- Duly accomplished application for a leave of absence, in the case of a Provincial Governor or Mayor of Highly Urbanized City or Independent Component City, when the purpose of the travel is personal in nature.
How long will it take for a Travel Authority to be approved?
Approval of a travel authority depends on the timeliness of the request, complete with supporting documents, and the availability of the approving authority.
Who approves the travel authority?
- The Secretary of Interior and Local Government is the approving authority on:
- Requests of Provincial Governors, and Mayors of Highly Urbanized Cities and Independent Component Cities for authority to travel abroad, regardless of the nature and duration of such travel.
- Requests of other elective local officials for authority to travel abroad, when the foreign trip exceeds more than three (3) calendar months, during a period of emergency crisis, or when it involves the use of public funds.
- Requests of local government appointive personnel for authority to travel abroad on a study trip to attend short term technical training, diploma courses and post graduate studies, and involve the use of public funds.
- The Undersecretary for Local Government is the approving authority on:a. Requests of Provincial Vice Governors, Mayors of Component Cities and Municipalities, City Vice Mayors, Municipal Vice Mayors and Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Panlungsod, and Sangguniang Bayan, for authority to travel abroad on a study or non- study trip, on official time only.b. Requests of local government department heads and division chiefs for authority to travel abroad on a study or non-study trip, on official time only.
- The Director, Bureau of Local Government Supervision is the approving authority on requests of other local government appointive personnel for authority to travel abroad on a study or non-study trip, on official time only.
- The DILG Regional Director is the approving authority on requests of barangay elective and appointive officials and employees, for authority to travel abroad on a study or non-study trip, on official time only.
When does a foreign travel entitle to the use of public funds?
- A study trip is a short term technical training or scholarship grant which is either processed or coordinated by the TESDA or CHED, or by other local or international agencies or entities, agencies of the national government, or foreign government, can be authorized to use for public funds, i.e., pre-departure expenses in the amount not exceeding PhP1,500.00. The payment of international airfare (economy) can be allowed, if it is not provided by the sponsoring agency/host country.
- The following purposes where the use of public funds, i.e., payment of international airfare (economy) and a travel allowance per UNDP DSA Rates pursuant to OP EO No. 298 s. 2004, may be authorized under the category of a non-study trip:
- To attend conferences or seminars sponsored by foreign governments or international government organizations to which the Philippine Government is committed or invited to send representatives or participants;
- To attend conferences or seminars sponsored by local or foreign private organizations. Provided, that if the activity is sponsored by an international private organization, invitations thereto should be sent through their respective governments to the Philippine Government;
- 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.
Intelligence or Confidential Funds
What are the requirements in securing a Department Authorization to utilize public funds for intelligence or confidential purposes?
- Local Government Security Plan;
- Peace and Order Council Resolution endorsing the Local Government Security Plan and the urgency in requesting for intelligence and confidential funds;
- Certification from the PNP Chief of Police, City Director or Provincial Director, as the case maybe, highlighting the peace and order situation in the local government unit;
- Current Appropriations Ordinance;
- Certification from the Local Treasurer as to the Availability of Funds;
- Work Plan with Quarterly Presentation using DBM Local Budget Execution Form No. 250 bearing vPNP Chief of Police, City Director or Provincial Director, as the case maybe ) and Approved (by the Local Chief Executive), on the use of funds for intelligence or confidential purposes; and
- Financial Plan and Request for Allotment with Quarterly Presentation using DBM Local Budget Execution Form No. 251 bearing the notations: Prepared by (by the Budget Officer), Reviewed and Recommending Approval (by the PNP Chief of Police, City Director or Provincial Director, as the case maybe) and Approved (by the Local Chief Executive), on the use of funds for intelligence or confidential purposes.
What is the basic condition to allow LGUs to use funds for intelligence or confidential purposes?
The basic condition that allows an LGU to use funds for intelligence or confidential purposes is for them to consider that peace and order is a priority investment area in the locality, and that funds are allocated for peace and order programs and activities in their annual total appropriations or budget.
What is the minimum allowable ceiling to use funds for intelligence or confidential purposes?
The minimum allowable ceiling to use funds for intelligence or confidential purposes shall not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the total annual amount allocated for peace and order efforts or, three percent (3%) of the total annual appropriations, whichever is lower.
What are the activities covered by intelligence or confidential funds?
The use of intelligence funds shall not be limited to the following:
- Purchase of information;
- Payment of rewards;
- Rental and other incidental expenses relative to the maintenance of safe houses; and
- Purchase of supplies and ammunition provision of medical and food aid, as well as, payment of incentives or traveling expenses relative to the conduct of intelligence or confidential operations.
Lupong Tagapamayapa
What is katarungang pambarangay?
The Katarungang Pambarangay is a system for amicable settlement of disputes at the barangay. It is an out-of-court resolution of conflicts by the community members themselves under the guidance of the unong barangay and without intervention of legal counsels and representatives.
Who is the Chairman of the lupon?
The Punong Barangay is the Chairman of the lupon.
How many lupon members are there?
According to the Revised KP Law, the lupon is composed of the punong barangay and ten (10) to twenty (20) members. The lupon shall be constituted every three (3) years.
What are the qualifications of a lupon member?
The person is a resident or working in the barangay and not disqualified by law for some reason and must possess integrity, impartiality, independence of mind, sense of fairness and reputation of probity may be appointed member of the lupon.
What are the functions of the lupon?
Functions of Lupon
- Exercise administrative supervision over the conciliation panels
- Meet regularly once a month to provide forum for exchange of ideas among its members and the public on matters relevant to the amicable settlement of disputes and to enable various conciliation panel members to share with one another their observations and experiences in effecting speedy resolution of dispute; and
- Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.
What is the Term of Office of the lupon members?
Lupon Members shall hold office until a new lupon is constituted on the third year following their appointment, unless the term of any of the lupon members is sooner terminated by resignation, transfer of residence or place of work or withdrawal of appointment by the Punong Barangay with the concurrence of the majority of the members of lupon.
Are lupon members entitled to compensation?
They serve without compensation except for certain honoraria, allowances and other emoluments as authorized by law or barangay, municipal or city ordinance.
How much is the filing fee?
What disputes and offenses covered by KP?
What disputes and offenses are not covered by the katarungang pambarangay?
Sec 408 of the LGC enumerates the instance that is not subject to amicable settlement:
- Where one party is the government or any subdivision or instrumentality thereof
- Where one party is a public officer or employee and the dispute relates to the per
- Offenses punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year or a fine P5,000.00
- Offenses where no private party or individual is offended (like traffic violations, jaywalking, vagrancy, sidewalk vending, mendicancy, and prostitution)
- Where the dispute involves real properties located in different cities or municipalities, unless the parties thereto agree to submit their differences to amicable settlement by an appropriate lupon.
- Disputes involving parties who actually reside in barangays of different cities or municipalities, except where such barangay units adjoin each other and the parties thereto agree to submit their differences to amicable settlement by the appropriate lupon
- Such other classes of disputes which the President of the Philippines may determine in the interest of justice or upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Justice
Can an individual file a case directly in court?
Non- conciliable cases brought to the barangay
This is a common occurrence, wherein disputes in the neighborhood, civil or criminal, beyond the jurisdiction of the lupon to settle are accepted by the punong barangay and even conciliated by the pangkat.
There is no law, issuance or ruling prohibiting or penalizing a punong barangay from accepting complaints and grievances, especially when both contending parties are his constituents.