FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE MAR ROUS 
Article 11, Section 28 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution in no uncertain terms declares that 
the State adopts and implements a policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving 
public interests. Article XI, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution furrher provides that public 
officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost 
responsibility and lead modest lives. 
Unfortunately, even as the present administration has been charged with allegations of 
corruption in the form of overpricing, disadvantageous government contracts and spurious 
transactions such as that of the fertilizer fund scam and the ZTE-NBN deal, several high ranking 
officials of the Philippine National Police were caught by Russian officials carrying an undeclared 
amount of 106,000 Euros allegedly for the purchase of intelligence equipment. This brought 
international fame, or rather infamy, to our country highlighting the system of corruption and 
extravagant use of taxpayer’s money which has become so deeply ingrained in our present 
government. Further, the so-called “Euro Generals Scandal” has introduced a different avenue of 
misappropriating public funds - under the guise of official travelkontingency funds, or as intelligence 
and confidential funds. 
It is conceded that the provision of funds for foreign or local travel of government officials or 
employees is a necessary government expense. However, the recent Euro Generals scandal shows that 
there is a compelling need to establish safeguard measures that will ensure transparency and 
accountability in disbursement, as well as appropriate use of public funds, in relation to official 
travels of government officials and employees. Thus, this proposed measure defines the parameters of 
authorized travel of government officials or employees and defines the allowable travel expenses for 
such trip. Further, the disclosure of the full amount of foreign currency brought into or out of the 
country in the course of the official travel is made mandatory by this proposed measure. Moreover, a 
completion report of the official business attended together with an accounting and liquidation of the 
funds used for the official trip is mandated to be completed within a period of 60 days from the time 
that the concerned government official or employee reports back to work. Finally, penalties are 
prescribed for failure to comply with the obligation to disclose the amount of foreign currency 
carried and for non-compliance with the reportorial and accounting and liquidation requirements. 
Unfortunately, despite the clear constitutional mandates of upholding public trust, full 
fidelity in the use of public funds seems to remain unlikely. Thus, necessary steps that will eventually 
reverse the culture of corruption and inculcate accountability in public office in its place have to be 
taken with utmost urgency. Such is the intention of this proposed measure. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 


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O'L" i. 1' 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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9 ,JAN 13 /\?::I8 
INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE MAR ROXAS 
AN ACT 
REGULATING 
OFFICIAL LOCAL 
AND 
FOREIGN 
TRAVELS 
OF 
GOVERNMENT 
OFFICIALS 
AND 
EMPLOYEES 
TO 
ENSURE 
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE USE OF FUNDS 
REQUESTED FOR THE PURPOSE, DEFINING PENALTIES FOR NON- 
COMPLIANCE WITH DISCLOSURE, ACCOUNTING, LIQUIDATION AND 
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philijpnes ill Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the '%overnment Employees 
OKcial Travel Accountability Act of 2009. " 
SECTION 2. Coverage. - All government officials and employees, both national and 
local, including personnel of government owned andor controlled corporations and 
government financial institutions shall be covered by the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 3. Authorized Travel. - Only local and/or foreign travel which are urgent 
and extremely necessary, will involve the minimum expenditure for the government, and are 
expected to bring direct gain and immediate benefit to the agency concerned or the country 
shall be authorized. 
Chapter 1 - Official Local Travel of Government Personnel 
SECTION 4. Approval of Travel - All travels of officials and employees of National 
Government Agencies shall be approved by the head of officebureau or its equivalent 
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provided that travels that will last thirty (30) days or more are subject to the approval of the 
Department Secretary or his equivalent. 
Approval of travel of officials and employees of government-owned andor controlled 
corporations and financial institution that will last for not more than one (1) calendar month 
shall be subject to the policies, rules and regulations adopted by their respective governing 
Boards. 
SECTION 5. Allowable Travel Expenses. - The amount of allowable local travel 
expenses shall be determined by the Department head concerned, taking into consideration 
the daily subsistence requirements and other reasonable expenses that may be incurred in 
the course of the official travel, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Department of 
Budget and Management. Claims for reimbursement of actual travel expenses in excess of the 
travel expenses authorized by the Department head may be allowed upon certification of the 
head of agency concerned that the incurred expense is absolutely necessary in the 
performance of an assignment and submission of receipts. 
Chapter 2 - Official Foreign Travel of Government Personnel 
SECTION 6. Nature of Travel. - Only foreign travels and assignments under the 
category of conferences, special missions and other non-study trips shall be authorized such 
as those undertaken for the following purposes: 
a. 
To attend conferences or seminars sponsored by foreign governments or 
international government 
organization to 
which 
the 
Philippine 
government is committed or invited to send representatives or participants; 
To attend conferences or seminars sponsored by private organizations, 
whether international or not, invitations to which have been sent through 
their respective governments; 
b. 
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C .  
To conduct examinations of investigations of Philippine government 
agencies or affairs; and 
To undertake any other official missions which cannot be assigned to any 
other Philippine government official already abroad. 
d. 
SECTION 7. Approving Authority - All government officials and employees seeking 
authority to travel to a foreign country shall secure prior approval from their respective 
heads of departments or agencies or their equivalent, regardless of the duration of their 
travel, and the number of delegates concerned; Provided that all official travels abroad of 
Department Secretaries, Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, heads, senior assistant heads 
and assistant heads of government owned andor controlled corporations and financial 
institutions, and heads of local government units and other officials of equivalent rank shall 
be subject to the prior approval of the President. 
SECTION 8. Allowable Travel Expenses. - Government officers or employees duly 
authorized to travel abroad shall be entitled to the Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) as 
provided under the United National Development Program Index, which shall be 
apportioned as follows unless otherwise stated in the UNDP Index: (a) fifty percent (50%) for 
hotelilodging; (b) thirty percent (30%) for meals; and (c) twenty percent (20%) for incidental 
expenses, When the country of destination is not listed in the said Index, the DSA for the 
nearest country shall be adopted. Claims for reimbursement of actual travel expenses in 
excess of the DSA may be allowed upon certification by the head of the agency as absolutely 
necessary in the performance of an assignment and presentation of receipts, subject to the 
approval of the President. 
SECTION 9. Restrictions on Foreign Travel. - No government official or employee 
who is due to retire within one (1) year from the commencement of the official trip for 
which authority to travel is requested shall be authorized to travel to a foreign country as an 
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official representative to attend trainings, conferences or other international commitments. 
In the event that there are several qualified prospective participants to international 
trainings, conferences or study trips, the approving authority shall give priority to those who 
are forty-five (45) years old and younger. 
SECTION 10. Mandatoiy Disclosure. - Any government official or employee 
authorized to travel to a foreign country who brings into or out of the Philippines foreign 
currency as well as other foreign exchange-denominated bearer monetary instruments in 
excess of US$lO,OOO or its equivalent regardless of source is required to declare the same in 
writing and to furnish information on the source and purpose of carrying and transporting 
such amount of foreign currency. 
For purposes of this Act, “other foreign exchange-denominated bearer instruments” 
shall refer to the following foreign exchange-denominated instruments in bearer form 
whereby title thereto passes to another by endorsement, assignment or delivery: traveler’s 
checks, drafts, notes, money orders, bonds, deposit certificates, securities, commercial papers, 
trust certificates, custodial receipts, deposit substitute instruments, trading orders, 
transaction tickets and confirmation of sale/investment. 
Chapter 3 - Common Provisions 
SECTION 11. Supporting Documents. - All requests for cash advances and the 
corresponding cash advance vouchers for local and foreign travel shall be supported by the 
following: (a) travel order properly approved; (b) itinerary of travel; and (c) details of 
transportation and travel expenses to be incurred. 
SECTION 12. Accounting and Liquidation of Cash Advances. - The cash advance for 
the official travel shall be duly liquidated and accounted for by the official or employee 
concerned strictly in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the 
Commission on Audit for the purpose within sixty (60)’days after his return to the 
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Philippines, in case of official travel abroad, or within thirty (30) days of his return to his 
official station in case of official local travel. Non-compliance with the mandatory period for 
liquidation and accounting shall be a cause for suspension of other benefits and emoluments 
received by such official or employee until such time as he complies therewith. 
SECTION 13. Reportorial Requirements. - Every official or employee assigned or 
authorized to travel in accordance with the provisions of this Act shall, within sixty (60) days 
after his return to his permanent official station, submit a report with his recommendations, 
if any, on the conference or seminar attended, examination or investigation conducted, or 
mission undertaken, to the head of his office. In case the participation is in an international 
conference or convention abroad in which the Philippines is represented by a delegation, a 
report of the delegation shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Department or the Office 
of the President, in the event that the Department Secretary is himself authorized to travel 
not later than thirty (30) days after the closing of the conference or convention. 
All national 
government agencies and government-owned and controlled 
corporations and government financial institutions shall submit, on or before the last day of 
February of the year, a financial and accomplishment report of all the authorized local and 
foreign travel undertaken by any of its personnel the previous fiscal year, to the Senate 
Committee on Finance and House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations. 
Congress may further require the submission of additional data, documents and information 
as it may deem necessary to clarify and/or justify the expenses incurred by any government 
official or employee in the course of an authorized local or foreign travel. 
SECTION 14. Penalties. - Failure to comply with the foreign currency disclosure 
requirement under Section 10 of this Act shall be punishable with imprisonment of six (6) 
years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years and a fine ranging from Three Hundred Thousand 
Pesos (Php 300,000.00) to Five Hundred Thousand Pesos.(Php 500,000.00), without prejudice 
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to the application of other criminal, civil andor administrative sanctions provided for under 
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other existing laws, rules and regulations. 
Violation of the provisions of Sections 12 and 13 of this Act shall be punishable with 
imprisonment of one (1) year and one (1) day to five (5) years and a fine ranging from One 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (PlO0,OOO.OO) to Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,OOO.OO) 
without prejudice to the application of other criminal, civil and/or administrative sanctions 
provided for under existing laws, rules and regulations. 
SECTION 15. Separability Clause. -If, for any reason, any part or provision of this Act 
is held unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions thereof, which are not affected, 
shall continue to remain in full force and effect. 
SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations 
and administrative regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
SECTION 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately after its 
publication in at least two national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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