DILG Streamlines Foreign Travel Approval for Local Officials

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday said it has revised the approval process for foreign travel requests of local government officials. Under the new process, the DILG Secretary still approves travel for certain high-level officials and certain circumstances. But the authority for other cases is delegated to DILG Regional, Provincial, and City Directors. “Administrative Order No. 47, s. 2026 authorizes the DILG Secretary to further delegate the approval of foreign travel requests of local officials and employees. Previously, the authority delegated by the President rested with the DILG Secretary,” the Department said. Under DILG Circular No. 2026-017, the Secretary remains the approving authority for all official and unofficial foreign travel of Provincial Governors, Highly Urbanized City and Independent Component City (HUC/ICC) Mayors, and the Municipal Mayor of Pateros. The DILG said the Secretary will approve foreign travel of provincial, city, and municipal elective officials if the trip exceeds three months or takes place during an emergency or crisis. But for official trips lasting three months or less and when there is no emergency or crisis, DILG Regional Directors may approve the foreign travel of provincial, city, and municipal elective officials. Regional Directors will also decide on foreign travel requests of appointive officials and employees of provinces, cities, and municipalities when the trip is more than three months or takes place during an emergency or crisis. Meanwhile, for barangays in component cities and municipalities, DILG Provincial Directors will approve official and unofficial foreign travel of elective and appointive officials when the trip exceeds three months or occurs during an emergency or crisis. But for barangays in HUCs and ICCs, foreign travel requests under the same circumstances will be handled by the DILG City Director. The DILG continues to process applications through its Foreign Travel Authority Online System (FTA OS), where applicants may submit the required documents electronically. The revised approval mechanism took effect on September 7, 2026. —VAL, GMA News