Marcos OKs delegation of LGU execs' foreign travel approval

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has allowed Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla to delegate the authority to approve foreign travel requests of local government units officials. Administrative Order (AO) 47, signed on July 30 by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto by the authority of Marcos, aims to expedite the processing of travel applications. AO 47 amended AO 267, which delegated the President’s authority to approve travel requests to the DILG chief. The new order permits Remulla to pass on the authority to his designated representatives, to facilitate faster processing. “Considering the volume of travel requests and the increasing demands of regional coordination, there is a need to refine the approval processes, to ensure responsiveness amid contemporary government realities,” AO 47 read. In a message to The STAR, Remulla said local officials can go directly to the offices of DILG regional and provincial directors for the approval of their travel requests. The Local Government Code mandates local government officials traveling abroad to secure permission from the Office of the President if the period of travel is more than three months, if it falls during periods of emergency or crisis, or when the travel involves the use of public funds.