Marcos Delegates Authority for Foreign Travel Approvals of Local Officials to Interior Secretary

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has authorized Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla to designate other officials to approve foreign travels of local government executives. Signed by Marcos on July 30 but uploaded on the Official Gazette website on Wednesday, Administrative Order (AO) No. 47 allows the chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to re-delegate this approval authority to other ranking officials he designates. The order aims to streamline the approval process for foreign trips undertaken by local government officials, which have become more frequent. Previously, such travels required the President's explicit approval. This delegation is expected to expedite the process, facilitating local government units' engagement in international exchanges and information gathering. While the Philippines has been decentralizing power, oversight from the national government remains crucial. This move by the Marcos administration signifies an effort to enhance administrative efficiency and responsiveness. However, ensuring transparency and maintaining robust oversight mechanisms to prevent any misuse of this delegated authority will be key considerations moving forward. Inquirer NewsInfo