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Issuance of Certificate for Foreign Travel Authority of Local Government Officials and Employees
Any local government official or employee who intends to travel abroad whether on government time only, on official business or for personal reason(s) shall first secure a travel authority at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the actual departure date from the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government if requests are from the:
Provincial Governors, Mayors of Highly Urbanized Cities and Independent Component Cities, regardless of the nature and duration of such travel;
Mayor of Component City and Municipality, Vice Governor, Vice Mayor, Member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Panlungsod and Bayan, and Barangay Elective Official, including Sangguniang Kabataan, on official time only, or on official business, or when the duration of leave of absence exceeds more than three (3) calendar months, during a period of emergency or crisis;
Local Government Department Head, on official time, or on official business, or when the duration of leave of absence exceeds three (3) calendar months or during a period of emergency or crisis; and
Local Government Employee, on official time only, or on official business.
Nature of Travel
A. Official Trip
As defined in Section 3 (a) of Executive Order No. 77, s. 2019, these are official foreign travels and assignments which meet the following criteria:
it is essential to the effective performance of an official or employee's mandates or functions
it is required to meet the needs of the department, agency, bureau or office, or there is substantial benefit to be derived by the state
the presence of the official or employee is critical to the outcome of the meeting, conference, seminar, consultation or any official activity to be attended
the projected expenses are not excessive or involve minimum expenditure.
Official trip is further classified as follows:
International Conferences or meetings - which the Philippine Government has commitments or to undertake official missions/assignments which cannot be assigned to government officials posted abroad
Scholarships, fellowships, trainings, and studies abroad which are grant-funded or undertaken at minimal cost to NGAs, including SUCs, GOCCs, GFIs, and LGUs
Invitations for speaking engagements or receving of awards from foreign governments/institutions or internation agencies/organizations as defined under international law, whether fully or partially funded by the government, upon endorsement of the DFA
B. Unofficial Trip
Refers to a foreign trip pursued for a personal or private purpose such as medical reason, emergency, and/or a special occasion and all those not covered by the definition of official trips
Filling of Application for Foreign Travel Authority
To allow the efficient and systematic evaluation and processing of requests, in accordance with the requirements of Quality Management System-International Organization for Standardization (QMS-ISO) on QP-DILG-BLGS-RO-03 and in compliance with Section 9 (b) (1) of Republic Act No. 11032 or the Anti-Red Tape Act (RTA) on Ease of Doing Business, the application for Travel Authority, complete with all the required documents is to be filed at least seven (7) working days, both for official and personal or private purpose, prior to the date of departure, thru the Foreign Travel Authority (FTA) On-Line System (version 3.0) at www.fta.dilg.gov.ph.
How to apply for Foreign Travel Authority
Go to fta.dilg.gov.ph.
On the website click “Apply Now”.
You will then be redirected to a new page where you need to provide the basic information of your travel.
Choose your type of travel, whether single or multiple destinations.
There are 3 Travel Categories:
Official Trip with entitlements
Official Trip without entitlements; and
Unofficial Trips
When you choose any of these options, the system will ask for additional information depending on your travel category.
Make sure to tick the correct criteria appropriate to your travel.
The next step is very important, indicate the correct dates you wish to travel.
It's necessary to book in advance as the system will not allow FTA requests filed less than 7 working days before the date of departure.
Choose your country of destination and provide a valid e-mail address.
It’s a must to use an active email address as the system will send the approved FTA to the registered email.
After providing all necessary information, click proceed to be redirected to a new page to review the details of your travel.
Carefully review the details of your trip and make sure that all information is correct. Click proceed.
You will be redirected to a page which will require you to accomplish a captcha code; once done, click submit application.
After submitting the application, the system will require you to verify your email address by entering the One Time Password (OTP) sent to your email within 60 seconds.
After entering the OTP, you will be redirected to the Citizen’s Charter Request Form or CCSRF where you need to tick your compliance of the various requirements based on your request. Click submit form.
In the next page you will be asked to fill up the FTA - Online Application Form. Please provide all required fields and make sure to upload a 2x2-inch formal picture not exceeding 5MB. You may use image resizing tools such as https://imresizer.com to help with uploading your photo.
The next step is very important, click Upload Document in the Supporting Documents portion and ensure to upload the correct files. You can still view the uploaded docs to make sure the correct documents are uploaded.
Lastly, tick the agreement and confirmation and click submit.
If all information is complete, you will be redirected to a new page with the Application Control Number (ACN) which will be directly downloaded. Keep this ACN as you may track the status of your application using this code.
How to check the Status of your FTA Request
Go to fta.dilg.gov.ph.
Click “CHECK APPLICATION STATUS” and provide your Application Control Number (ACN) sent to your email and hit SEARCH.
A new page will appear showing the status of your application.
To have a copy of your FTA information, you can click “EMAIL” and the system will send to your email the status of your application.
Note:
The Foreign Travel Authority Online System Version 3.0 is currently ongoing PILOT TESTING from March 11, 2024 - May 31, 2024.
Pending its full implementation, the requests for FTA may be submitted through the following:
DILG Data Management System (DMS).
Email at fta@dilg.gov.ph.
Approving Authority of Foreign Travel Authority
On the Foreign Travel of LCEs Before, During, and After Emergencies, Crisis, and/or Disaster
Pursuant to Section 11(a), Section 12(c) of Republic Act No. 10121 or 'Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010;" Sectuib 1(c), Section 1(d) and Section 3 of Executive Order No. 773, s. 2009, "Further Reorganizing the Peace and Order Council;" and the Operation Listo Manual, all LCEs, as head of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Peace and Order Council, are highly encouraged to remain in their respective areas of jurisdiction to personally lead and manage the said councils and implement the necessary measures to address issues arising from emergencies, crisis, and/or disaster.
Responsibilities of the DILG Regional Directors
Approve and sign action documents relative to request for travel authorities of the specified LG Officials and Employees under Item 3.3;
Designate Focal Person/s for this undertaking;
Cause the immediate and widest dissemination of this Memorandum Circular within their respective regional assignments; and
Ensure that this Circular is effectively communicated to concerned local authorities
Repealing Clause
This issuance repeals and supersedes DILG Memorandum Circular 2022-134 and other issuances inconsistent herewith
Basic Documents on all Travel Categories
Citizen's Charter Service Request Form (CCSRF)
Request Letter (Note: Governors, Vice Governors, Mayors, and Vice Mayors traveling abroad shall indicate the name of the Highest Ranking Sanggunian Member in their request letter).
A duly notarized affidavit attesting that no administrative charge or criminal case has been filed or is pending against the applicant, or Oath of Undertaking, when the applicant has a pending case; and
A duly accomplished Clearance from Money and Property Accountabilities (CSC Form No. 7, Revised 2018)
In relation to the requests of LCEs, or Vice Governors/Vice Mayors, the request should be accompanied by a report as to the existence of temporary vacancy in the office of the Vice Governor/Vice Mayor and a Certification from the COMELEC as to the Highest-Ranking Member of the of the concerned LGU.
Additional Documents Per Travel Category
Official Trips
Endorsement from the following officials depending on the position of the applicant:
the Local Chief Executive
if the applicant is a Component City and Municipal Mayor, Vice Governor, Vice Mayor, Punong Barangay and LG employees
the Presiding Officer (if the applicant is a Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang Bayan, and Sangguniang employees, and
the Punong Barangay (if the applicant is Sangguniang Barangay Member and Barangay employees including sangguniang Kabataan)
Invitation letter from the host country or sponsoring agency
Acceptance letter from CHED, TESDA, LGA, organizer, or donor, etc., if applicable
Invitation letter from the host country or sponsoring agency, if applicable
Copy or draft of the Memorandum of Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding between the LGU concernred and the LGU abroad (travel relating to Sister City or LG Technical Exchange Cooperation), if applicable
Unofficial Trips
For Governors, Mayors of Highly Urbanized Cities and Independent Component Cities, Mayor of Pateros
Duly accomplished Application for Leave (Civil Service Form No. 6, Revised 2020)
Medical Certificate for medical reasons
IMPORTANT: Guidelines on One-China Policy
As an important pillar of the Philippine relations with China, every local official or employee shall strictly observe the One-China Policy mandated in Presidential Executive No. 313, s. 1987, office of the President Memorandum Circular No. 148, s. 1992, and as Reiterated in DILG MC No. 2008-150, s. 2008:
For official trips to Taiwan - officials shall secure an approval from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and inform the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in the said country before applying for FTA with this department.
For unofficial trips to Taiwan - officials must inform the DFA and the MECO in the said country of their travel.
All officials who have concluded trips to Taiwan shall submit a report to the DFA containing the details of said travel.
All officials traveling to said country shall not use their official passports (red passports), pursuant to section 7 of RA 8239 in relation to EO 313 further, city/municipal mayors whose leave of absences are not acted upon by the provincial governor may secure their travel authority to be approved by the secretary in such cases, a duly notarized sworn statement with other documentary requirements shall be submitted.
Further, no agreements, memoranda of understanding, exchange of notes, or similar documents shall be concluded with any Taiwanese organization/agency, unless the text thereof has first been cleared with the DFA and the authority to sign has been secured from the Office of the President.
Guidelines for undertaking Foreign Benchmarking Activities
Pursuant to DILG MC No. 2022-147, one of the prerequisites to support requests for official travel, such as benchmarking activities, is an invitation letter from the host country or sponsoring agency. Be apprised that in this context, the host country refers to the government of the country the LGU intends to visit, while the sponsoring agency may be a private entity acting as the proponent.
Additional documents are required to submit to form part of the requirement for the following activities:
LGU Inititative - Study Tour or Benchmarking Purposes
CAPDEV Agenda of the LGU concerned (supported by the LGU's annual budget)
Training Design
Itinerary of Travel or Program of Activities
NGAs Inititative - Study Tour or Benchmarking Purposes
Invitation Letter from the NGAs Central Office or Regional Office; and
Certification from the NGA Central Office stating that the purpose of the trip is in consonance/in line with their overall program (if the initiative is from Regional Office)
Attendance to LG Technical Exchange Cooperation or Sister City Partnership/ Agreement Activities
Invitation Letter from the host country or LGU in abroad; and
Copy or draft of the Memorandum of Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding between the LGU concerned and the LGU abroad.
Procedure in the Citizen's Charter
FTA.pdf