Marcos allows DILG chief to delegate approvals for local officials' foreign travel requests

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has allowed Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla to delegate the authority to approve the requests of local government officials to travel abroad.

Under Administrative Order (AO) No. 47, which amended AO No. 267 (1992), the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was specifically given the permission to further delegate the authority to his or her designated representatives.

“Considering the volume of travel requests and the increasing demands of regional coordination, there is a need to refine approval processes to ensure responsiveness amid contemporary government realities, strengthen government systems and improve bureaucratic efficiency, while also maintaining sufficient oversight and supervision over local governments,” the order read.

The order was signed by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on July 30, 2026, by the authority of the President.

Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that local government officials traveling abroad are required to secure permission from the Office of the President when the period of travel extends to more than three months, during periods of emergency or crisis, or when the travel involves the use of public funds.

AO No. 267 previously delegated certain supervisory powers of the President over local governments to the DILG chief, including the approval of foreign travel of local officials. —VAL, GMA News