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[A.M. No. 96-3-06-0. September 12, 2000]

RE: GUIDELINES ON REQUESTS FOR TRAVEL ABROAD ON OB BY MEMBERS & PERSONNEL OF THE JUDICIARY

EN BANC

Gentlemen:

Quoted hereunder, for your Information, is a resolution of this Court dated SEPT 12 2000.

A.M. No. 96-3-06-0 (Re: Guidelines on Requests for Travel Abroad on Official Business or Official Time by all Members and Personnel of the Judiciary.)

The resolution of 19 March 1996 in this matter is hereby amended, and as amended it shall read as follows:

Unless otherwise provided by the Supreme Court, the following guidelines shall apply to requests for travel abroad on official business or official time by all Members and personnel of the Judiciary:

1. The applicant's request for permission to travel abroad on official business shall:

(a) state the purposes of the trip and its duration, the itinerary and the benefit expected to be derived therefrom;

(b) show that the purpose of the travel is related to his work or official function;

(c) state the number of times applicant has travelled abroad on official business or official time, as well as the purpose and inclusive period of said trips, within the past three years of his service in the Judiciary.

(d) be accompanied by a certification of (a) pending cases assigned to the applicant and (b) of the number thereof deemed submitted for decision, with the dates they were deemed submitted; and

(e) be accompanied by a certification of the applicant's average case disposition for the last six (6) months preceding the request.

2. Subject to pertinent existing COA rules and regulations, the official business status shall cover the inclusive dates of the program including direct travel time to and from the place of visit, the period used outside of these dates to be considered on official time only. The "official business" status entitles the official concerned to his salary, per diems and allowances granted under COA rules. "Official time" entitles the official concerned to his salary for the duration of his travel."

3. If, after departure, the trip is cancelled for any reason whatsoever, the applicant should inform the Supreme Court and all monies not otherwise legitimately spent should be returned and accounted for.

4. No applicant should travel on official business more than once a year.

5. Requests from Justices of the Court of Appeals and the Sandiganbayan and Judges of the Court of Tax Appeals shall be favorably endorsed by their respective Presiding Justices or Presiding Judges, as the case may be , and accompanied by a certification of availability of funds from the chief accountant of their court. Likewise, request from personnel of these courts shall be favorably endorsed by their respective clerks of court and approved by their Presiding Justices or Presiding Judges and accompanied by a certification of availability of funds by the chief accountant of their courts. These courts may prescribe supplemental guidelines on foreign travel to afford equal opportunities to their Members and personnel .

Requests from judges of the Regional Trial Courts, Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall be favorably endorsed by their respective Executive Judges. Likewise, requests from personnel of these courts shall be favorably endorsed by their respective clerks of court and approved by their Executive Judges. The requests shall then be forwarded to the Court Administrator who may upon review of the supporting documents and determination of compliance with the requirements, recommend their approval to the Supreme Court .

6. The applicant shall submit to the Court within thirty (30) days from his return a written report of his travel and about the program attended He shall likewise comply with the auditing rules of liquidation of expenses.

7. Heads of offices who frequently receive invitations to attend conferences or seminars related to their work shall give opportunities to other officials for the same office who can likewise benefit therefrom.

8. The foregoing notwithstanding, the resolution of the Court en banc of 22 August 2000 in A.M No. 00-8-09-SC disallowing the Members of the Supreme Court from going on foreign travel on official business or at government expense for a period of five (5) years, and only allowing foreign travel on official time, shall apply to all the rest of the Members of the Judiciary .

The foregoing amendments shall take effect immediately. Ynares-Santiago, J., is on leave.

Very truly yours,

(Sgd.) LUZVIMINDA D. PUNO

Clerk of Court�

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