THE GOVERNMENT should update the travel and transportation allowance rates for civil servants in local governments, a move that could help boost the tourism sector, a senior legislator said.
House Ways and Means Chair Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda called on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to evaluate and adjust the rates of the daily travel allowance and representation and transportation allowance (RATA) for local officials by at least 35%.
“From 2013 to 2022, the value of each peso has eroded to 74 centavos. It also no longer makes sense given that LGUs (local government units) have increased local revenues from 107.98 billion to 256.21 billion last year. That’s a 137% growth rate,” Mr. Salceda said in a statement on Saturday.
“They also have more resources as a result of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling. So, all in all, they are better placed to help the domestic tourism sector,” he added.
Mr. Salceda also pushed for an increase in per diem rates.
According to Executive Order No. 77 s. 2019, the maximum allowable daily travel expenses of a government personnel is: P2,200 for the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa; P1,800 for the Cordillera Administrative Region, Western and Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Davao; and P1,500 for the eight other regions.
He noted that the order “mandates a periodic review every three years based on a survey of lodging costs conducted by the DoT (Department of Tourism), and other economic indicators prescribed by the Philippine Statistics Authority.” — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz