Guidelines on Requests for Travel Abroad of All Members and Personnel of the Judiciary

September 16, 2022

OCA CIRCULAR NO. 241-2022

 

In accordance with the 26 July 2022 Resolution in A.M. No. 22-07-25-SC, the Court En BancRESOLVED to ADOPT the "Guidelines on Requests for Travel Abroad of All Members and Personnel of the Judiciary," the full text of which is appended herewith as Annex "A" for reference.

Particular attention should be given to the following provisions of the guidelines:

GUIDELINES ON REQUESTS FOR TRAVEL ABROAD OF ALL MEMBERS AND PERSONNEL OF THE JUDICIARY

xxx xxx xxx

The following Guidelines are hereby adopted for requests for travel abroad of all members and personnel of the Judiciary:

I. Travel on Official Business or Official Time

A. Requests for travel abroad on official business or official time of all members and personnel of the Judiciary shall be referred to the Chairpersons of the Divisions of the Court for appropriate action or resolution, for and in behalf of the Court en banc, except for travels on official business or official time by the Chief Justice and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court which shall be referred to the Court en banc.

B. Requirements

xxx xxx xxx

4. No applicant shall travel on official business more than once a year, unless necessary and upon approval of the Chief Justice.

5. a) x x x

xxx xxx xxx

d) Requests for travel abroad on official business or official time of judges of the Regional Trial Courts, Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts, Municipal Circuit Trial Courts and Shari'a Courts shall be favorably endorsed by their respective Executive Judges. Likewise, requests of personnel of these courts shall be favorably endorsed by their respective clerks of court and approved by their Executive Judges. The requests shall be accompanied by a certification of availability of funds by the [Financial] Management Office or by the FMBO, and 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. The same shall be referred to the Chairpersons of the Divisions of the Court for appropriate action.

6. The applicant shall submit to the Court within thirty (30) days from return a written report on the travel and the program attended. Auditing rules of liquidation of expenses shall likewise be complied with.

xxx xxx xxx

II. Personal Travel Abroad

xxx xxx xxx

3. All requests for personal travel abroad of trial court judges and personnel shall be filed with the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA), in accordance with its relevant guidelines. Such requests shall be acted upon by the Court Administrator, who shall no longer refer the matter to the Supreme Court en banc.

xxx xxx xxx

For information, guidance, and strict observance.

(SGD.) RAUL B. VILLANUEVACourt Administrator

ANNEX A

A.M. No. 22-07-25-SC