AMENDING FURTHER EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 248 DATED MAY 29, 1995 AS AMENDED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 248-A DATED AUGUST 14, 1995, WHICH PRESCRIBES RULES AND REGULATIONS AND NEW RATES OF ALLOWANCES FOR OFFICIAL LOCAL AND FOREIGN TRAVELS OF GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL

WHEREAS, the existing rules and regulations and the allowable travel expenses for local and foreign travels of government personnel must be rationalized to make the grant thereof fair and equitable;

WHEREAS, in view of the increasing cost of goods and services, there is a need to review the rules and regulations and travel expenses for local and foreign travels;

WHEREAS, under Section 79 of Presidential Decree No. 1177, dated July 30, 1977, as amended by Section 72, Book VI of Executive Order No. 292 or the (Administrative Code of 1987), the rates of travel allowances may be changed from time to time as may be determined by the Travel Rates Committee created therein;

WHEREAS, the Travel Rates Committee has submitted to the President recommendations to modify the existing rules and regulations and the authorized travel expenses for local and foreign travels;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Section 4 of EO No. 248, as amended by EO No. 248-A, is hereby renamed as Section 2, and Items b) and c) thereof are hereby amended as follows:

b) Travel Expenses - the amount authorized to cover hotel/lodging rate, meals and incidental expenses excluding transportation expenses going to and from the destinations.

c) Hotel/Lodging Rate - the daily hotel/lodging cost including the prescribed taxes and service charges.

SEC. 2. Sections 2 and 3 are hereby renumbered as Section 3 and Section 4, respectively.

SEC. 3. The first (1st) paragraph of Section 5 of EO No. 248 is hereby amended to read as follows: