Crushing the travel bug

Join the government and see the world: this seems to be the attitude of many individuals appointed to serve the public. Instead of service, they indulge in foreign travels at taxpayers’ expense.

The public can only welcome measures imposed by Malacañang to kill the travel bug among government officials and employees, especially with looming increases in consumer prices due to the tax reform law. Apart from issuing an executive order along this line, President Duterte has also fired several officials for what he described as a propensity for foreign junkets.

Yesterday, the latest to get the ax was administrator Marcial Quirico Amaro III of the Maritime Industry Authority. Amaro’s ouster comes on the heels of the sacking for the same reason of Terry Ridon as chairman of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor.

The Malacañang order, issued the other day, is laudable but must be applied without partiality. The wording of the order leaves a wide room for different interpretations. It is supposed to discourage “excessive and lavish travels abroad.” What might constitute “excessive”?

President Duterte might also urge his congressional allies to lead by example and impose similar curbs on their numerous junkets. Lawmakers, who think their job puts them above the law, have already said they cannot follow Malacañang’s lead.

The Palace order also requires that the trip must bring “substantial benefit” to the country. But this is a favorite excuse of all officials, including lawmakers, who travel abroad using public funds. Will the requirement cover top officials of the Department of Tourism, for example, who think their work involves globetrotting as professional tourists, with personal gofers in tow? Employees of the Tourism Promotions Board have filed a formal complaint against their head Cesar Montano for various offenses including questionable foreign travels. Yet it seems all that Montano has to do is stage a rally for President Duterte and the TPB chief is home free.

Any effort to curb the travel bug of public officials is commendable, but it will succeed best if its application is not selective. And it will be even more successful if the two other branches of government will impose the same measures for the judicious use of public funds.