President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday that beginning January 1, "no travel" abroad policy will be implemented in the executive, except for certain officials and circumstances.

In a speech in Davao City, Duterte said he would also check the records of the government employees who frequently travelled abroad using government fund.

"That's why January 1, I told (Executive Secretary Salvador) Medialdea - well, I do not want to interfere with Congress and the Supreme Court - under me, no travel now. I’ll cut it or whatever, except the diplomats, the ambassadors," he said.

Those who have relatives who died abroad could also travel, but at their own expense, he said.

"Let's have starvation diet in the meantime. Every time you go out you spend per diem and then hotels plus the fare," Duterte said.

He said he would look into the records of the monthly travels of government officials.

"All those who travelled every month, you go. I do not need you in the Executive department. So no travel really," the President said.

While he would cut foreign travels of employees from the executive, Duterte said he might go to India next year.

"I hate to travel but I have to represent. Now, this is India. I begged-off. Problem is we're the only one who does not have the representation so the Department of Foreign Affairs is urging me to go there because India is also a big market," he said.

"It has a lot of people there --- next I think to --- catching up with China in terms of population. I am not sure but I have to attend every… well, whatever it is, it’s heads of state," he added.

Recently, Duterte fired the five commissioners of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, including its chairman Terry Ridon, for "notorious junkets abroad."

According to Duterte, Ridon went abroad at least seven times since he assumed office in September last year. Celerina Monte/DMS