Philippines

Country Profile

KEY FACTS

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Capital : Manila

Language : Filipino and English are the official languages. Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Bicolano, Waray Waray, Spanish and Chinese are also spoken.

Ethnic Groups : The vast majority of Filipinos are descendants of Malaysian and Indonesian migrants.

Religion : Christianity predominates with a Roman Catholic majority (83 percent). There is a Muslim minority (5 percent), as well as smaller numbers of Buddhists and other religious groups.

Time Zone : GMT +8

Climate : Tropical. Rainy season from July to October; cool and dry from November to February; hot and mainly dry from March to June; occasional typhoons between July and October.

Telephone dialing code : (+) 63

Currency : Peso

Terrorism/Security

There is a high threat from terrorism throughout the Philippines. Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and the intent to carry out these attacks at any time and anywhere in the country. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
On 13 November 2007, a bomb exploded in the car park of Congress in Quezon City, Metro Manila resulting in a number of deaths and injuries. Among those killed was a representative of Congress.
you should avoid all travel to Mindanao because of ongoing terrorist activity, where there have been a number of terrorist attacks against civilian targets in recent years.
You should also be aware of the risk of terrorist attacks to all forms of public transport: road, rail, sea and air. Terrorist groups have threatened to attack passenger ferries and other vessels, particularly those operating from Mindanao. There is also a threat from kidnapping in Philippines.
The Philippine government is taking action against the terrorist and kidnapping threat. It has tightened security in Metro Manila and other areas considered at high risk, including airports and seaports.

Local Laws and Customs
You should not get involved with drugs of any kind. Penalties for illegal drug importation and use are severe.
You are required to show some identity if requested by the police. You are allowed to carry photocopies of the relevant pages of passports. You should store the originals in a safe place to avoid loss or theft. You should leave details of travel plans, passport, credit cards with friends and family home and enter next of kin details into your passport.
Philippine law on paedophile activity is severe, and strictly enforced. Severe penalties can be passed in child abuse or rape cases. A child is defined in Philippine law as a person under the age of 18. Entrapment may also occur where strangers with children have befriended single male tourists; allegations of abuse are then made in an attempt to extort money.

Crime

The lines between criminal and terrorist activity are blurred in the Philippines. Organisations may use similar tactics, including causing explosions and kidnap for terrorist or criminal purposes. Explosions attributed to criminal organisations have caused fatalities.
There is a high incidence of street crime and robberies. Sensible precautions might include: arranging to be met at the airport or using hotel transfer services; using a driver or taxis from a reputable source and avoiding displays of cash or jewellery. Even well lit and busy city areas cannot be assumed to be safe. You should beware of strangers offering drinks or confectionery: criminals intent on robbery may lace these to render the victim unconscious.
There is a threat from kidnapping for ransom in Philippines. You should be particularly vigilant when travelling on public transport. Armed hold-ups have occurred on jeepneys and buses in the Philippines, and have in some cases resulted in fatalities. The roadworthiness of some of these vehicles is also a concern.

Press Freedom

To view a draft copy of the country report for the Philippines in Freedom of the Press 2010, click here.

The Philippines is ranked Partly Free in Freedom in the World 2010, Freedom House's survey of political rights and civil liberties, and Partly Free in Freedom of the Press 2010.

To learn more about the Philippines, visit Freedom in the World 2010: Philippines

Travel

Visa Requirements
Foreign nationals may enter the Philippines without a visa for an initial period of 21 days, while a tourist visa from the nearest Philippine Embassy will allow an initial 59 day stay. Overstaying without the proper authority is a serious matter and can lead to detention pending payment of outstanding fees and fines and voluntary deportation at your own expense.
Entry to the Philippines may be refused if your passport has less than six months validity or if you do not have an onward or return air ticket.

Insurance
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for activities you want to undertake.

Consular Registration
Register with your embassy to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so your consular embassy can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

Money
ATMs are available in Manila and other major cities. Some machines accept major international credit or debit cards. Retail outlets in urban areas usually accept payment by international credit card, though often add a service charge. Banks do not always accept travellers' cheques, but it will help if you can show your receipt of purchase for the cheques. Cash, in Euros, Pounds sterling or US dollars, can be exchanged for Philippine pesos in banks, hotels and some retail outlets.

Driving (Left/Right) : Right

Road Safety
see Local Travel section

Air Safety

If leaving the country by air you must pay the departure tax (750 Pesos) in cash and in local currency.
You should re-confirm domestic flights not less than 72 hours before departure. Check your international airline's policy on re-confirmation when you make your booking.

Sea/River Safety

In June 2008 a passenger ferry travelling between Manila and Cebu capsized as a result of rough seas caused by Tropical Cyclone Fengshen.
In addition to the threat from terrorism (see above) there is a high incidence of piracy and armed robbery against ships in and around Philippine waters. Inter-island travel by small boats can also be dangerous as storms appear quickly.

Local Travel
Include safety measures in all your travel plans. Seek advice from local contacts, avoid travel off the beaten track and always leave travel plans with friends, colleagues or relatives. Safety standards on taxis, buses and boats can be low.
You should take particular care during the rainy season when flash floods and landslides can occur. Between 20 and 22 June 2008, Tropical Cyclone Fengshen brought high winds and rain to the Visayas and Luzon, causing flash floods and landslides. Roads and bridges were damaged.

Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago
You should avoid all travel to Mindanao because of ongoing terrorist activity. There have been terrorist attacks against civilian targets in Mindanao. You should avoid all travel to the Sulu archipelago including Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Jolo, where there are ongoing clashes between the military and insurgent groups. The most recent fatal attack was in November 2007 in a shopping mall in Kidapawan City but in 2008 there have been further attacks in the Sulu Archipelago and Zamboanga.
There is also a threat of kidnapping in mainland Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago. Foreigners have been targeted before, particularly in coastal areas.

Natural Disasters

Typhoons

The typhoon season in the Philippines normally runsfrom July to November. This is also the rainy season and flooding andlandslides may occur.

Seven Regions have been declared calamity zones: Region 3 (Central Luzon); Region 4B (Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon); Region 5 (Bicol Region); Region 6 (Western Visayas); Region 8 (EasternVisayas); Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula); and Region 12 (Cotabato,Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, General Santos). There have been widespread power cuts, although power has been fully restored to the capital Manila. You should exercise caution and follow the advice of the local authorities.

Volcanoes

There are numerous volcanoes in Philippines, any of which can erupt without warning. Sudden steam and ash explosions may occur at any time. Since July 2007 both Bulusan volcano in Sorsogon Province and Kanloan volcano in Negros Oriental Province have shown increased volcanic activity. Mayon volcano in Albay Province, south east Luzon, also continues toshow signs of volcanic activity.

The capacity of the Philippine emergency and rescue services to deal with large natural disasters is limited. You are advised to exercise caution, check news reports and follow local advice before travelling to volcanic areas.

Earthquakes

The Philippines is in an earthquake zone. The last significant earthquake to affect the Philippines was on July 16 1990 in Central Luzon whenover 1100 people were killed.

Health

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and health insurance before travelling to the Philippines. This should cover the cost of medical treatment, including hospitalisation and evacuation by air ambulance. You should also ensure that your insurance covers unexpected losses or expenses such as lost luggage, stolen cash and credit cards, missed flights, etc. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.

You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to the Philippines you should seek immediate medical attention.

Diseases
Rabies and malaria (including malarial encephalitis) are common to the whole of the Philippines. Dengue fever is also common, with the number of cases usually peaking during the rainy season, in July and August. The number of Dengue fever cases reported during the first half of 2008 (11,965) was over 30% higher than forthe same period in 2007 (9,009).
Since January 2008 there have been typhoid outbreaks reported throughout the Philippines. The most recent cases occurred in Calamba City, Luzon, in February 2008 and Zumarraga, Samar, in March 2008.
The Philippines` Department of Health has warned of the possibility of an outbreak of water-borne diseases, including diarrhoea and cholera, in the areas worst affected by Typhoon Fengshen, which occurred between 20-22 June 2008.
In June 2008 an outbreak of leptospirosis was reported in Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, in Mindanao.
You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
There have been no reported cases of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in the Philippines during the current series of outbreaks. But the World Health Organisation has confirmed cases elsewhere in the region.

Medical supplies and facilities

The extent of medical care varies across the Philippines, and may not meet the standards of care like home. Although sufficient in major cities, medical care is limited in more remote areas. You should be aware that medical treatment can be very expensive.

Landmines

For more information on landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), consult the Landmine Monitor, a research and monitoring initiative of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and the de facto monitoring regime for the Mine Ban Treaty. It independently and impartially monitors and reports on the use of mines by the different actors (Government, Non-State armed groups). It also provides information about identification, marking and fencing of affected areas as well as updated landmines and ERW casualties.

Go to the Landmine Monitor