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Introduction
 The
Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century;
they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American
War. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth.
Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing
the country for independence after a 10-year transition. In 1942 the
islands fell under Japanese occupation during WWII, and US forces
and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4
July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence.
The 20-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people
power" movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and
installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered
by several coup attempts, which prevented a return to full political
stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected
president in 1992 and his administration was marked by greater
stability and progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed
its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected
president in 1998, but was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment
trial on corruption charges broke down and another "people power"
movement ("EDSA 2") demanded his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was
elected to a six-year term as president in May 2004. The Philippine
Government faces threats from three terrorist groups on the US
Government's Foreign Terrorist Organization list, but in 2006 and
2007 scored some major successes in capturing or killing key wanted
terrorists. Decades of Muslim insurgency in the southern Philippines
have led to a peace accord with one group and an ongoing cease-fire
and peace talks with another.
-- TOP -
Geography
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Location: |
Southeastern
Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China
Sea, east of Vietnam |
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Geographic coordinates: |
13 00 N, 122 00 E
|
|
Map references: |
Southeast Asia |
|
Area: |
total: 300,000 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km |
|
Area - comparative: |
slightly larger than Arizona |
|
Land boundaries: |
0 km |
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Coastline: |
36,289 km
|
|
Maritime claims: |
continental
shelf: to depth of exploitation
territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 NM from
coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed
polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 NM in breadth
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
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Climate: |
tropical marine;
northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to
October) |
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Terrain: |
mostly mountains
with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands |
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Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m |
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Natural resources: |
timber,
petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper |
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Land use: |
arable land:
18.45%
permanent crops: 14.76%
other: 66.79% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land: |
15,500 sq km (1998 est.) |
|
Natural hazards: |
astride typhoon
belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms
per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes;
tsunamis |
|
Environment - current
issues: |
uncontrolled
deforestation in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water
pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps
which are important fish breeding grounds |
|
Environment
international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
|
|
Geography - note: |
favorably located
in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies: the South
China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Strait
|
People
|
Population: |
84,525,639 (July
2002 est.) |
|
Age structure: |
0-14 years:
36.6% (male 15,731,451; female 15,169,264)
15-64 years: 59.7% (male 24,990,500; female 25,478,245)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 1,399,862; female 1,756,317)
(2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate: |
1.99% (2002 est.) |
|
Birth rate: |
26.88
births/1,000 population
(2002 est.) |
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Death rate: |
5.95 deaths/1,000
population
(2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate: |
-1 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2002 est.) |
|
Sex ratio: |
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate: |
27.87
deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 68.12 years
female: 71.12 years (2002 est.)
male: 65.26 years |
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Total fertility rate: |
3.35 children
born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.07% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with
HIV/AIDS: |
28,000 (1999
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
1,200 (1999 est.) |
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Nationality: |
noun:
Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine |
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Ethnic groups: |
Christian Malay
91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3% |
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Religions: |
Roman Catholic
83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3% |
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Languages: |
two official
languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English; eight major
dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol,
Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense |
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Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.6%
male: 95%
female: 94.3% (1995 est.) |
-- TOP --
Government
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Country name: |
conventional
long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local short form: Pilipinas
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas |
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Government type: |
republic
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Capital: |
Manila
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Administrative divisions: |
73 provinces and
61 chartered cities*; Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan,
Albay, Angeles*, Antique, Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*,
Basilan, Basilan City*, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Batangas City*,
Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Butuan*, Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*,
Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro*, Calbayog*, Caloocan*, Camarines Norte,
Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Canlaon*, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite
City*, Cebu, Cebu City*, Cotabato*, Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao
City*, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dipolog*,
Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar, General Santos*, Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*,
Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela,
Kalinga-Apayao, La Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur,
Laoag*, Lapu-Lapu*, La Union, Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*,
Maguindanao, Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro
Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental,
Mountain, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato,
Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*,
Oroquieta*, Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga,
Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino,
Rizal, Romblon, Roxas*, Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San
Carlos* (in Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor,
Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu,
Surigao*, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*,
Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*,
Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur
|
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Independence: |
4 July 1946 (from
US) |
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National holiday: |
Independence Day
(from Spain), 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 is the date of
independence from Spain, 4 July 1946 is the date of independence from
the US |
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Constitution: |
2 February 1987,
effective 11 February 1987 |
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Legal system: |
based on Spanish
and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations |
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Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal |
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Executive branch: |
chief of
state: President Gloria
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Teofisto
GUINGONA (since 20 January 2001); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20
January 2001) and Vice President Teofisto GUINGONA (since 20 January
2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of
the Commission of Appointments
elections: president and vice president elected on separate
tickets by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 11 May
1998 (next to be held 16 May 2004)
election results: results of the last presidential election -
Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA elected president; percent of vote -
approximately 40%; Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected vice president;
percent of vote - 55%; note - on 20 January 2001, Vice President
Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was sworn in as the constitutional successor
to President Joseph ESTRADA after the Supreme Court declared that
ESTRADA was unable to rule in view of the mass resignations from his
government; according to the Constitution, only in cases of death,
permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the
president, can the vice president serve for the unexpired term
|
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Legislative branch: |
bicameral
Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats -
one-half elected every three years; members elected by popular vote to
serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Kapulungan
Ng Mga Kinatawan (214 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
three-year terms; note - additional members may be appointed by the
president but the Constitution prohibits the House of Representatives
from having more than 250 members)
elections: Senate - last held 14 May 2001 (next to be held 16
May 2004); House of Representatives - elections last held 14 May 2001
(next to be held 16 May 2004)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - Lakas 13, PDP-Laban/LDP 11; House of Representatives
- percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Lakas 86, NPC 51,
LDP 21, LP 20, independents 10, other 26 |
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Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court
(justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the
Judicial and Bar Council and serve until 70 years of age) |
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Political parties and leaders: |
Kilusang Bagong
Lipunan (New Society Movement) [Imelda MARCOS]; Laban Ng Demokratikong
Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Eduardo ANGARA];
Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA, party president]; Liberal Party or LP [Florencio
ABAD]; Nacionalista Party [Jose OLIVEROS]; National People's Coalition
or NPC [Eduardo COJUANGCO]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL]; People's
Reform Party or PRP [Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO] |
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International organization
participation: |
APEC, ARF, AsDB,
ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNMIK, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
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Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Albert
DEL ROSARIO
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York,
San Francisco, San Jose (Northern Mariana Islands), Tamuning (Guam)
FAX: [1] (202) 328-7614
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000
chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
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Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Francis
J. RICCIARDONE
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000 Manila
mailing address: FPO 96515
telephone: [63] (2) 523-1001
FAX: [63] (2) 522-4361 |
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Flag description: |
two equal
horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a D9FED3 equilateral
triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the triangle is a
yellow sun with eight primary rays (each containing three individual
rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small yellow
five-pointed star |
-- TOP --
Economy
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Economy - overview: |
In 1998 the
Philippine economy - a mixture of agriculture, light industry, and
supporting services - deteriorated as a result of spillover from the
Asian financial crisis and poor weather conditions. Growth fell to
0.6% in 1998 from 5% in 1997, but recovered to about 3% in 1999 and 4%
in 2000. The government has promised to continue its economic reforms
to help the Philippines match the pace of development in the newly
industrialized countries of East Asia. The strategy includes improving
infrastructure, overhauling the tax system to bolster government
revenues, furthering deregulation and privatization of the economy,
and increasing trade integration with the region. Prospects for 2002
depend heavily on the economic performance of two major trading
partners, the US and Japan. |
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GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $335 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate: |
2.8% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $4,000 (2000 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture:
17%
industry: 30%
services: 53% (2000 est.) |
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Population below poverty line: |
40% (2001 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by
percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
2%
highest 10%: 39% (1998) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini
index: |
46 (1997)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
6% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force: |
32 million (2000) |
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Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture 40%,
government and social services 19%, services 18%, manufacturing 10%,
construction 6%, other 8% (1998 est.) |
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Unemployment rate: |
10% (2001)
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Budget: |
revenues:
$10.9 billion
expenditures: $13.8 billion, including capital expenditures of
$NA (2001 est.) |
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Industries: |
textiles,
pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing,
electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing |
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Industrial production growth rate: |
4% (2000 est.) |
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Electricity - production: |
40.667 billion
kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel:
58%
hydro: 20%
other: 23% (2000)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption: |
37.82 billion kWh
(2000) |
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Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2000) |
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Agriculture - products: |
rice, coconuts,
corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish
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Exports: |
$37 billion
f.o.b. (2000) |
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Exports - commodities: |
electronic
equipment, machinery and transport equipment, garments, coconut
products |
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Exports - partners: |
US 30%, Japan
15%, Netherlands 8%, Singapore 8%, Taiwan 8%, Hong Kong 5% (2000)
|
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Imports: |
$30 billion
f.o.b. (2000) |
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Imports - commodities: |
raw materials and
intermediate goods, capital goods, consumer goods, fuels |
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Imports - partners: |
Japan 19%, US
16%, EU 9%, South Korea 8%, Singapore 6%, Taiwan 6% (2000)
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Debt - external: |
$50 billion
(2001) |
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Economic aid - recipient: |
ODA, $1.1 billion
(1998) (1998) |
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Currency: |
Philippine peso
(PHP) |
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Currency code: |
PHP |
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Exchange rates: |
Philippine pesos
per US dollar - 51.201 (January 2002), 50.993 (2001), 44.192 (2000),
39.089 (1999), 40.893 (1998), 29.471 (1997) |
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Fiscal year: |
calendar year
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-- TOP --
Communications
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Telephones - main lines in use: |
3.1 million
(2000) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular: |
6.5 million
(2000) |
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Telephone system: |
general
assessment: good
international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic
and inter-island service adequate
domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations
international: 9 international gateways; satellite earth
stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean); submarine
cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan |
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Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 366, FM 290,
shortwave 5
note: each shortwave station operates on multiple frequencies
in the language of the target audience (2002) |
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Radios: |
11.5 million
(1997) |
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Television broadcast stations: |
75 (2000)
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Televisions: |
3.7 million
(1997) |
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Internet country code: |
.ph |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
33 (2000)
|
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Internet users: |
4.5 million
(2002) |
-- TOP --
Transportations
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Railways: |
total:
897 km
narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m
gauge (405 km are not in
operation) (2001) |
|
Highways: |
total:
199,950 km
paved: 39,590 km
unpaved: 160,360 km (1998 est.) |
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Waterways: |
3,219 km
note: limited to vessels with a draft of less than 1.5 m
|
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Pipelines: |
petroleum
products 357 km |
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Ports and harbors: |
Batangas, Cagayan
de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras Island, Iligan, Iloilo, Jolo, Legaspi,
Manila, Masao, Puerto Princesa, San Fernando, Subic Bay, Zamboanga
|
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Merchant marine: |
total:
416 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,179,029 GRT/7,670,688 DWT
ships by type: bulk 134, cargo 112, chemical tanker 2,
combination bulk 7, container 5, liquefied gas 9, livestock carrier 9,
passenger 4, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 41, refrigerated
cargo 20, roll on/roll off 14, short-sea passenger 29, specialized
tanker 2, vehicle carrier 18
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a
flag of convenience: Australia 2, Canada 1, Germany 3, Greece 8, Hong
Kong 13, Japan 47, Malaysia 19, Netherlands 14, Norway 8, Panama 3,
Singapore 12, South Korea 1, Taiwan 2, United Kingdom 7 (2002 est.)
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Airports: |
275 (2001)
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Airports - with paved runways: |
total:
82
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m:
34
under 914 m: 13 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
26 |
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Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total:
175
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
under 914 m: 99 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 71 |
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Heliports: |
2 (2002)
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-- TOP --
Military
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Military branches:
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Army, Navy (including Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air Force,
paramilitary units |
|
Military manpower - military age:
|
20 years of age (2002 est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age 15-49: 21,718,304 (2002 est.) |
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Military manpower -
fit for military service:
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males age 15-49: 15,285,248 (2002 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
|
males: 848,181 (2002 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$995 million (FY98) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
1.5% (FY98) |
-- TOP --
Transnational Issue
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Disputes - international:
|
Sultanate of Sulu granted Philippines Government power of attorney to
pursue his sovereignty claim over Malaysia's Sabah State, to which the
Philippines have not fully revoked their claim; involved in a complex
dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam,
and possibly Brunei |
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Illicit drugs:
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exports locally produced marijuana and hashish to East Asia, the US, and
other Western markets; serves as a transit point for heroin and crystal
methamphetamine |
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At a Glance"
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