Geography   Location: Location Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the SouthChina Sea, east of Vietnam Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 122 00 E Map references Southeast Asia Area total: land: water: 300,000 sq km 298,170 sq km 1,830 sq km Area comparative slightly larger than Arizona Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 36,289 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: exclusive economic zone: territorial sea: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines to depth of exploitation 200 nm irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in breadth Climate tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October) International disputes: involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; claims Malaysian state of Sabah Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands Elevation extremes lowest point: highest point : Philippine Sea 0 m Mount Apo 2,954 m Natural resources timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper Land use arable land: permanent crops: permanent pastures: forests and woodland: other: 19% 12%  4%  46% 19% (1993 est.) Irrigated land 15,800 sq km (1993 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 party to : international agreements Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Desertification People   Population: 76,103,564 (July 1997 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 15-64 years: 65 years and over:   38% (male 14,677,291; female 14,203,376) 59% (male 21,994,106; female 22,553,425) 3% (male 1,198,079; female 1,477,287) (July 1997 est.) Population growth rate:  2.13% (1997 est.) Birth rate: 28.97 births/1,000 population (1997 est.) Death rate: 6.59 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.) Net migration rate: 1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.) Infant mortality rate:  49.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Sex ratio at birth : under 15 years: 15-64 years: 65 years and over: total population : 1.05 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.81 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (1997 est.) Total fertility rate: 35.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.) Life expectancy at birth total population : male: female:   66.13 years 63.35 years 69.05 years (1997 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.62 children born/woman (1997 est.) Nationality:  Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3% Languages: noun: adjective: Filipino(s) Philippine Ethnic groups: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3% Religions: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3% Languages Pilipino: (official, based on Tagalog), English (official) Literacy definition: total population: male : female:   age 15 and over can read and write 94.6% 95% 94.3% (1995 est.) Government Country name conventional long form: conventional short form: local long form: local short form: Republic of the Philippines Philippines Republika ng Pilipinas Pilipinas Data code RP Government type republic Capital: Manila Administrative divisions: 72 provinces and 61 chartered cities*; Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusandel 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, 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*, LaUnion, Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao, Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*,Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental,Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, NorthCotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*,Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*, PuertoPrincesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Roxas*, Samar, SanCarlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in Pangasinan), San Jose*, SanPablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, SultanKudarat, Sulu, Surigao*, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*,Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales,Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur Independence: 4 July 1946 (from US) National holiday:  Independence Day, 12 June (1898) (from Spain) Constitution:  2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987 Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: head of government:   cabinet: elections: election results: President Fidel Valdes RAMOS (since 30 June 1992) and Vice President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1992); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Fidel Valdes RAMOS (since 30 June 1992) and Vice President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1992); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 11 May 1992 (next to be held NA May1998) Fidel Valdes RAMOS elected president; percent of vote - Fidel Valdes RAMOS 23.6% (a narrow plurality) Legislative branch:     elections : election results:    bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected by popular voteto serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Kapulungan NgMga Kinatawan (204 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note - an additional 50 members may be appointed by the president) Senate - last held 8 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1998); House ofRepresentatives - elections last held 8 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1998) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDP 14, Lakas/NUCD5, NPC 2, LP 1, PRP 1, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent ofvote by party - NA; seats by party - Lakas/NUCD 129, LDP 29, NPC (opposition)25, LP 6, PDP 3, KBL/NPC 1, results pending 11 Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the presidenton the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council Political parties and leaders: Democratic Filipino Struggle (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, LDP),Edgardo ANGARA; People Power-National Union of Christian Democrats (Lakasng EDSA-NUCD or Lakas-NUCD), Raul MANGLAPUS, president, and Jose DE VENECIA,secretary general; Liberal Party (LP), Raul DAZA; National People's Coalition(NPC), Eduardo COJUANGCO; People's Reform Party (PRP), Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO;New Society Movement (Kilusan Bagong Lipunan, KBL), Imelda MARCOS; NacionalistaParty (NP), Salvador H. LAUREL, president; Filipino Democratic Party (PartidoDemokratikong Philipinas or PDP), Jose COJUANGCO, is part of the ruling coalitionwith the LDP International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: chancery: telephone: FAX: consulate(s) general: consulate(s): Ambassador Raul Chaves RABE 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036  [1] (202) 467-9300  [1] (202) 328-7614 Agana (Guam), Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle San Diego and San Jose (Saipan)  US diplomatic representation: chief of mission:   embassy: mailing address:  telephone:  FAX:   Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000 APO AP 96440 [63] (2) 521-71-16 [63] (2) 522-43-61 Flag: description two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white 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 Economy   Overview: The Philippine economy, primarily a mixture of agriculture and light industry, continued its fourth year of recovery in 1996, led by growth in exports and investments. Officials have targeted 7.1%-7.8% growth for 1997 after achieving an estimated 5.5% growth in 1996. The government is continuing its economic reforms to enable the Philippines to move closer to the development of the newly industrialized countries of East Asia. The strategy includes improving infrastructure, overhauling the tax system to bolster government revenues, and moving toward further deregulation and privatization of the economy. GDP purchasing power parity - $194.2 billion (1996 est.) GDP-real growth rate: 5.5% (1996 est.) GDP-per capita purchasing power parity: $2,600 (1996 est.) GDP agriculture: industry: services: composition by sector 22% 32% 46% (1996 est.) Inflation rate - consumer price index: 8.4% (1996) Labor force total: by occupation : 29.13 million (1996 est.) agriculture 43.4%, services 22.6%, government services 17.9%, industry and commerce 16.1% (1995) Unemployment rate: 8.6% (1996) Budget revenues: expenditures : $18.4 billion $16.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.) Industries textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing Industrial production growth rate 6.3% (1996) Electricity - capacity 7.64 million kW (1994) Electricity - production  25.22 billion kWh (1994) Electricity - consumption per capita 326 kWh (1995 est.) Agriculture products rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish catch of 2 million metric tons annually Exports total value : commodities: partners: $20.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996) electronics, textiles, coconut products, telecommunications equipment, fruit, fish US 36%, Japan 16%, Singapore 5%, Hong Kong 5%, UK 5% (1995) Imports total value : commodities: partners: $33.3 billion (f.o.b., 1996) crude petroleum, telecommunications equipment, electronics, plastics, cars, textiles Japan 22%, US 18%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Taiwan 5%, South Korea 5% Singapore4% (1995) Debt - external $42.7 billion (June 1996) Economic aid recipient: ODA, $934 million (1993) Currency 1 Philippine peso (P) 100 centavos Exchange rates Philippine pesos (P) per US$1 - 26.36 (May 1997), 26.216 (1996), 25.714(1995), 26.417 (1994), 27.120 (1993), 25.512 (1992) Fiscal year calendar year Transportation   Railways total : narrow gauge: 499 km 499 km 1.067-m gauge (1993) Highways: total: paved: unpaved: note : 182,000 km (1994 est.) NA km NA km probably less than 30,000 km are designated arterial roads and not all of these are all-weather roads Waterways : 3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels Pipelines: petroleum products 357 km Ports and harbors: Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras Island, Iligan, Iloilo,Jolo, Legaspi, Manila, Masao, Puerto Princesa, San Fernando, Subic Bay, Zamboanga Merchant marine: total: ships by type:   note:  523 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,614,831 GRT/12,246,321 DWT container 10, liquefied gas tanker 6, livestock carrier 9, oil tanker 46, passenger 1, bulk 223, cargo 124, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 9, container8, liquefied gas tanker 9, livestock carrier 11, oil tanker 45, passenger3, passenger-cargo 13, refrigerated cargo 18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, short-sea passenger 23, vehicle carrier 20  a flag of convenience registry; Japan owns 24 ships, Hong Kong 4, UK2, Denmark 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, Singapore 1, and Taiwan 1 (1996 est.) Airports Airports   total: over 3,047 m: 2,438 to 3,047 m : 1,524 to 2,437 m: 914 to 1,523 m: under 914 m: 234 (1996 est.) with paved runways 168 2 7 26 30 103 (1996 est.) Airports total : 1,524 to 2,437 m: 914 to 1,523 m:  with unpaved runways 66 3 63 (1996 est.) Communication   Telephones  1.8 million (1996) Telephone system domestic: international: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and inter island service adequate domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean) Radio broadcast stations AM 261, FM 55, shortwave 0 Radios  9.03 million (1992 est.) Television broadcast stations 29   Televisions  7.6 million (1996) Military Military branches Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air Force Military manpower military age 20 years of age Military manpower males age 15-49: availability 19,231,427 (1997 est.) Military manpower males:  fit for military service 13,574,133 (1997 est.) Military manpower males: reaching military age annually 782,064 (1997 est.) Military expenditures dollar figure $1.3 billion (1996) Military expenditures  percent of GDP 0.7% (1996) Disputes  international involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; claims Malaysian state of Sabah Illicit drugs exports locally-produced marijuana and hashish to East Asia, the US, and other Western markets; serves as a transit point for heroin and crystal methamphetamines