Geography   Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China 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) 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: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification People   Population: 81,159,644 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 15-64 years: 65 years and over:   37% (male 15,344,555; female 14,807,320) 59% (male 23,777,245; female 24,285,565) 4% (male 1,312,646; female 1,632,313) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 2.07% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 27.85 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 6.13 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -1.02 migrant (s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 29.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)   Sex ratio at birth : under 15 years: 15-64 years: 65 years and over: total population: 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.8 male(s)/female  0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.48 children born/woman (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: male: female:   67.48 years 64.65 years 70.46 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.48 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: 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% Literacy: definition: total population: male : female: age 15 and over can read and write 94.6% 95% 94.3% (1995 est.) Languages: Pilipino (official, based on Tagalog), English (official) 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: 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, 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, 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: head of government:   cabinet: elections: election results: President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June 1998); 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 separate tickets by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 11 May 1998 (next to be held 11 May 2004) Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA elected president; percent of vote - approximately 40%; Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected vice president; percent of vote - NA% Legislative branch:     elections : election results:    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 (221 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 11 May 1998 (next to be held 11 May 2001); House of Representatives - elections last held 11 May 1998 (next to be held 11 May 2001) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LAMP 12, Lakas 5, PRP 2, LP 1, other 3; note - the Senate now has only 23 members with one seat vacated when Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO became vice president; the seat can only be filled by election and is likely to remain open until the next regular election in 2001; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LAMP 135, Lakas 37, LP 13, Aksyon Demokratiko 1, other 35 Judicial branch:  Supreme Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council Political parties and leaders: Aksyon Demokratiko or Democratic Action [Raul ROCO]; Laban Ng Masang Pilipino or LAMP (Struggle of the Filipino Masses) [Joseph ESTRADA, titular head, Eduardo "Danding" COJUANGO, chairman, Edgardo ANGARA, party president]; Lakas [Raul MANGLAPUS, chairman, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, secretary general, Jose DE VENECIA, party president]; Liberal Party or LP [Raul DAZA, president, Jovito SALONGA, chairman, Florencio ABAD, secretary general]; People's Reform Party or PRP [Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO] 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, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNTAET, 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 Ernesto MACEDA 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036   [1] (202) 467-9300  [1] (202) 328-7614 Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tamuning (Guam) 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  FPO 96515 [63] (2) 523-1001 [63] (2) 522-4361 Flag: 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: 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 about -0.5% in 1998 from 5% in 1997, but recovered to 2.9% in 1999. 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, and moving toward further deregulation and privatization of the economy. GDP-purchasing power parity : $282 billion (1999 est.) GDP-real growth rate: 2.9% (1999 est.) GDP-per capita purchasing power parity: $3,600 (1999 est.)   GDP agriculture: industry: services: composition by sector 20% 32% 48% (1997 est.) Population below poverty line: 32% (1997 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: highest 10%: 2.4% 33.5% (1994) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.8% (1999) Labor force:  32 million (1999 est.) Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 39.8%, government and social services 19.4%, services 17.7%, manufacturing 9.8%, construction 5.8%, other 7.5% (1998 est.) Unemployment rate: 9.6% (October 1998) Budget: revenues: expenditures:   $14.5 billion $12.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.) Industries: textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing Industrial production growth rate:   1.7% (1999 est.) Electricity—production: 39.623 billion kWh (1998) Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: hydro: nuclear: other: 70.12% 10.75%  0% 19.13% (1998) Electricity—consumption: 36.849 billion kWh (1998) Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1998)   Agriculture—products: rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish Exports: $34.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports—commodities: electronic equipment, machinery and transport equipment, garments, coconut products   Exports—partners:  US 22%, Japan 20%, South Korea 8%, Singapore 6%, Taiwan 5%, Hong Kong 4% (1998 est.)   Imports: $30.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports—commodities: raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods, consumer goods, fuels   Debt—external: $51.9 billion (1999) Economic aid—recipient: ODA, $1.1 billion (1998) Currency: 1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: Philippine pesos (P) per US$1 - 40.427 (January 2000), 39.089 (1999), 40.893 (1998), 29.471 (1997), 26.216 (1996), 25.714 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year Transportation   Railways total : narrow gauge: 492 km (an additional 405 km are not in operation) 492 km 1.067-m gauge (1996) Highways: total: paved:   unpaved: 199,950 km 39,590 km 160,360 km (1998 est.) 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: 480 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,973,024 GRT/9,025,087 DWT bulk 159, cargo 122, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 9, container 7, liquified gas 13, livestock carrier 9, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 47, refrigerated cargo 20, roll-on/roll-off 19, short-sea passenger 32, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 20 (1999 est.) a flag of convenience registry; Japan owns 19 ships, Hong Kong 5, Cyprus 1, Denmark 1, Greece 1, Netherlands 1, Singapore 1, and UK 1 (1998 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: 266 (1999 est.) with paved runways 75 4 5 26 31 10 (1999 est.) Airports total : 1,524 to 2,437 m: 914 to 1,523 m:  under 914 m:  with unpaved runways 190 3 66 121 (1999 est.) Heliports 1 (1999 est.) Communication   Telephones - main lines in use: 1.9 million (1997) Telephone system domestic: international: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and inter island service adequate domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations 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 Radio broadcast stations AM 366, FM 290, shortwave 3 (1999)   Radios 11.5 million (1997) Television broadcast stations 31 (1997) Televisions 3.7 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 93 (1999) Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.959 million (1998) 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 20,731,979 (2000 est.) Military manpower males:  fit for military service 14,607,014 (2000 est.) Military manpower males: reaching military age annually 835,817 (2000 est.) Military expenditures dollar figure :   $995 million (FY98) Military expenditures percent of GDP :   1.5% (FY98) Transnational Issues Disputes involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; claim to Malaysia's Sabah State has not been fully revoked 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 methamphetamine