http://www.LivingInthePhilippines.comis theORIGINAL, firstPhilippines Expat site on the Net, since 1989. This is not one of many knock-offs, copycats, imitations. Some have permutations of the names,misspellings and "in" and "the" or "ing." left off to deceive you. This is the original, by: Don A. Herrington
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:
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
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 :
signed, but not ratified:
international agreements
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
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography :
Asia's main water bodies:
note favorably located in relation to many of
Southeast
the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and
Luzon Strait
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:
Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English; eight
major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocan, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo,
Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense
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
Independence:
4 July 1946 (from US)
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
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 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
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 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 16
May 2004)
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
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 (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)
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)
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
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)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
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]
Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, San Jose
(Northern Mariana Islands), Tamuning (Guam)
[1] (202) 328-7614
[1] (202) 333-6000
1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission:
embassy:
mailing address:
telephone:
FAX:
Ambassador Francis RICCIARDONE
1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000 Manila
FPO 96515
[63] (2) 523-1001
[63] (2) 522-4361
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
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.
GDP-purchasing
power parity :
$335 billion (2001 est.)
GDP-real growth
rate:
2.8% (2001
est.)
GDP-per capita purchasing power parity:
$4,000 (2001 est.)
GDP
agriculture:
industry:
services:
composition by sector
17%
30%
53% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (2001
est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
lowest 10%:
highest 10%:
1.5%
39.3% (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
32 million
(2000)
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:
10% (2001)
Budget:
revenues:
expenditures:
$10.9 billion
$13.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
commodities electronic equipment, machinery and
transport equipment, garments, coconut products
Exports—partners:
US 30%, Japan 15%, Netherlands 8%, Singapore 8%,
Taiwan 8%, Hong Kong 5% (2000)
Imports:
$30 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Imports—commodities:
raw materials and intermediate goods, capital
goods, consumer goods, fuels
Imports - partners:
US 22%, Japan 20%, South Korea 8%, Singapore 6%,
Taiwan 5%, Hong Kong 4% (1998 est.)
Debt - external:
$50 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $1.1 billion (1998)
Currency:
Philippine peso (PHP)
Currency code:
PHP
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)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
istribution of family income
Gini index 46.2 (1997)
Transportation
Railways
total :
narrow gauge:
897 km
897 km 1.067-m gauge (405 km are not in operation) (2001)
Highways:
total:
paved:
unpaved:
199,950 km
39,590 km
160,360 km (1998 est.)
Waterways :
note:
3,219 km
limited to vessels with a draft of less than 1.5 m
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:
416 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,179,029 GRT/7,670,688 DWT
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.
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:
275 (2001)
with paved runways
77
4
5
26
30
12 (2001)
Airports
total :
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1,524 to 2,437 m:
914 to 1,523 m:
under 914 m:
with unpaved runways
198
1
4
81
119 (2001)
Heliports
2 (2001)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.1 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.5 million (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment:
domestic:
international:
good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic
and interisland 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:
note:
AM 366, FM 290, shortwave 5
each shortwave station operates on multiple frequencies in the language
of the target audience (2002)
Army, Navy (including Coast Guard and Marine Corps),
Air Force, paramilitary units
Military manpower
military age 20 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower
males age 15-49:
availability
21,718,304 (2002 est.)
Military manpower
males:
fit for military service
15,285,248 (2002 est.)
Military manpower
males:
reaching military age annually
848,181 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures
dollar figure :
$995 million (FY98)
Military expenditures
percent of GDP :
1.5% (FY98)
Transnational Issues
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
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 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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