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
World War II, 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.
Geography
Philippines
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: 300,000 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km water: 1,830 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
36,289 km
Maritime claims:
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 continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
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: Philippine
Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
total: 28.52 cu km/yr
(17%/9%/74%) per capita: 343 cu m/yr (2000)
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
especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in
major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of
coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
the Philippine archipelago is
made up of 7,107 islands; 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
total: 23 years
male: 22.5 years female: 23.5 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.728% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
24.07 births/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Death rate:
5.32 deaths/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.47 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05
male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64
years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77
male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.45
deaths/1,000 live births male: 24.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.8
years male: 67.89 years female: 73.85 years (2008
est.)
Total fertility rate:
3 children born/woman (2008
est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A,
and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and
malaria (2008)
Roman Catholic 80.9%, Muslim
5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other
Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)
Languages:
Filipino (official; based on
Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano,
Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write total population: 92.6%
male: 92.5% female: 92.7% (2000 census)
Government
Philippines
Country name:
conventional long form:
Republic of the Philippines conventional short form:
Philippines local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form: Pilipinas
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Manila
geographic coordinates: 14 35 N, 121 00 E time
difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
81 provinces and 136 chartered
cities provinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur,
Aklan, Albay, Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas,
Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte,
Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu, Compostela,
Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands, Eastern
Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela,
Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La Union, Leyte,
Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental,
Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain Province, Negros
Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija,
Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal,
Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Shariff Kabunsuan, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South
Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao
del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del
Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay chartered cities: Alaminos, Angeles,
Antipolo, Bacolod, Bago, Baguio, Bais, Balanga, Batac, Batangas, Bayawan,
Baybay, Bayugan, Bislig, Bogo, Borongan, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Cabanatuan,
Cadiz, Cagayan de Oro, Calamba, Calapan, Calbayog, Candon, Canlaon,
Carcar, Catbalogan, Cauayan, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Danao,
Dapitan, Davao, Digos, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Escalante, El Salvador, Gapan,
General Santos, Gingoog, Guihulngan, Himamaylan, Iligan, Iloilo, Isabela,
Iriga, Kabankalan, Kalookan, Kidapawan, Koronadal, La Carlota, Lamitan,
Laoag, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Legazpi, Ligao, Lipa, Lucena, Maasin, Makati,
Malabon, Malaybalay, Malolos, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marawi,
Marikina, Masbate, Mati, Meycauayan, Muntinlupa, Munoz, Naga (Camarines
Sur), Naga (Cebu), Navotas, Olongapo, Ormoc, Oroquieta, Ozamis, Pagadian,
Palayan, Panabo, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Passi, Puerto Princesa, Quezon,
Roxas, Sagay, Samal, San Carlos (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos (in
Pangasinan), San Fernando (in La Union), San Fernando (in Pampanga), San
Jose, San Jose del Monte, San Juan, San Pablo, Santa Rosa, Santiago,
Silay, Sipalay, Sorsogon, Surigao, Tabaco, Tabuk, Tacloban, Tacurong,
Tagaytay, Tagbilaran, Taguig, Tagum, Talisay (in Cebu), Talisay (in Negros
Occidental), Tanauan, Tandag, Tangub, Tanjay, Tarlac, Tayabas, Toledo,
Tuguegarao, Trece Martires, Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela, Victorias,
Vigan, Zamboanga (2007)
Independence:
12 June 1898 (independence
proclaimed from Spain); 4 July 1946 (from the US)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 June
(1898); note - 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence from
Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from 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:
President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January 2001); note -
president is both chief of state and head of government head of
government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of
Commission of Appointments elections: president and vice
president (Manuel 'Noli' DE CASTRO) elected on separate tickets by popular
vote for a single six-year term; election last held on 10 May 2004 (next
to be held in May 2010) election results: Gloria
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected president; percent of vote - Gloria
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 40%, Fernando POE 37%, three others 23%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress or Kongreso
consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats - one-half elected every three
years; members elected at large by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
and the House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (as a
result of May 2007 election it has 239 seats including 218 members
representing districts and 21 sectoral party-list members representing
special minorities elected on the basis of 1 seat for every 2% of the
total vote but limited to 3 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve three-year terms; note - the Constitution prohibits the House of
Representatives from having more than 250 members) elections:
Senate - last held on 14 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2010); House of
Representatives - elections last held on 14 May 2007 (next to be held in
May 2010) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - Lakas-Kampi 4, LP 4, NPC 3, NP 2, independents 4,
others 6; note - there are 23 rather than 24 sitting senators because one
senator was elected mayor of Manila; House of Representatives - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - Lakas 86, Kampi 46, NPC 29, LP 21,
Party-list 21, others 36
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (15 justices are
appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar
Council and serve until 70 years of age); Court of Appeals; Sandigan-bayan
(special court for hearing corruption cases of government officials)
Political parties and leaders:
Genuine Opposition or GO
(coalition of oppositon parties formed to contest the 2007 elections);
Kabalikat Ng Malayang Pilipino or Kampi [Ronaldo PUNO]; Laban Ng
Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo
ANGARA]; Lakas Ng Edsa (National Union of Christian Democrats) or Lakas
[Jose DE VENECIA]; Liberal Party or LP [Manuel ROXAS]; Nacionalista
[Manuel VILLAR]; National People's Coalition or NPC [Frisco SAN JUAN];
PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL]; People's Reform Party [Miriam Defensor
SANTIAGO]; PROMDI [Emilio OSMENA]; Pwersa Ng Masang Pilipino (Party of the
Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA]; Reporma [Renato DE VILLA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
AKBAYAN [Etta ROSALES, Mario
AGUJA, and Risa HONTIVEROS-BARAQUIEL]; ALAGAD [Rodante MARROLITA]; ALIF
[Acmad TOMAWIS]; An Waray [Horencio NOEL]; Anak Mindanao [Mujiv HATAMIN];
ANAKPAWIS [Crispin BELTRAN and Rafael MARIANO]; Association of Philippine
Electric Cooperatives (APEC) [Sunny Rose MADAMBA, Ernesto PABLO, and Edgar
VALDEZ]; AVE [Eulogio MAGSAYSAY]; Bayan Muna [Satur OCAMPO, Joel VIRADOR,
and Teodoro CASINO, Jr.]; BUHAY [Rene VELARDE and Hans Christian SENERES];
BUTIL [Benjamin CRUZ]; CIBAC [Emmanuel Joel VILLANUEVA]; COOP-NATCO
[Guillermo CUA]; GABRIELA [Liza MAZA]; Partido Ng Manggagawa [Renato
MAGTUBO]; Veterans Federation of the Philippines [Ernesto GIDAYA]
chief of mission:
Ambassador Willy C. GAA chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300
FAX: [1] (202) 467-9417 consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Saipan (Northern
Mariana Islands), Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Kristie A. KENNEY embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard,
Ermita 1000, Manila mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000
telephone: [63] (2) 301-2000 FAX: [63] (2) 522-4361
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of
blue (top; representing peace and justice) and red (representing courage);
a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side represents equality;
the center of the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays,
each representing one of the first eight provinces that sought
independence from Spain; each corner of the triangle contains a small,
yellow, five-pointed star representing the three major geographical
divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design of the
flag dates to 1897; in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red
band at the top
Economy
Philippines
Economy - overview:
The Philippine economy grew at
its fastest pace in three decades with real GDP growth exceeding 7% in
2007. Higher government spending contributed to the growth, but a
resilient service sector and large remittances from the millions of
Filipinos who work abroad have played an increasingly important role.
Economic growth has averaged 5% since President MACAPAGAL-ARROYO took
office in 2001. Nevertheless, the Philippines will need still higher,
sustained growth to make progress in alleviating poverty, given its high
population growth and unequal distribution of income. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
averted a fiscal crisis by pushing for new revenue measures and, until
recently, tightening expenditures. Declining fiscal deficits, tapering
debt and debt service ratios, as well as recent efforts to increase
spending on infrastructure and social services have heightened optimism
over Philippine economic prospects. Although the general macroeconomic
outlook has improved significantly, the Philippines continues to face
important challenges and must maintain the reform momentum in order to
catch up with regional competitors, improve employment opportunities, and
alleviate poverty. Longer-term fiscal stability will require more
sustainable revenue sources, rather than non-recurring revenues from
privatization.
semiconductors and electronic
products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum
products, coconut oil, fruits
Exports - partners:
US 18.3%, Japan 16.5%,
Netherlands 10.1%, China 9.8%, Hong Kong 7.8%, Singapore 7.3%, Malaysia
5.6%, Taiwan 4.3% (2006)
Imports:
$53.96 billion f.o.b. (2007
est.)
Imports - commodities:
electronic products, mineral
fuels, machinery and transport equipment, iron and steel, textile fabrics,
grains, chemicals, plastic
Imports - partners:
US 16.3%, Japan 13.6%,
Singapore 8.5%, Taiwan 8%, China 7.1%, South Korea 6.2%, Saudi Arabia
5.8%, Malaysia 4.1%, Thailand 4.1%, Hong Kong 4% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $451.4 million in
commitments (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$33.71 billion (31 December
2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$62.84 billion (31 December
2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$16.02 billion (2006 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$2.131 billion (2006 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$103.4 billion (2007)
Currency (code):
Philippine peso (PHP)
Currency code:
PHP
Exchange rates:
Philippine pesos per US dollar
- 46.148 (2007), 51.246 (2006), 55.086 (2005), 56.04 (2004), 54.203 (2003)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications
Philippines
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.633 million (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
42.869 million (2006)
Telephone system:
general assessment: good
international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and
interisland service adequate domestic: domestic satellite
system with 11 earth stations; cellular communications now dominate the
industry; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone density
exceeds 50 telephones per 100 persons with more than 10 mobile cellular
subscribers for every fixed-line subscriber international:
country code - 63; a series of submarine cables together provide
connectivity to Asia, US, the Middle East, and Europe; multiple
international gateways (2006)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 381, FM 628, shortwave 4
(each shortwave station operates on multiple frequencies in the language
of the target audience) (2007)
Radios:
11.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
250 (plus 1,501 CATV networks)
(2007)
Televisions:
3.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ph
Internet hosts:
271,609 (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
33 (2000)
Internet users:
4.615 million (2005)
Transportation
Philippines
Airports:
255 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 84 over
3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m:
26 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 10 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 171 1,524
to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 68 under 914 m: 99
(2007)
Heliports:
2 (2007)
Pipelines:
gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined
products 105 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 897 km
narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (492 km are in operation)
(2006)
Roadways:
total: 200,037 km
paved: 19,804 km unpaved: 180,233 km (2003)
Waterways:
3,219 km (limited to vessels
with draft less than 1.5 m) (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 383 ships (1000
GRT or over) 4,542,681 GRT/6,164,312 DWT by type: bulk carrier
75, cargo 120, chemical tanker 16, container 5, liquefied gas 5, livestock
carrier 16, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 66, petroleum tanker 34,
refrigerated cargo 14, roll on/roll off 13, vehicle carrier 12
foreign-owned: 135 (Bermuda 31, China 2, Greece 3, Hong Kong 2,
Japan 69, Malaysia 2, Netherlands 22, Norway 2, Singapore 1, UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 34 (Australia 1, Bahamas 1,
Belize 1, Comoros 1, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Hong Kong 10, Indonesia 1,
Panama 12, Singapore 4, St Vincent and The Grenadines 1) (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao,
Liman, Manila, Nasipit Harbor
Military
Philippines
Military branches:
Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps and Coast Guard), Air Force
(2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age (officers
21-29) for compulsory and voluntary military service; applicants must be
single male or female Philippine citizens (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49:
23,547,252 females age 16-49: 23,177,487 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49:
18,232,050 females age 16-49: 19,827,538 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 16-49:
1,003,836 females age 16-49: 968,845 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.9% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Philippines
Disputes - international:
Philippines claims sovereignty
over certain of the Spratly Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan
(Freedom) Islands, also claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam;
the 2002 'Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,'
has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally
binding 'code of conduct' desired by several of the disputants; in March
2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam
signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly
Islands; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in
northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines
Government power of attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf;
maritime delimitation negotiations continue with Palau
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 60,000 (fighting
between government troops and MILF and Abu Sayyaf groups) (2006)
Illicit drugs:
domestic methamphetamine
production has been a growing problem in recent years despite government
crackdowns; major consumer of amphetamines; longstanding marijuana
producer mainly in rural areas where Manila's control is limited
