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.
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
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
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)
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
79 provinces and 117 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, 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, 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, Batangas, Bayawan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabanatuan, Cadiz, Cagayan de Oro, Calamba, Calapan, Calbayog, Candon, Canlaon, Cauayan, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Danao, Dapitan, Davao, Digos, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Escalante, Gapan, General Santos, Gingoog, Himamaylan, Iligan, Iloilo, Isabela, Iriga, Kabankalan, Kalookan, Kidapawan, Koronadal, La Carlota, Laoag, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Legazpi, Ligao, Lipa, Lucena, Maasin, Makati, Malabon, Malaybalay, Malolos, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marawi, Markina, Masbate, Muntinlupa, Munoz, Naga, 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 Pablo, Santa Rosa, Santiago, Silay, Sipalay, Sorsogon, Surigao, Tabaco, Tacloban, Tacurong, Tagaytay, Tagbilaran, Taguig, Tagum, Talisay (in Cebu), Talisay (in Negros Oriental), Tanauan, Tangub, Tanjay, Tarlac, Toledo, Tuguegarao, Trece Martires, Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela, Victorias, Vigan, Zamboanga
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 (212 members representing districts plus 24 sectoral party-list members; 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: note - information from May 2004 election (results of May 2007 election have not been released); Senate - percent of vote by party - Lakas 30%, LP 13%, KNP 13%, independents 17%, others 27%; seats by party - Lakas 7, LP 3, KNP (coalition) 3, independents 4, others 6; note - there are 23 rather than 24 sitting senators because one senator was elected vice president; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Lakas 93, NPC 53, LP 34, LDP 11, others 20; party-listers 24
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
Kabalikat Ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) [Ronaldo PUNO]; Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (Coalition of United Filipinos) or KNP (LDP, PDP-Laban, and PMP parties); 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 [Franklin DRILON/Eli QUINTO]; 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]; APEC [Ernesto PABLO, Edgar VALDEZ]; Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) [Edgar VALDEZ, Ernesto PABLO, and Sunny Rose MADAMBA]; 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]
1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone
[1] (202) 467-9300
FAX
[1] (202) 328-7614
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) 528-6300
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 - overview
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$449.8 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$116.9 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
5.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$5,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
14.2%
industry
32.1%
services
53.7% (2006 est.)
Labor force
35.79 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
36%
industry
15%
services
49% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate
7.9% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
40% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.3%
highest 10%
31.1% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
46.1 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6.2% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
14.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$19.53 billion
expenditures
$20.74 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits
Exports - partners
China 24.5%, US 15.2%, Japan 12.2%, Singapore 8.3%, Hong Kong 7.6%, Malaysia 4.4%, Netherlands 4% (2006)
Imports
$51.6 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities
electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery and transport equipment, iron and steel, textile fabrics, grains, chemicals, plastic
Imports - partners
Japan 15.9%, US 13.7%, China 10.1%, Singapore 8.9%, Taiwan 7.2%, Saudi Arabia 4.8%, South Korea 4.7%, Hong Kong 4.6%, Thailand 4.6% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$22.97 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external
$54.06 billion (September 2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient
ODA, $532.4 million in commitments (2005)
Currency (code)
Philippine peso (PHP)
Currency code
PHP
Exchange rates
Philippine pesos per US dollar - 51.246 (2006), 55.086 (2005), 56.04 (2004), 54.203 (2003), 51.604 (2002)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
3.438 million (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular
32.81 million (2005)
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; cellular communications now dominate the industry with roughly 10 mobile cellular subscribers for every fixed-line subscriber
international
country code - 63; 11 international gateways; submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Brunei, and Malaysia among others (2006)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 375, FM 596, shortwave 4 (each shortwave station operates on multiple frequencies in the language of the target audience) (2006)
Radios
11.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations
233 (plus 1,480 CATV networks) (2006)
Televisions
3.7 million (1997)
Internet country code
.ph
Internet hosts
111,262 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
33 (2000)
Internet users
7.82 million (2005)
Airports
256 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
83
over 3,047 m
4
2,438 to 3,047 m
7
1,524 to 2,437 m
26
914 to 1,523 m
36
under 914 m
10 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total
173
1,524 to 2,437 m
5
914 to 1,523 m
69
under 914 m
99 (2006)
Heliports
2 (2006)
Pipelines
gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 105 km (2006)
Railways
total
897 km
narrow gauge
897 km 1.067-m gauge (492 km are in operation) (2005)
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
403 ships (1000 GRT or over) 4,661,285 GRT/6,426,183 DWT
by type
bulk carrier 82, cargo 115, chemical tanker 13, container 6, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 17, passenger 9, passenger/cargo 73, petroleum tanker 42, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 13, vehicle carrier 13
foreign-owned
66 (Greece 5, Hong Kong 3, Japan 26, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 19, Norway 3, UAE 1, US 8)
registered in other countries
41 (Australia 1, Bahamas 1, Cambodia 1, Cayman Islands 1, Comoros 1, Cyprus 1, Hong Kong 16, Indonesia 1, Panama 13, Singapore 5) (2006)
Ports and terminals
Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iligan, Iloilo, Manila, Surigao
Military branches
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Philippine Air Force (Hukbomg Himpapawid ng Pilipinas) (2006)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49
20,131,179
females age 18-49
20,009,526 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49
15,170,096
females age 18-49
16,931,191 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49
907,542
females age 18-49
878,712 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
0.9% (2005 est.)
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
