|
Background: |
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 |
|
Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Philippine
Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m |
|
Natural resources: |
timber, petroleum, nickel,
cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper |
|
Land use: |
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 16.67%
other: 64.33% (2005) |
|
Irrigated land: |
15,500 sq km (2003) |
|
Total renewable water resources: |
479 cu km (1999) |
|
Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural): |
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 |
|
Population: |
91,077,287 (July 2007 est.)
|
|
Age structure: |
0-14 years: 34.5% (male
16,043,257/female 15,415,334)
15-64 years: 61.3% (male
27,849,584/female 28,008,293)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male
1,631,866/female 2,128,953) (2007 est.) |
|
Median age: |
total: 22.7 years
male: 22.2 years
female: 23.3 years (2007 est.)
|
|
Population growth rate: |
1.764% (2007 est.) |
|
Birth rate: |
24.48 births/1,000 population
(2007 est.) |
|
Death rate: |
5.36 deaths/1,000 population
(2007 est.) |
|
Net migration rate: |
-1.48 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2007 est.) |
|
Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.05
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.041 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.994 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.767 male(s)/female
total population: 0.999 male(s)/female
(2007 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate: |
total: 22.12
deaths/1,000 live births
male: 24.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 70.51
years
male: 67.61 years
female: 73.55 years (2007
est.) |
|
Total fertility rate: |
3.05 children born/woman (2007
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 are high risks in some locations
animal contact
disease: rabies (2007) |
|
Nationality: |
noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine |
|
Ethnic groups: |
Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%,
Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray
3.4%, other 25.3% (2000 census) |
|
Religions: |
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: |
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] |
|
International organization participation: |
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN,
BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory),
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PIF
(partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US: |
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 - overview: |
The Philippine economy is
growing at its fastest pace in 25 years with real GDP growth expected to
exceed 7% in 2007. Higher government spending contributed to the economy's
acceleration, but consumer spending and large remittances from the
millions of Filipinos who work abroad have played an increasingly
important role in the economy. The economy has averaged 5% real growth
since President MACAPAGAL-ARROYO took office in 2001, reflecting the
continued resilience of the service sector, and improved exports and
agricultural output. Nonetheless, it will take a higher, sustained growth
path to make appreciable progress in the alleviation of poverty given the
Philippines' high annual population growth rate and unequal distribution
of income. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO is also credited with improving the
Philippines' fiscal balance by improving government tax collection efforts
and tightening spending. Manila is now planning to step up a series of
privatizations of large unprofitable public enterprises, especially in the
energy sector, to further close the budget gap and raise capital to help
finance new infrastructure projects. Credit rating agencies have at times
expressed concern about the Philippines' ability to service its large
private and public debt, though central bank reserves appear adequate and
remittance inflows appear stable. Investors and credit rating institutions
will continue to look for effective implementation of the new Value Added
Tax (VAT) and continued improvement in the government's overall fiscal
capacity. |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity): |
$298.9 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
GDP (official exchange rate): |
$142.3 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
GDP - real growth rate: |
6.3% (2007 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$3,300 (2007 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 13.8%
industry: 31.7%
services: 54.5% (2007 est.) |
|
Labor force: |
36.31 million (2007 est.)
|
|
Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 36%
industry: 15%
services: 49% (2004 est.) |
|
Unemployment rate: |
7.9% (2007 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line: |
40% (2001 est.) |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 34.2% (2003) |
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |
44.5 (2003) |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
2.8% (2007 est.) |
|
Investment (gross fixed): |
14.4% of GDP (2007 est.) |
|
Budget: |
revenues: $23.96 billion
expenditures: $25.24 billion (2007 est.) |
|
Public debt: |
62.3% of GDP (2007 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products: |
sugarcane, coconuts, rice,
corn, bananas, cassavas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish
|
|
Industries: |
electronics assembly, garments,
footwear, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing,
petroleum refining, fishing |
|
Industrial production growth rate: |
7% (2007 est.) |
|
Electricity - production: |
53.67 billion kWh (2005) |
|
Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 55.6%
hydro: 17.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 26.9%
(2001) |
|
Electricity - consumption: |
46.86 billion kWh (2005) |
|
Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2005) |
|
Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2005) |
|
Oil - production: |
24,310 bbl/day (2005 est.)
|
|
Oil - consumption: |
340,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
|
|
Oil - exports: |
34,900 bbl/day (2004) |
|
Oil - imports: |
353,700 bbl/day (2004) |
|
Oil - proved reserves: |
152 million bbl (31 December
2006) |
|
Natural gas - production: |
2.781 billion cu m (2005 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - consumption: |
2.781 billion cu m (2005 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
|
Natural gas - imports: |
0 cu m (2005) |
|
Natural gas - proved reserves: |
107.5 billion cu m (1 January
2006 est.) |
|
Current account balance: |
$9.04 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
Exports: |
$48.38 billion f.o.b. (2007
est.) |
|
Exports - commodities: |
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, $561.8 million in
commitments (2005) |
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$33.31 billion (31 December
2007 est.) |
|
Debt - external: |
$62.84 billion (31 December
2007 est.) |
|
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |
$16.37 billion (2006 est.)
|
|
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |
$2.189 billion (2006 est.)
|
|
Market value of publicly traded shares: |
$68.38 billion (2006) |
|
Currency (code): |
Philippine peso (PHP) |
|
Currency code: |
PHP |
|
Exchange rates: |
Philippine pesos per US dollar
- 46.634 (2007), 51.246 (2006), 55.086 (2005), 56.04 (2004), 54.203 (2003)
|
|
Fiscal year: |
calendar year |
|
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
inter-island 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)
|
|
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 branches: |
Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Philippine Air Force (Hukbomg
Himpapawid ng Pilipinas) (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 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
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This page was last updated on 12 February, 2008
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