|
|
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)
|
|
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:
|
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]
|
|
International
organization participation:
|
APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, 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), ONUB, OPCW, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, 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) 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:
|
The Philippines was less severely affected by the Asian financial crisis of
1998 than its neighbors, aided in part by its high level of annual
remittances from overseas workers, no sustained runup in asset prices, and
more moderate debt, prior to the crisis. From a 0.6% decline in 1998, GDP
expanded by 2.4% in 1999, and 4.4% in 2000, but slowed to 3.2% in 2001 in
the context of a global economic slowdown, an export slump, and political
and security concerns. Average GDP growth accelerated to about 5% between
2002 and 2006 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. The Philippines also faces higher
oil prices, higher interest rates on its dollar borrowings, and higher
inflation. Fiscal constraints limit Manila's ability to finance
infrastructure and social spending. The Philippines' consistently large budget
deficit has produced a high debt level, and this situation has forced
Manila to spend a large portion of the national government budget on debt
service. Large unprofitable public enterprises, especially in the energy
sector, contribute to the government's debt because of slow progress on
privatization. Credit rating agencies have at times expressed concern about
the Philippines' ability to service the debt, though central bank reserves
appear adequate and large remittance inflows appear stable. The implementation
of the expanded Value Added Tax (VAT) in November 2005 boosted confidence
in the government's fiscal capacity and helped to strengthen the peso,
making it East Asia's best performing currency in 2005-06. Investors and
credit rating institutions will continue to look for effective
implementation of the new VAT and continued improvement in the government's
overall fiscal capacity in the coming year.
|
|
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.)
|
|
Public
debt:
|
61.6% of GDP (October 2006 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:
|
4.8% (2006 est.)
|
|
Electricity
- production:
|
56.57 billion kWh (2005)
|
|
Electricity
- consumption:
|
49.75 billion kWh (2005)
|
|
Electricity
- exports:
|
0 kWh (2005)
|
|
Electricity
- imports:
|
0 kWh (2005)
|
|
Oil -
production:
|
25,320 bbl/day (2004 est.)
|
|
Oil -
consumption:
|
342,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
|
|
Oil -
exports:
|
0 bbl/day (2001)
|
|
Oil -
imports:
|
312,000 bbl/day (2003)
|
|
Oil -
proved reserves:
|
152 million bbl (31 December 2006)
|
|
Natural
gas - production:
|
2.9 billion cu m (2004 est.)
|
|
Natural
gas - consumption:
|
2.9 billion cu m (2004 est.)
|
|
Natural
gas - exports:
|
0 cu m (2004 est.)
|
|
Natural
gas - imports:
|
0 cu m (2004 est.)
|
|
Natural
gas - proved reserves:
|
106.8 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
|
|
Current
account balance:
|
$4.9 billion (2006 est.)
|
|
Exports:
|
$47.2 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
|
|
Exports -
commodities:
|
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)
|
|
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)
|
|
Television
broadcast stations:
|
233 (plus 1,480 CATV networks) (2006)
|
|
Internet
country code:
|
.ph
|
|
Internet
hosts:
|
111,262 (2006)
|
|
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)
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Ports and
terminals:
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Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iligan, Iloilo, Manila, Surigao
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Military
branches:
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Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps),
Philippine Air Force (Hukbomg Himpapawid ng Pilipinas) (2006)
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Military
service age and obligation:
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18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)
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Manpower
available for military service:
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males age 18-49: 20,131,179
females age 18-49: 20,009,526 (2005 est.)
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Manpower
fit for military service:
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males age 18-49: 15,170,096
females age 18-49: 16,931,191 (2005 est.)
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Manpower
reaching military service age annually:
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males age 18-49: 907,542
females age 18-49: 878,712 (2005 est.)
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Military
expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.9% (2005 est.)
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Disputes
- international:
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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
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Refugees
and internally displaced persons:
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IDPs: 60,000 (fighting between government troops and MILF and Abu
Sayyaf groups) (2006)
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Illicit
drugs:
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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 19 July, 2007
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