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Background:
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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.
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Location:
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Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South
China Sea, east of Vietnam
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Geographic
coordinates:
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13 00 N, 122 00 E
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Map
references:
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Southeast Asia
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Area:
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total: 300,000 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km
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Area -
comparative:
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slightly larger than Arizona
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Land
boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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36,289 km
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Maritime
claims:
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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
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Climate:
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tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon
(May to October)
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
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Elevation
extremes:
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lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
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Natural
resources:
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timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
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Land use:
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arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 16.67%
other: 64.33% (2005)
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Irrigated
land:
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15,500 sq km (2003)
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Natural
hazards:
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astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six
cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive
earthquakes; tsunamis
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Environment
- current issues:
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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
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Environment
- international agreements:
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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
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Geography
- note:
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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
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Population:
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91,077,287 (July 2007 est.)
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Age
structure:
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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.)
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Median
age:
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total: 22.7 years
male: 22.2 years
female: 23.3 years (2007 est.)
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Population
growth rate:
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1.764% (2007 est.)
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Birth
rate:
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24.48 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Death
rate:
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5.36 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Net
migration rate:
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-1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Sex
ratio:
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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.)
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Infant
mortality rate:
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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.)
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Life
expectancy at birth:
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total population: 70.51 years
male: 67.61 years
female: 73.55 years (2007 est.)
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Total
fertility rate:
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3.05 children born/woman (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS:
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9,000 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS
- deaths:
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less than 500 (2003 est.)
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Major
infectious diseases:
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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)
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Nationality:
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noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine
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Ethnic
groups:
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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)
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Religions:
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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)
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Languages:
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Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major
dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray,
Pampango, and Pangasinan
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 92.5%
female: 92.7% (2000 census)
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Country
name:
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conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form: Pilipinas
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Government
type:
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republic
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Capital:
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name: Manila
geographic coordinates: 14 35 N, 121 00 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
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Administrative
divisions:
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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
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Independence:
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12 June 1898 (independence proclaimed from Spain);
4 July 1946 (from the US)
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National
holiday:
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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
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Constitution:
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2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
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Legal
system:
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based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive
branch:
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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%
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Legislative
branch:
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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
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Judicial
branch:
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