PHILIPPINES

Compiled from the October 2003 Background Note and supplemented with additional information from the State Department and the editors of this volume. See the introduction to this set for explanatory notes.

Official Name:
Republic of the Philippines

PROFILE
PEOPLE
HISTORY
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
ECONOMY
FOREIGN RELATIONS
U.S.-PHILIPPINE RELATIONS
TRAVEL

PROFILE

Geography

Area: 300,000 sq. km. (117,187 sq. mi.).

Cities: (2000 census) Capital—Manila (pop. 9.9 million in metropolitan area); Davao City (1.2 million), Cebu City (1.6million).

Terrain: Islands, 65% mountainous, with narrow coastal lowlands.

Climate: Tropical, astride typhoon belt.

People

Nationality: Noun—Filipino(s). Adjective—Philippine.

Population: (2000 census): 76.5 million. Government est., 2002: 79.5 million

Annual growth rate: 2.36%.

Ethnic groups: Malay, Chinese.

Religions: Catholic 85%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 1%.

Languages: Pilipino (based on Tagalog), national language; English, language of government and instruction in education.

Education: Years compulsory —6 (note: 6 years of primary education free and compulsory; 4 years of secondary education free but not compulsory). Attendance—above 97% in elementary grades, above 74% in secondary grades. Literacy—92%.

Health (2002): Infant mortality rate—25.7/1,000. Life expectancy—66.9 yrs. males; 72.2 yrs. females.

Work force (2002): 33.9 million. Services (including commerce and government)—47%; agriculture—37%; industry—16%.

Government

Type: Republic.

Independence: 1946.

Constitution: February 11, 1987.

Branches: Executive—president and vice president. Legislative—bicameral legislature. Judicial—independent.

Administrative subdivisions: 15 regions and Manila, 79 provinces, 115 chartered cities.

Political parties: Lakas-NUCD, Nationalist People's Coalition, Labanng Demokratikong Pilipino, Liberal Party, and other small parties.

Suffrage: Universal, but not compulsory, at age 18.

Economy

GDP: (2002)$77.1 billion.

Annual growth rate: (2002) 4.6%.

GDP per capita (2002): $962.

Natural resources: Copper, nickel, iron, cobalt, silver, gold.

Agriculture: Products—rice, coconut products, sugar, corn, pork, bananas, pineapple products, aquaculture, mangoes, eggs.

Industry: Types—textiles and garments, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing.

Trade: (2002) Exports—$35.20 billion. Imports—$35.43 billion.

PEOPLE

The majority of Philippine people are of Malay stock, descendants of Indonesians and Malays who migrated to the islands long before the Christian era. The most significant ethnic minority group is the Chinese, who have played an important role in commerce since the ninth century, when they first came to the islands to trade. As a result of intermarriage, many Filipinos have some Chinese and Spanish ancestry. Americans and Spaniards constitute the next largest alien minorities in the country.

More than 90% of the people are Christian; most were converted and Westernized to varying degrees during nearly 400 years of Spanish and American rule. The major non-Hispanicized groups are the Muslim population, concentrated in the Sulu Archipelago and in central and western Mindanao, and the mountain groups of northern Luzon. Small forest tribes live in the more remote areas of Mindanao.

About 87 native languages and dialects are spoken, all belonging to the Malay-Polynesian linguistic family. Of these, eight are the first languages of more than 85% of the population. The three principal indigenous languages are Cebuano, spoken in the Visayas; Tagalog, predominant in the area around Manila; and Ilocano, spoken in northern Luzon. Since 1939, in an effort to develop national unity, the government has promoted the use of the national language, Pilipino, which is based on Tagalog. Pilipino is taught in all schools and is gaining acceptance, particularly as a second language

English, the most important nonnative language, is used as a second language by many, including nearly all professionals, academics, and government workers. In January 2003, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Department of Education to restore English as the medium of instruction in all schools and universities. Only a few Filipino families use Spanish as a first language.

Despite this multiplicity of languages, the Philippines has one of the highest literacy rates in the East Asian and Pacific area. About 92% of the population 10 years of age and older are literate.

HISTORY

The history of the Philippines may be divided into four distinct phases: the pre-Spanish period (before 1521); the Spanish period (1521-1898); the American period (1898-1946); and the years since independence (1946-present).

Pre-Spanish Period

The first people in the Philippines, the Negritos, are believed to have come to the islands 30,000 years ago from Borneo and Sumatra, making their way across then-existing land bridges. Subsequently, people of Malay stock came from the south in successive waves, the earliest by land bridges and later in boats called barangays. The Malays settled in scattered communities, also called barangays, which were ruled by chieftains known as datus. Chinese merchants and traders arrived and settled in the ninth century A.D. In the 14th century, Arabs arrived, introducing Islam in the south and extending some influence even into Luzon. The Malays, however, remained the dominant group until the Spanish arrived in the 16th century.

Spanish Period

Ferdinand Magellan claimed the Philippines for Spain in 1521, and for the next 377 years, the islands were under Spanish rule. This period was the era of conversion to Roman Catholicism. A Spanish colonial social system was developed, complete with a strong centralized government and considerable clerical influence. The Filipinos were restive under the Spanish, and this long period was marked by numerous uprisings. The most important of these began in 1896 under the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo and continued until the Americans defeated the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay on May 1, 1898, during the Spanish-American War. Aguinaldo declared independence from Spain on June 12, 1898.

American Period

Following Admiral Dewey's defeat of the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, the United States occupied the Philippines. Spain ceded the islands to the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Paris (December 10, 1898) that ended the war.

A war of resistance against U.S. rule, led by Revolutionary President Aguinaldo, broke out in 1899. Although Americans have historically used the term "the Philippine Insurrection," Filipinos and an increasing number of American historians refer to these hostilities as the Philippine-American War (1899-1902), and in 1999 the U.S. Library of Congress reclassified its references to use this term. In 1901, Aguinaldo was captured and swore allegiance to the United States, and resistance gradually died out.

U.S. administration of the Philippines was always declared to be temporary and aimed to develop institutions that would permit and encourage the eventual establishment of a free and democratic government. Therefore, U.S. officials concentrated on the creation of such practical supports for democratic government as public education and a sound legal system.

The first legislative assembly was elected in 1907. A bicameral legislature, largely under Philippine control, was established. A civil service was formed and was gradually taken over by the Filipinos, who had effectively gained control by the end of World War I. The Catholic Church was disestablished, and a considerable amount of church land was purchased and redistributed.

In 1935, under the terms of the Tydings-McDuffie Act, the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel Quezon was elected president of the new government, which was designed to prepare the country for independence after a 10-year transition period. World War II intervened, however, and in May 1942, Corregidor, the last American/Filipino stronghold, fell. U.S. forces in the Philippines surrendered to the Japanese, placing the islands under Japanese control.

The war to regain the Philippines began when Gen. Douglas MacArthur landed on Leyte on October 20, 1944. Filipinos and Americans fought together until the Japanese surrender in September 1945. Much of Manila was destroyed during the final months of the fighting, and an estimated 1 million Filipinos lost their lives in the war.

As a result of the Japanese occupation, the guerrilla warfare that followed, and the battles leading to liberation, the country suffered great damage and a complete organizational break down. Despite the shaken state of the country, the United States and the Philippines decided to move forward with plans for independence. On July 4, 1946, the Philippine Islands became the
independent Republic of the Philippines, in accordance with the terms of the Tydings-McDuffie Act. In 1962, the official Independence Day was changed from July 4 to June 12, commemorating the date independence from Spain was declared by General Aguinaldo in 1898.

Post-Independence Period

The early years of independence were dominated by U.S.-assisted postwar reconstruction. A communist-inspired Huk Rebellion (1945-53) complicated recovery efforts before its successful suppression under the leadership of President Ramon Magsaysay. The succeeding administrations of Presidents Carlos P. Garcia (1957-61) and Diosdado Macapagal (1961-65) sought to expand Philippine ties to its Asian neighbors, implement domestic reform programs, and develop and diversify the economy.

In 1972, President Ferdinand E. Marcos (1965-86) declared martial law, citing growing lawlessness and open rebellion by the communist rebels as his justification. Marcos governed from 1973 until mid-1981 in accordance with the transitory provisions of a new constitution that replaced the commonwealth constitution of 1935. He suppressed democratic institutions and restricted civil liberties during the martial law period, ruling largely by decree and popular referenda. The government began a process of political normalization during 1978-81, culminating in the reelection of President Marcos to a 6-year term that would have ended in 1987. The Marcos government's respect for human rights remained low despite the end of martial law on January 17, 1981. His government retained its wide arrest and detention powers. Corruption and favoritism contributed to a serious decline in economic growth and development under Marcos.

The assassination of opposition leader Benigno (Ninoy) Aquino upon his return to the Philippines in 1983, after a long period of exile, coalesced popular dissatisfaction with Marcos and set in motion a succession of events that culminated in a snap presidential election in February 1986. The opposition united under Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino, and Salvador Laurel, head of the United Nationalist Democratic Organization (UNIDO). The election was marred by widespread electoral fraud on the part of Marcos and his supporters. International observers, including a U.S. delegation led by Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Indiana), denounced the official results. Marcos was forced to flee the Philippines in the face of a peaceful civilian-military uprising that ousted him and installed Corazon Aquino as president on February 25, 1986.

Under Aquino's presidency progress was made in revitalizing democratic institutions and respect for civil liberties. However, the administration also was viewed by many as weak and fractious, and a return to full political stability and economic development was hampered by several attempted coups staged by disaffected members of the Philippine military.

Fidel Ramos was elected president in 1992. Early in his administration, Ramos declared "national reconciliation" his highest priority. He legalized the communist party and created the National Unification Commission (NUC) to lay the groundwork for talks with communist insurgents, Muslim separatists, and military rebels. In June 1994, President Ramos signed into law a general conditional amnesty covering all rebel groups, as well as Philippine military and police personnel accused of crimes committed while fighting the insurgents. In October 1995, the government signed an agreement bringing the military insurgency to an end. A peace agreement with one major Muslim insurgent group was signed in 1996.

Joseph Ejercito Estrada's election as president in May 1998 marked the Philippines' third democratic succession since the ouster of Marcos. Estrada was elected with overwhelming mass support on a platform promising poverty alleviation and an anti-crime crackdown.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, elected vice president in 1998, assumed the presidency in January 2001 after widespread demonstrations that followed the breakdown of Estrada's impeachment trial on corruption charges. The Philippine Supreme Court subsequently endorsed unanimously the constitutionality of the transfer of power. National elections will take place in May 2004. In December 2002, Macapagal-Arroyo announced she would not be a candidate for a full term as president.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

The Philippines has a representative democracy modeled on the U.S. system. The 1987 constitution, adopted during the Aquino administration, reestablished a presidential system of government with a bicameral legislature and an independent judiciary. The president is limited to one 6-year term. Provision also was made in the constitution for autonomous regions in Muslim areas of Mindanao and in the Cordillera region of northern Luzon.

The Philippine Senate is elected at large. There are currently 23 senators, 13 of whom were elected in May 2001. (Note: There is one vacancy in the Senate due to the 2002 resignation of Blas Ople to become Foreign Secretary. The seat will remain vacant until filled in the 2004 election.) Of a possible 250 members of the House of Representatives, 207 are elected from the single-member districts. The remainder of the House seats are designated for sectoral party representative selected at large; currently, there are 12 such representatives in the House.

When Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the presidency, her "People Power Coalition," led by the—Lakas-NUCD party, became the dominant group in Congress. The 75-member Lakas Party leads the "Sunshine Coalition," which also includes the 61-member Nationalist People's Coalition, the 22-member Liberal Party, and several other major and minor parties. The LDP party leads the 20-member opposition bloc. In the Senate, the pro-administration coalition controls 13 of the 23 seats. Members of the Philippine Congress tend to have weak party loyalties and change party affiliation easily.

The government is pursuing corruption-related criminal cases against former President Estrada, who is currently under detention. The terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), which recently gained international notoriety with its kidnappings of foreign tourists in the southern islands, is a major problem for the government. In May 2001, the ASG kidnapped several Americans, beheading one of them in June 2001. In a June 2002 rescue attempt, another American hostage was killed. Efforts to track down and destroy the ASG have met with some success, especially on Basilan, where U.S. troops advised, assisted, and trained Philippine soldiers in counterterrorism. ASG elements remain active on Jolo Island and elsewhere in the southwestern Philippines. Rising crime and concerns about the security situation have had a negative impact on tourism and foreign investment. The government continues to face threats from both Muslim separatist groups and communist in surgents. In August 2001, the government reached a cease-fire agreement with the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front; negotiations on a final peace agreement continued at a very slow pace amid sporadic fighting into 2003. The Department of State in August 2002 added the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA) to the U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organization list. Negotiations between the government and the CPP's political arm, the National Democratic Front, were suspended in 2001 after the NPA assassinated two members of Congress, although "back-channel" talks continue.

Principal Government Officials
Last Updated: 12/24/03

President: Macapagal-Arroyo, Gloria

Vice President: Guingona, Teofisto

Executive Secretary: Romulo, Alberto

Sec. of Agrarian Reform: Pagdanganan, Roberto

Sec. of Agriculture: Lorenzo, Luis

Sec. of the Budget & Management: Boncodin, Emilia

Sec. of Education, Culture, & Sports: De Jesus, Edilberto

Sec. of Energy: Perez, Vicente

Sec. of Environment & Natural Resources: Gozun, Elisea

Sec. of Finance: Amatong, Juanita

Sec. of Foreign Affairs: Domingo-Albert, Delia Sec. of Health: Dayrit, Manuel, Dr.

Sec. of Interior & Local Govt.: Lina, Jose

Sec. of Justice:

Sec. of Labor & Employment: Santo Thomas, Patricia

Sec. of National Defense: Ermita, Eduardo

Sec. of Public Works & Highways: Fernando, Bayani

Sec. of Science & Technology: Alabastro, Estrella

Sec. of Social Welfare & Development: Soliman, Corazon

Sec. of Socio-Economic Planning: Neri, Romulo

Sec. of Tourism: Gordon, Richard

Sec. of Trade & Industry: Purisima, Cesar

Sec. of Transportation & Communications: Mendoza, Leandro

Governor, Central Bank: Buenaventura, Rafael

Ambassador to the US: Del Rosario, Albert

Permanent Representative to the UN, New York: Baja, Jr., Lauro L.

The Republic of the Philippines maintains an embassy in the United States at 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 (tel. 202-467-9300). Consulates general are in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, and Agana (Guam).

ECONOMY

Since the end of the Second World War, the Philippine economy has had a mixed history of growth and development. Over the years, the Philippines has gone from being one of the richest countries in Asia (following Japan) to being one of the poorest. Growth immediately after the war was rapid but slowed over time. A severe recession in 1984-85 saw the economy shrink by more than 10%, and perceptions of political instability during the Aquino administration further dampened economic activity. During his administration, President Ramos introduced a broad range of economic reforms and initiatives designed to spur business growth and foreign investment. As a result, the Philippines saw a period of higher growth, but the Asian financial crisis triggered in 1997 slowed economic development in the Philippines once again. President Estrada tried to resist protectionist measures and to continue the reforms begun by the Ramos administration. Important laws to strengthen regulation and supervision of the banking system (General Banking Act) and securities markets (Securities Regulation Code), to liberalize foreign participation in the retail trade sector, and to promote and regulate electronic commerce were enacted during his abbreviated term. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has made considerable progress in restoring macroeconomic stability with the help of a well-regarded economic team. The widening fiscal deficit remains the most glaring exception to a number of positive developments elsewhere in the economy.

Important sectors of the Philippine economy include agriculture and industry, particularly food processing, textiles and garments, and electronics and automobile parts. Most industries are concentrated in the urban areas around metropolitan Manila. Mining also has great potential in the Philippines, which possesses significant reserves of chromite, nickel, and copper. Significant natural—gas finds off the islands of Palawan have added to the country's substantial geothermal, hydro, and coal energy reserves.

Today's Economy

The Philippines was less severely affected by the Asian financial crisis than its neighbors, aided in part by remittances of more than $7 billion annually from overseas workers. Except for 1998—when drought and weather-related disturbances pulled down agricultural harvests, combining with the contraction in industrial sector production—real gross domestic product (GDP) has recorded positive growth year-on-year. From a 0.6% decline in 1998, GDP expansion picked up in 1999 (3.4%) and 2000 (4.4%) but slowed to 3.2% in 2001 in the context of a global economic slowdown, export slump, and domestic as well as global political and security concerns. Year-on-year GDP growth accelerated to 4.2% in 2002—exceeding the downward-revised 4.0%-4.5% growth range targeted by the government for that year—reflecting the continued resilience of the service sector, gains in industrial sector output, and recovering exports. Nonetheless, it will take a higher, sustained economic-growth path to make more appreciable progress in poverty alleviation given the Phil ippines' high annual population growth rate of 2.36%—one of the highest in Asia.

Agriculture generally suffers from low productivity and the lack of economies-of-scale, as well as inadequate infrastructure support. Output fell in 1997 and 1998 due to an El Niño-related drought but increased by 6.0% in 1999 (over 1998's low base). Growth reverted to more normal rates in 2000 (4.0%) and 2001 (3.7%). Agricultural out put (affected by another, albeit milder, dry spell) expanded by 3.5% year-on-year in 2002.

The global economic and electronics-demand slowdown combined with softer prices of resource-based commodities to depress export performance in 2001. Full-year export receipts—which last declined in 1985—contracted by 16.2% year-on-year, dragged down by a nearly 24% drop in revenues from shipments of electronic and telecommunications parts and equipment (which comprise about 60% of annual export revenues). Export receipts expanded from April-December 2002, breaking from 14 consecutive months of negative year-on-year growth and nudging up the full-year 2002 export growth rate to positive territory (9.5%). The export expansion reflected improved levels of intra-Asia trade.

Although less severely affected than its neighbors, the Philippines' banking sector was not spared from high interest rates and non-performing loan levels during the Asian financial crisis and its aftermath. Increases in minimum capitalization requirements, increasing loan-loss provisions, and generally healthy capital-adequacy ratios have helped temper systemic risk. Nevertheless, the burden of rising non-performing assets has squeezed profit margins and inhibited bank lending, posing risks to the longer term viability and stability of the banking system.

As of the end of December 2002, the Philippine peso, which closed at P53.03, had weakened by more than 101% vis-a-vis the U.S. dollar since mid-1997 and currently trades at about 53.50-54.00/U.S.dollars. Elsewhere, there have been some recent, positive developments in the Philippine economy. Year-on-year inflation, a perennial problem in the Philippines, is under control. Year-on-year inflation averaged 3.1% during 2002, its lowest since 1987 and well below the government's 4.5%-5.5% targeted average for the 2002 full year. Inflation was tempered in part by generally stable food prices, a less volatile currency, underutilized capacities, still high unemployment, and government efforts to control utility-rate increases. Domestic interest rates have fallen significantly, aided by low inflation and a stable monetary policy. In 2002, the balance of payments broke from 2 consecutive years of deficits and mustered a modest surplus, helped in part by workers' remittances and improving export receipts.

The Aquino and Ramos administrations opened up the relatively closed Philippine economy and provided a firmer base for sustainable economic growth. After a slow start, President Estrada and his cabinet continued with, and expanded, liberalization and market-based policies and reforms. Efforts to reform the constitution to encourage foreign investment, particularly foreign ownership of land, were abandoned amidst nationalist opposition. Initial optimism about prospects for economic reform also had dimmed amid concerns of governmental corruption. Scandals involving the Philippine Stock Exchange, and the President's close ties to certain businessmen, shook confidence of investors and the business community and ultimately led to successful efforts to impeach and remove President Estrada.

President Macapagal-Arroyo is working to continue with economic reforms in areas beyond retail trade, electronic commerce, banking reform, and securities regulation. Her administration enacted an anti-money laundering law in September 2001 and followed through with amendments in March 2002 to address remaining legal concerns posed by the OECD Financial Action Task Force (FATF). While the Philippines has avoided FATF countermeasures, effective implementation will be key to the Philippines' removal from the FATF's watch list of "non-cooperating countries and territories." Although encountering implementation hitches, her administration also enacted legislation to rationalize and privatize the electric power sector. In January 2002, President Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law two priority initiatives which seek to reform the government procurement system (the Government Procurement Reform Act) and to help ease the burden of non-performing assets on the financial sector through the establishment of private asset management companies (the Special Purpose Vehicle Act).

Notwithstanding favorable trends, the Philippine economy continues to juggle extremely limited financial resources while attempting to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding population and address intensifying demands for the current administration to deliver on its anti-poverty promises. The current high level of government debt, the substantial share of foreign obligations, the emerging risks posed by contingent liabilities, and the worrisome deterioration in tax collection performance over the past 5 years have increased the country's vulnerability to severe external and domestic shocks. Potential foreign investors, as well as tourists, continue to be concerned about law and order, inadequate infrastructure, and governance issues. While trade liberalization presents significant opportunities, intensifying global competition and the emergence of low-wage export economies also pose challenges. In particular, competition from other Southeast Asian countries and from China for investment underlines the need for sustained progress on structural reforms to remove bottlenecks to growth, lower costs of doing business, and promote good public and private sector governance.

Agriculture and Forestry

Arable farmland comprises an estimated 26% of the total land area. Although the Philippines is rich in agricultural potential, inadequate infrastructure, lack of financing, and government policies have limited productivity gains. Philippine farms produce food crops for domestic consumption and cash crops for export. The agricultural sector employs about 40% of the work force but only provides about one-fifth of GDP.

Decades of uncontrolled logging and slash-and-burn agriculture in marginal upland areas have stripped forests, with critical implications for the ecological balance. The government has instituted conservation programs, but deforestation remains a severe problem.

With its 7,107 islands, the Philippines has a very diverse range of fishing areas. Notwithstanding good prospects for the agriculture sub-sector, the fishing industry continues to face a bleak future due to destructive fishing methods, a lack of funds, and absence of government support.

Industry

Industrial production is centered on processing and assembly operations of the following: food, beverages, tobacco, rubber products, textiles, clothing and footwear, pharmaceuticals, paints, plywood and veneer, paper and paper products, small appliances, and electronics. Heavier industries are dominated by the production of cement, glass, industrial chemicals, fertilizers, iron and steel, and refined petroleum products.

The industrial sector is concentrated in the urban areas, especially in the metropolitan Manila region and has only weak linkages to the rural economy. In adequate infrastructure, transportation and communication have so far inhibited faster industrial growth, although significant strides have been made in addressing the last of these elements.

Mining

The country is well-endowed with mineral and thermal energy resources. A recent discovery of natural gas reserves off Palawan Island has been brought on-line to generate electricity. Philippine copper and chromite deposits are among the largest in the world. Other important minerals include gold, nickel, silver, coal, gypsum, and sulfur. The Philippines also has significant deposits of clay, limestone, marble, silica, and phosphate. Until 4 years ago, nonmetallic minerals accounted for 55% to 60% of total mining production and contributed substantially to the industry's steady output growth between 1993 and 1998 (with the value of production growing 58%). Mineral production declined by 18% between end-1998 and end-2000 to pesos 30.6 billion ($600 million at 2000's average foreign exchange rate) and the share of non-metallic minerals fell to under 45%. Mineral exports have generally slowed since 1996. Led by copper metal, Philippine mineral exports amounted to $512 million in 2002, down 5% from 2001 levels. Low metal prices, high production costs, and lack of investment in infrastructure have contributed to the mining industry's overall decline.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

In its foreign policy, the Philippines cultivates constructive relations with its Asian neighbors, with whom it is linked through membership in ASEAN, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. The Philippines is a member of the UN and some of its specialized agencies, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM, since 1992), and has close links with the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). The Philippines has played a key role in ASEAN in recent years and also values its relations with the countries of the Middle East, in no small part because hundreds of thousands of Filipinos are employed in that region. The fundamental Philippine attachment to democracy and human rights is reflected in its foreign policy. Philippine soldiers and police have participated in a number of multilateral civilian police and peacekeeping operations, and a Philippine Army general served as the first commander of the UN Peacekeeping Operation in East Timor. The Philippine Government also has been active in efforts to reduce tensions among rival claimants to the territories and waters of the resource-rich South China Sea.

U.S.-PHILIPPINE RELATIONS

U.S.-Philippine relations are based on shared history and commitment to democratic principles, as well as on economic ties. The historical and cultural links between the Philippines and the United States remain strong. The Philippines modeled its governmental institutions on those of the United States and continues to share a commitment to democracy and human rights. At the most fundamental level of bilateral relations, human links continue to form a strong bridge between the two countries. There are an estimated 2 million Americans of Philippine ancestry in the United States and more than 130,000 American citizens in the Philippines.

Until November 1992, pursuant to the 1947 Military Bases Agreement, the United States maintained and operated major facilities at Clark Air Base, Subic Bay Naval Complex, and several small subsidiary installations in the Philippines. In 1983 and 1988, the United States and the Philippines completed successful reviews and extensions of the Military Bases Agreement, as amended. In August 1991, negotiators from the two countries reached agreement on a draft treaty providing for use of Subic Bay Naval Base by U.S. forces for 10 years. The draft treaty did not include use of Clark Air Base, which had been so heavily damaged by the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo that the United States decided to abandon it.

In September 1991, the Philippine Senate rejected the bases treaty, and despite further efforts to salvage the situation, the two sides could not reach agreement. As a result, the Philippine Government informed the United States on December 6, 1991, that it would have 1 year to complete withdrawal. That withdrawal went smoothly and was completed ahead of schedule, with the last U.S. forces departing on November 24, 1992. On departure, the U.S. Government turned over assets worth more than $1.3 billion to the Philippines, including an airport and ship-repair facility. Agencies formed by the Philippine Government have converted the former military bases for civilian commercial use, with Subic Bay serving as a flagship for that effort.

The post-U.S. bases era has seen U.S.-Philippine relations improved and broadened, with a prominent focus on economic and commercial ties while maintaining the importance of the security dimension. U.S. investment continues to play an important role in the Philippine economy, while a strong security relationship rests on the 1952 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). In February 1998, U.S. and Philippine negotiators concluded the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), paving the way for increased military cooperation under the MDT. The agreement was approved by the Philippine Senate in May 1999 and entered into force on June 1, 1999. Under the VFA, the United States has conducted ship visits to Philippine ports and has resumed large combined military exercises with Philippine forces. Key events in the bilateral relationship include the July 4, 1996 declaration by President Ramos of Philippine-American Friendship Day in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Philippine independence. Ramos visited the United States in April 1998, and then-President Estrada visited in July 2000. President Macapagal-Arroyo met with President Bush in an official working visit in November 2001 and made a State Visit to Washington on May 19, 2003. Numerous U.S. Cabinet-level visits to the Philippines punctuated this latter period, culminating in a visit by Secretary of State Colin Powell in August 2002.

President Macapagal-Arroyo has repeatedly stressed the close friendship between the Philippines and the United States and her desire to further strengthen bilateral ties. Both governments seek to revitalize and strengthen their partnership by working toward greater security, prosperity, and service to Filipinos and Americans alike. Inaugurated into office on the same day as President Bush, President Macapagal-Arroyo lent strong support to the global war on terrorism and the coalition against Saddam Hussein.

Balikatan (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) 02-1 in 2002 contributed directly to the Philippines Armed Forces efforts to root out Abu Sayyaf terrorists and bring development to one formerly terrorist-plagued island. The United States has intensified its annual cycle of combined military training around the country as well as the military's civil affairs and humanitarian projects, funded by $68 million in U.S. Foreign Military Financing projected between 2002-06. In addition, supplemental funding legislated in April 2003 will add another $30 million. Moreover, the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program, $2.4 million in FY 2003, is the largest in Asia and the second-largest in the world. At $148 million, the Philippines is the number one recipient in Asia of Excess Defense Articles. The Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) was signed in November 2002 after a year-long negotiation process. Similarly, law enforcement cooperation has reached new levels. U.S.-Philippines law enforcement agencies have cooperated to bring charges against 15 Abu Sayyaf terrorists, implement an extradition treaty, and train some 700 Filipino law enforcement officers in 2002.

The United States also is working closely with the Philippines to reduce poverty and increase prosperity. President Macapagal-Arroyo has subscribed to President Bush's Millennium Challenge, even as President Bush fully supports President Macapagal-Arroyo's "Strong Republic" reform agenda for rooting out corruption, opening economic opportunity, and investing in health and education. USAID programs, worth $84 million in FY 2003, support the Arroyo administration's war on poverty as well as the GRP reform agenda in critical areas, including anti-money laundering, government procurement, and tax collection. Other USAID programs bolstered the government's efforts to heal divisions in Philippine society through a focus on conflict resolution, livelihood enhancement for former combatants, and economic development in Mindanao and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, among the poorest areas in the country. Supplemental budget legislation in April 2003 earmarked another $30 million for support to the peace process in Mindanao. Meanwhile, important programs continue in modern family planning, infectious disease control, environmental protection, provision of basic services—as well as PL 480 and 416(B) food aid programs, which together totaled $34.5 million in FY 2002.

More than 130,000 American citizens reside in the Philippines, and nearly 400,000 visit each year. An estimated 2 million Filipinos live in the United States, and they remitted about $3.5 billion in FY 2002. Providing government services to U.S. and the other party's citizens, therefore, constitutes an important aspect of the bilateral relationship. Those services include veterans affairs, social security, and consular operations. Benefits to Filipinos from the U.S. Veterans Affairs and Social Security Administrations totaled $143.9 million and $246.7 million, respectively. Many people-to-people programs exist between the United States and the Philippines, including Fulbright, International Visitors and Aquino Fellowship exchange programs, as well as the U.S. Peace Corps.

Trade and Investment

Two-way U.S. trade with the Philippines amounted to nearly $18.3 billion in 2002. The strong trade ties between the United States and the Philippines is reflected in the fact that some 19% of the Philippines' imports in 2002 came from the United States, and about one-fourth of its exports were bound for America. The Philippines ranks as our 19th-largest export market and our 20th-largest supplier. Key exports to the United States are semiconductor devices and computer peripherals, automobile parts, electric machinery, textiles and garments, and coconut oil. In addition to other goods, the Philippines imports raw and semi-processed materials for the manufacture of semiconductors, electronics and electrical machinery, transport equipment, and cereals and cereal preparations.

The United States traditionally has been the Philippines' largest foreign investor, with about $3.3 billion in estimated investment as of end-2002 comprising 22% of the Philippines' foreign direct investment stock. Since the late 1980s, the Philippines has committed itself to reforms that encourage foreign investment as a basis for economic development, subject to certain guidelines and restrictions in specified areas. Under President Ramos, the Philippines expanded reforms, opening the power generation and telecommunications sectors to foreign investment, as well as securing ratification of the Uruguay Round agreement and membership in the World Trade Organization. As noted earlier, President Macapagal-Arroyo administration is continuing such reforms, a position which generally enjoys domestic political support. A major obstacle has been and will continue to be a constitutional restriction on foreign ownership of land and public utilities, which limits maximum ownership to 40%.

During the last few years, the relatively closed Philippine economy has been opened significantly by foreign exchange deregulation, foreign investment and banking liberalization, and tariff and market barrier reduction. In addition, foreign entry into the retail trade sector has been liberalized, with S&R Price as the first foreign company to enter the Philippine retailing market. The Macapagal-Arroyo government also enacted the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, which aims to restructure the Philippine electric power industry and privatize the National Power Corporation (NPC or Napocor). This legislation presents opportunities for U.S. firms to participate in the power industry in the Philippines. Information and communications technologies, backroom operations such as call centers, and regional facilities, or shared-service centers are likewise leading investment opportunities.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials

Manila (E), 1201 Roxas Blvd., P.O. Box 151 Manila. PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000. Tel [63] (2) 523-1001, Fax (63) (2) 522-4361; COM OFF.: American Business Center, 25th Fl, Ayala Life-FGU Blding, 6811 Ayala Ave, Makati City; Tel (63) (2) 888-4081 to 98; Fax (63) (2) 888-6606.

Asian Development Bank (Manila), #6 ADB Avenue, 0401 Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila • P.O. Box 789, 0980 Manila, Tel [632] 632-6050, (632) 632-6051, (632) 632-4444; Fax (632) 632-4003, 632-2084; COM. ADB Off:American Business Center, 25th Floor, Ayala Life-FGU Building, 6811 Ayala Avenue, Makati City; Tel (632) 887-1345, (632) 887-1346; Fax (632) 887-1164.

Cebu (CA), 3rd Fl., PCI Bank Bldg., Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City 6000; FPO AP 96515; Tel. [63] (32) 311-261/2; 2310-671; Fax 2310-174.

Last Modified: Wednesday, September 24, 2003

TRAVEL

Consular Information Sheet
November 24, 2003

Country Description: The Philippines is a developing democratic republic located in Southeast Asia. The archipelago consists of more than 7,000 islands, of which 880 are inhabited. The major island groupings are Luzon in the north, the Visayas in the center, and Mindanao in the south. Tourist facilities are available within population centers and the main tourist areas. English is widely spoken in the Philippines, and most signs are in English.

Entry and Exit Requirements: U.S. citizens may enter the Philippines without a visa upon presentation of their U.S. passport, which must be valid for at least six months after entry, and a return ticket to the United States or an onward ticket to another country. Upon arrival, immigration authorities will annotate the U.S. passport with an entry visa valid for 21 days. If you plan to stay longer than 21 days, you must apply for an extension at the Philippine Bureau of Immigration and Deportation; Magallanes Driv; Intramuros, Manila, Philippines (http://www.immigration.gov.ph). Persons who overstay their visas are subject to fines and detention by Philippine immigration authorities. American citizens are urged to remain aware of their visa status while in the Philippines and to follow immigration laws and regulations strictly.

There are special requirements for the entry of unaccompanied minors. A Passenger Service Charge, currently 550 Pesos (approximate USD equivalent $11.00), must be paid in Philippine Pesos when departing the country from international airports. For further information on entry/exit requirements, please contact the Embassy of the Philippines at: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.; Washington, D.C. 20036 (telephone: (202) 467-9300), or via the Internet at http://www.philippineembassyusa.org.

In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry/exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child's travel from the parent(s) or legal guardian if not present. Having such documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry/departure.

Safety/Security: The terrorist threat to American citizens in the Philippines remains high, and the Embassy continues to receive reports of ongoing activities by known terrorist groups. Americans traveling or residing in the Philippines are urged to exercise great caution and maintain heightened security awareness. A number of security-related incidents highlight the risk of travel in certain areas due to incidents of kidnapping, bombings, and other violence and criminal activity.

The Philippine government has been engaged on and off in negotiations with Communist and Muslim rebel groups. Nonetheless, rebel activity and armed banditry in certain areas of the Philippines still pose security concerns. The Communist Party of the Philippines and its terrorist military arm, the New People's Army, operate throughout the country and have issued public threats against U.S. citizens and interests in the Philippines. Americans are urged to exercise caution when traveling throughout the country and are specifically warned to avoid hiking or camping in the vicinity of Mt. Pinatubo in Pampanga Province.

In Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, kidnappings, bombings, violence, and insurgent activity make travel hazardous in many areas. The terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) has kidnapped several Americans and other foreign tourists since April 2000. Some were freed after substantial ransoms were paid, some escaped or were rescued by military action, and some were killed. Other kidnapping gangs operate in the same general area and have abducted a number of foreigners for ransom. The Abu Sayyaf Group continues to issue public threats against U.S. citizens and interests in the Philippines.

Americans should defer non-emergency travel to the island of Mindanao due to recurring bombing incidents and threats of other violence and criminal activity, including kidnapping. Americans should avoid all travel to islands of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Jolo located in the Sulu archipelago in the extreme southwest of the Philippines due to kidnappings and other criminal activity.

In October 2002, the United States Government designated the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) a Foreign Terrorist Organization. JI is an extremist group linked to al-Qaeda and other regional terrorist groups and has cells operating throughout Southeast Asia. Extremist groups in the region have demonstrated a capability to carry out transnational attacks in locations where Westerners congregate. Terrorist groups do not distinguish between official and civilian targets.

As a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, U.S. citizens and interests may also be at increased risk of terrorist actions from foreign or domestic extremist groups in the Philippines. There are periodic reports of plans for possible terrorist acts aimed at U.S. Government facilities or personnel, public and private institutions, and transportation carriers. The U.S. Embassy takes all such threats seriously. The State Department reminds all Americans traveling or living abroad of the need to remain vigilant with regard to personal security issues and to always follow some very basic and important security countermeasures: do not establish a pattern or routine in movement and travel; vary the times and routes taken to the extent possible; maintain a low profile; and immediately report any unusual activity, to include possible surveillance, to the Philippine Police and the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet website at http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found. Travelers are also encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy in Manila at tel. (63) (2) 523-1001 for an update of the current security situation, especially if planning to travel outside the Metro Manila area.

The Overseas Citizens Services call center at 1-888-407-4747 can answer general inquires on safety and security overseas. This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling 1-317-472-2328.

Crime Information: As in many of the major metropolitan areas in the United States, crime is a serious concern in Metro Manila. As a rule of thumb, Americans are advised to exercise good judgment and remain aware of their surroundings. Reports of confidence games, pick-pocketing and credit card fraud are common. Bewary of unknown individuals who attempt to befriend you, especially just after you have arrived in country. A number of recent robberies and assaults involving the "date rape drug" (known locally as Ativan) have occurred; the drug is generally administered to unwitting visitors via food or drink. It is best not to accept food, drink or rides in private vehicles from strangers even if they appear legitimate. There have been several kidnappings and violent assaults of foreigners in the Metro Manila area, although Americans have not been specifically targeted in such crimes. There have also been reports of vehicles with foreign passengers being robbed by gunmen while driving to and from the international airport.

Taxis are the recommended form of public transportation; however, the following safeguards are important: do not enter a taxi if it has already accepted another passenger, and request that the meter be used. If the driver is unwilling to comply with your requests, it is best to wait for another cab. It is also a good idea to make a mental note of the license plate number should there be a problem. When driving in the city, make certain that the doors are locked and the windows rolled up. All other forms of public transportation, such as the light rail system, buses, and "jeepneys" should be avoided for both safety and security reasons.

Visitors should also be vigilant when using credit cards. One common form of credit card fraud involves the illicit use of an electronic device to retrieve and record information, including the PIN, from the card's magnetic strip. The information is then used to make unauthorized purchases. To limit your vulnerability to this scam, never let your card out of your sight.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

U.S. citizens may refer to the Department of State's pamphlet, A Safe Trip Abroad, for ways to promote a trouble-free journey. The pamphlet is available by mail from the Superintendent of Documents; U.S. Government Printing Office; Washington, D.C. 20402, via the Internet at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/, or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov.

Medical Facilities: Adequate medical care is available in major cities, but even the best hospitals may not meet the standards of medical care, sanitation, and facilities provided by hospitals in the United States. Medical care is limited in rural and more remote areas. Most hospitals will require a down payment of estimated fees at the time of admission.

Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost several thousands of dollars or more. Doctors and hospitals in the Philippines often expect immediate cash payment for health services. A list of doctors and medical facilities in the Philippines can be found on the web page of the U.S. Embassy in Manila at http://manila.usembassy.gov/.

Medical Insurance: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.

When making a decision regarding health insurance, Americans should consider that many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service and that a medical evacuation to the United States may cost well in excess of $50,000. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas often face extreme difficulties. When consulting with your insurer prior to your trip, please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas healthcare provider or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.

Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page: http://travel.state.gov.

Other Health Information: Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax l-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, please consult the World Heath Organization's website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: Travel within the Philippine archipelago is possible by boat, plane, bus, or car. Few tourists rent a car to drive, as the road system is crowded and drivers are undisciplined. Driving off the national highways and paved roads is particularly dangerous, especially at night, and should be avoided. To avoid overcrowded or unsafe transport, Americans should exercise caution in planning travel by older, inter-island ferryboats or other public conveyances.

While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning the Philippines is provided for general reference only, and it may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance:

Safety of Public Transportation: Fair
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Fair
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Poor

For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, please see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html. For specific information concerning Philippine driver's permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, please contact the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. at tel. (202) 467-9300 or via the Internet at http://www.philippineembassyusa.org. Please see also related information from the Philippine Department of Tourism at http://www.tourism.gov.ph and http://www.dotpcvc.gov.ph.

Aviation Safety Oversight: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of the Philippines' civil aviation authority as Category 1 — in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of the Philippines' air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the United States at tel. (800) 322-7873, or visit the FAA's Internet website at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact the DOD at tel. (618) 229-4801.

Customs Regulations: Philippines customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from the Philippines of items such as firearms and currency. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, D.C. or one of the Philippine consulates in the United States (Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco) for specific information regarding customs requirements.

Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Philippine laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

The Bureau of Immigration arrests several Americans each year on immigration charges of "undesirability," sometimes based solely on complaints arising from personal or business disputes in the Philippines. Frequently, these detainees cannot be deported and/or released from custody until substantial fines are paid and any underlying criminal charges are resolved – a process that sometimes takes months or even years.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Capital punishment is possible for certain drug-related crimes.

Fraud, swindling and "bad debts" are also serious criminal offenses in the Philippines, as is the illegal recruitment of Philippine citizens for employment overseas. Several Americans are currently serving lengthy prison sentences for illegal recruitment activities. The Philippine government also has strict laws against the possession of firearms, and several foreigners have been sentenced to life imprisonment for bringing firearms into the country. Americans who are arrested overseas should immediately ask to contact a U.S. Embassy representative.

Special Circumstances: Marriage In The Philippines: A foreigner who wishes to marry in the Philippines is required by the Philippine Government to obtain from his/her Embassy a "Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage" before filing an application for a marriage license. Because there is no national register of marriages in the United States, the U.S. Embassy cannot provide such a certification. As a result, the Philippine government will accept an "Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage" in its place. Americans may execute this affidavit at the U.S. Embassy in Manila any day, Monday-Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. except for Philippine or American holidays. The American must present his/her U.S. passport. There is a fee of $30.00 or its peso equivalent for the affidavit, payable in cash only. Philippine authorities will not accept any substitute document initiated in the United States. U.S. military personnel should contact their personnel office before traveling to the Philippines regarding Department of Defense joint service regulations.

Execution of the affidavit by a U.S. consular officer is a notarial act and, as such, the consular officer is authorized by U.S. law to refuse to perform the service if the document will be used for a purpose patently unlawful, improper, or inimical to the best interests of the United States (see 22 C.F.R. section 92.9b). Entering into a marriage contract for the principal purpose of facilitating immigration to the United States for an alien is an unlawful act, and the U.S. Code provides penalties for individuals who commit perjury in an affidavit taken by a consular officer.

The Marriage Application Process: Once an American citizen has obtained from the U.S. Embassy an "Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage," he/she may file an application for a marriage license at the office of the Philippine Civil Registrar in the town or city where one of the parties is a resident. The U.S. citizen applicant must present: (a) the affidavit; (b) the divorce decree(s) or death certificate(s), if applicable, required to verify civil status and legal capacity to contract marriage; (c) their U.S. passport; and (d) documentation regarding parental consent or advice, if applicable. (Persons aged 18 to 21 must have written parental consent to marry in the Philippines; those aged 22 to 24 must have received parental advice. Philippine law prohibits marriage for persons under the age of 18.) A judge, a minister or other person authorized by the Government of the Philippines can perform the marriage.

Marriage to a U.S. citizen confers neither citizenship nor an automatic eligibility for entry to the United States. An immigrant visa is required for a foreign spouse to live in the United States. Questions about filing an immigrant visa petition to bring a foreign spouse to the United States should be directed to the nearest office of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, the State Department's Visa Office (telephone: (202) 663-1225) or, while in the Philippines, to the U.S. Embassy Immigrant Visa Unit at http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3023.html.

Disaster Preparedness: The Philippines is a volcano-, typhoon- and earthquake-prone country. During the rainy season (May to November), there are typhoons and flash floods. Flooding can cause road delays and cut off bridges. Typhoons in the vicinity of the Philippines can interrupt air and sea links within the country.

Volcanic activity is frequent, and periodically the Government of the Philippines announces alerts for specific volcanoes. Earthquakes can also occur throughout the country. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov.

Children's Issues: Under Philippine law, the mother and father of a child are held to exercise parental control jointly, and child custody cases are considered civil disputes. Parental abduction is not a crime. The Philippines is not a party to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. For specific information on child custody cases in the Philippines, please consult the web page of the U.S. Embassy in Manila at http://manila.usembassy.gov/.

For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, please refer to our Internet site at http://travel.state.gov/children's_issues.html or telephone the Overseas Citizens Services call center at 1-888-407-4747. The OCS call center can answer general inquiries regarding international adoptions and will forward calls to the appropriate country officer in the Bureau of Consular Affairs. This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling 1-317-472-2328.

Registration/Embassy and Consular Agency Location: Americans living in or visiting the Philippines are encouraged to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines and obtain updated information on travel and security within the Philippines. The U.S. Embassy is located at: 1201 Roxas Boulevard; Manila, Philippines tel. (63)(2) 528-6300. The Consular American Citizen Services (ACS) section's fax number is (63)(2) 522-3242 and the ACS web page is at manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3004. html.

The U.S. Consular Agency in Cebu provides limited services for U.S. citizens. The Consular Agency address is: Business Office, Waterfront Hotel; Lahug, Cebu City, tel. (63) (32) 231-1261.

International Parental Child Abduction

The information below has been edited from the report of the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs, American Citizen Services. For more information, please read the Guarding Against International Child Abduction section of this book and review current reports online at travel.state.gov

General Information: The Philippines is not a party to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, nor are there any international or bilateral treaties in force between the Philippines and the United States dealing with international parental child abduction. Therefore, there is no treaty remedy by which the left behind parent would be able to pursue recovery of the child/ren should they be abducted to or wrongfully retained in the Philippines. Once in the Philippines, the child/ren would be completely subject to Philippine law for all matters including custody.

The United States is not a party to any treaty or convention on the enforcement of court orders. A custody decree issued by a court in the U.S. has no binding legal force abroad, although it may have a persuasive force in some countries. Furthermore, a U.S. custody decree may be considered by foreign courts and authorities as evidence and, in some cases, foreign courts may voluntarily recognize and enforce it on the basis of comity (the voluntary recognition by courts of one jurisdiction of the laws and judicial decisions of another).

Custody Disputes: Parental child abduction is not a crime under Philippine law. Custody disputes are considered civil legal matters that must be resolved between the concerned parties or through the courts in the Philippines. Philippine authorities advise the American Embassy that generally the Philippine courts will give custody of children under the age of seven to the mother, provided there is no evidence that would indicate that the mother is unfit to raise the child. Although there is no treaty in force between the United States and the Philippines on enforcement of judgments, the Philippine courts will also take into consideration child custody decrees issued by foreign courts in deciding disputes regarding children residing in the Philippines.

The Department of Justice in the Philippines states that, in general, redress in child custody cases is sought through habeas corpus orders/proceedings in court. These orders can be obtained on an expedited basis and direct law enforcement to locate and take a child into custody for the purposes of an emergency hearing. Ideally, these orders and proceedings ensure due process under the local laws as well as providing protection for the child/ren.

In order to bring a custody issue before the Domestic Relations/Family Court, the left-behind parent will require the assistance of an attorney licensed to practice in the Philippines. A parent holding a custody decree issued in U.S. courts must therefore retain local counsel in the Philippines to apply to the Philippine courts for recognition and enforcement of the U.S. decree, or to invoke the writ of habeas corpus. Although visitation rights for non-custodial parents are not expressly stipulated in the Philippine Civil Code, court judgments often provide visitation rights for non-custodial parents.

U.S. consular officers are prohibited by U.S. federal regulations from providing legal advice, from taking custody of a child, from forcing a child to be returned to the United States, from providing assistance or refuge to parents attempting to violate local law, or from initiating or attempting to influence child custody proceedings in foreign courts.

The American Citizen Services division of the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy can assist in locating children believed to be in the Philippines and in verifying the child's welfare. If a child is in danger or if there is evidence of abuse, consular officers will request assistance from the local authorities in safeguarding the child's welfare. Consular officers maintain lists of attorneys practicing in the particular areas of the Philippines, as well as general information regarding child custody practices.

Deportation: While there is an extradition treaty between the United States and the Philippines, parental child abduction is not an extraditable offense. However, if the taking parent is a U.S. citizen whose U.S. passport has been revoked due to an outstanding federal Unlawful Flight to avoid Prosecution (UFAP) warrant or indictment on charges of International Parental Kidnapping (IPKCA) in violation of 18 USC Section 1204, Philippine authorities may consider deportation based on lack of a valid travel document.

Reaching the U.S. Embassy or Consulate that serves the Philippines: The U.S. Embassy in Manila is located at 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila City; tel. (63-2) 523-1001. The Consular American Citizen Services fax number is (63-2) 522-3242 and the ACS web page is http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/rp1/wwwh3004.html. The U.S. Consular Agency in Cebu provides limited services for U.S. citizens. The Consular Agency address is: Third Floor, PCI Bank, Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City; tel. (63-32) 231-1261.

Reaching the Foreign Country's Embassy in the U.S.: For further information, contact the Embassy of the Philippines, 1600 Mass. Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 (202/467-9300) or nearest Consulate General: CA (213/387-5321 and 415/433-6666), HI (808/595-6316), IL (312/332-6458), NY (212/764-1330), or Guam (671/646-4620). Internet address: http://us.sequel.net/RPinUS/

Public Announcement
January 16, 2004

This Public Announcement has been updated to remind travelers of general security concerns in the Philippines, particularly on Mindanao. It supersedes the Public Announcement issued July 16, 2003, and expires on May 31, 2004.

The terrorist threat to Americans in the Philippines remains high, and the Embassy continues to receive reports of ongoing activities by known terrorist groups. In view of a number of security-related incidents and the possibility of future terrorism, and other violence or criminal activity, Americans traveling to or residing in the Philippines are urged to exercise great caution and maintain heightened security awareness. Extremist groups present in Southeast Asia, such as Jemaah Islamiyah, have demonstrated transnational capabilities to carry out attacks against locations where Westerners congregate. Terrorist groups do not distinguish between official and civilian targets.

Bombings have claimed many lives and injured hundreds in the Philippines during the past year, particularly on Mindanao. A bombing at a sports arena in Maguindanao Province on January 4, 2004, killed at least 15 persons and injured dozens more. A bombing at the international airport in Davao on March 4, 2003, killed at least 20 people, including one American, and injured over 140 others. Other explosive devices have been discovered and defused prior to detonation in these and other areas of Mindanao. The Government of the Philippines has condemned these incidents as acts of terrorism.

U.S. citizens are urged to defer nonemergency travel to the island of Mindanao due to recurring bombing incidents and threats of other violence and criminal activity, including kidnapping. U.S. citizens should avoid all travel to the islands of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Jolo, located in the Sulu archipelago in the extreme southwest of the Philippines, due to kidnappings and other criminal activity. Americans residing in Mindanao and in the Sulu archipelago should carefully review their security posture, take appropriate action to secure their well-being, and remain in close contact with the Embassy for current information. As a precaution, the U.S. Government has restricted travel by official personnel to these areas.

A number of bomb-related incidents have also occurred in Metro Manila in recent years. The U.S. Embassy urges Americans to avoid crowds and crowded places, including, among other places, nightclubs and bars, and to exercise special caution in public places or when using public transportation.

The terrorist New People's Army (NPA), the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines, operates throughout the Philippines and has issued public threats against U.S. citizens and interests in the Philippines. in January 2002, an American tourist was shot and killed by an unidentified gunman on the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo in Pampanga Province, an area known for NPA activity. Americans are warned to avoid hiking or camping in this area and are advised to exercise caution when traveling elsewhere in the Philippines due to armed clashes between the New People's Army and government troops in some areas. Americans are also advised to exercise special caution when traveling throughout the Philippines around the time of the national elections in May 2004, as election–related violence has been widely reported during previous elections, especially in areas where the NPA remains active.

Extortionists have kidnapped several Filipinos and foreigners, including three American children, in recent years. Kidnappers operating in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines have snatched family members of prominent local business leaders and politicians for financial gain, to make a political statement, or as part of business, land, or personal disputes.

The terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) continues to issue public threats against U.S. citizens and interests in the Philippines. The Abu Sayyaf Group has taken hostage large numbers of Filipinos, Americans and foreign tourists since April 2000. Several were freed after substantial ransoms were paid, some escaped or were rescued by military action, and some were killed. In 2002, one American hostage was killed and an other injured during a rescue operation after spending more than a year in captivity. Because Abu Sayyaf has demonstrated its ability to travel long distances by boat to kidnap foreigners, such as the May 2001 kidnapping operation in Palawan, it is possible that other locations in the Philippines, such as beach resorts, could be attacked. Americans should particularly avoid beach resorts in areas where the Abu Sayyaf Group remains active.

U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for the Philippines and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, which are available at the Department of State's website, http://travel.state.gov.