|
Introduction
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
Philippines attained their independence. The 21-year rule of
Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a widespread popular
rebellion 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
widespread demonstrations led to his ouster. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
was elected to a six-year term in May 2004. The Philippine
Government faces threats from armed communist insurgencies and
from Muslim separatists in the south.
Geography |
|
Location: |
Southeastern Asia,
archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea,
east of Vietnam
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Geographic coordinates: |
13 00 N, 122 00 E
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|
Map
references: |
Southeast Asia
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Area: |
total: 300,000 sq
km
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km
|
|
Area -
comparative: |
slightly larger than
Arizona
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|
Land
boundaries: |
0 km
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|
Coastline: |
36,289 km
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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
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|
Climate: |
tropical marine; northeast
monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
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Terrain: |
mostly mountains with
narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
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Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
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|
Natural
resources: |
timber, petroleum, nickel,
cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
|
|
Land
use: |
arable land: 18.95%
permanent crops: 16.77%
other: 64.28% (2001)
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Irrigated land: |
15,500 sq km (1998 est.)
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|
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
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|
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
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|
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
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|
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
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People |
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Population: |
87,857,473 (July 2005
est.)
|
|
Age
structure: |
0-14 years: 35.4%
(male 15,869,636/female 15,255,588)
15-64 years: 60.6% (male 26,503,785/female 26,722,511)
65 years and over: 4% (male 1,523,213/female 1,982,740)
(2005 est.)
|
|
Median
age: |
total: 22.27 years
male: 21.77 years
female: 22.8 years (2005 est.)
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|
Population growth rate: |
1.84% (2005 est.)
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|
Birth
rate: |
25.31 births/1,000
population (2005 est.)
|
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Death
rate: |
5.47 deaths/1,000
population (2005 est.)
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|
Net
migration rate: |
-1.49 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2005 est.)
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|
Sex
ratio: |
at birth: 1.05
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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|
Infant
mortality rate: |
total: 23.51
deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
69.91 years
male: 67.03 years
female: 72.92 years (2005 est.)
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|
Total
fertility rate: |
3.16 children born/woman
(2005 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
9,000 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
less than 500 (2003 est.)
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Nationality: |
noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine
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Ethnic
groups: |
Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano
13.1%, Llocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo
7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000 census)
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Religions: |
Roman Catholic 80.9%,
Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other
Christian 4.5%, Muslim 5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none
0.1% (2000 census)
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Languages: |
two official languages -
Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English; eight major dialects -
Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray,
Pampango, and Pangasinan
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|
Literacy: |
definition: age 15
and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 92.5%
female: 92.7% (2002)
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Government |
|
Country
name: |
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: |
republic
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Capital: |
Manila
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Administrative divisions: |
79 provinces and 116
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, 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: |
12 June 1898 (from Spain)
|
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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
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Constitution: |
2 February 1987, effective
11 February 1987
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Legal
system: |
based on Spanish and
Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
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Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal
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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 six-year
terms; election last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May
2010)
election results: results of the election - Gloria
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected president; percent of vote - Gloria
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 40%, Fernando POE 37%, three others 23%
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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 10 May 2004 (next to be
held in May 2007); House of Representatives - elections last
held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2007)
election results: 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; 14 senators are
pro-government, 9 are in opposition; 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; note - there are
211 rather than 212 sitting representatives because one was
appointed Secretary of Tourism (2004)
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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)
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Political parties and leaders: |
Laban Ng Demokratikong
Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA,
president]; Lakas Ng Edsa (National Union of Christian
Democrats) or Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA, president; Gloria
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, chairperson]; Liberal Party or LP [Franklin
DRILON, president; Jose ATIENZA, JR., chairman]; National
People's Coalition or NPC [Eduardo COJUANGCO, chairman emeritus;
Frisco SAN JUAN, president]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL,
president]; Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (Party of the Philippine
Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA, president; Juan Ponce ENRILE,
chairman]; Aksyon Demokratiko Party [Raul ROCO, president];
Reporma [Renato DE VILLA, chairman]; PROMDI [Emilio OSMENA,
president]; Nacionalista [Manuel VILLAR, president]; People's
Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO, president}
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
AKBAYAN [Reps. Etta
ROSALES, Mario AGUJA, and Risa HONTIVEROS-BARAQUIEL]; ANAKPAWIS
[Reps. Crispin BELTRAN and Rafael MARIANO]; Association of
Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) [Reps. Edgar VALDEZ,
Ernesto PABLO, and Sunny Rose MADAMBA]; Bayan Muna [Reps. Satur
OCAMPO, Joel VIRADOR, and Teodoro CASINO, Jr.]; BUHAY [Reps.
Rene VELARDE and Hans Christian SENERES]; BUTIL [Rep. Benjamin
CRUZ]; CIBAC [Rep. Emmanuel Joel VILLANUEVA]; GABRIELA [Rep.
Liza MAZA]; PARTIDO NG MANGGAGAWA [Rep. Renato MAGTUBO] (2003)
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International organization participation: |
APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB,
ASEAN, BIS, CP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS
(observer), ONUB, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
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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
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Economy |
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Economy
- overview: |
The Philippines was less
severely affected by the Asian financial crisis of 1998 than its
neighbors, aided in part by annual remittances of $7-8 billion
from overseas workers and no sustained runup in asset prices or
foreign borrowing 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. GDP growth
accelerated to 4.3% in 2002, 4.7% in 2003, and about 6% in 2004,
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 poverty alleviation 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 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 are increasingly concerned about the
Philippines' ability to sustain the debt; legislative progress
on new revenue measures will weigh heavily on credit rating
decisions.
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GDP: |
purchasing power parity -
$430.6 billion (2004 est.)
|
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GDP -
real growth rate: |
5.9% (2004 est.)
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GDP -
per capita: |
purchasing power parity -
$5,000 (2004 est.)
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GDP -
composition by sector: |
agriculture: 14.8%
industry: 31.9%
services: 53.2% (2004 est.)
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Labor
force: |
35.86 million (2004 est.)
|
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Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 36%, industry
16%, services 48% (2004 est.)
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Unemployment rate: |
11.7% (2004 est.)
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Population below poverty line: |
40% (2001 est.)
|
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Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.9% (2003)
|
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |
46.6 (2003)
|
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
5.5% (2004 est.)
|
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Investment (gross fixed): |
17% of GDP (2004 est.)
|
|
Budget: |
revenues: $12.22
billion
expenditures: $15.84 billion, including capital
expenditures of $2.4 million (2004 est.)
|
|
Public
debt: |
74.2% of GDP (September
2004 est.)
|
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Agriculture - products: |
sugarcane, coconuts, rice,
corn, bananas, casavas, pineapples, fish, mangoes, pork, eggs,
beef
|
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Industries: |
electronics assembly,
garments, footwear, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products,
food processing, petroleum refining, fishing
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Industrial production growth rate: |
5% (2004 est.)
|
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Electricity - production: |
52.86 billion kWh (2003)
|
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Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 55.6%
hydro: 17.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 26.9% (2001)
|
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Electricity - consumption: |
46.05 billion kWh (2003)
|
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Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2003)
|
|
Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2003)
|
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Oil -
production: |
26,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
|
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Oil -
consumption: |
338,000 bbl/day (2003
est.)
|
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Oil -
exports: |
0 bbl/day (2001)
|
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Oil -
imports: |
312,000 bbl/day (2003)
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Oil -
proved reserves: |
152 million bbl (1 January
2004)
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Natural
gas - production: |
2.5 million cu m (2004
est.)
|
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Natural
gas - consumption: |
25 million cu m (2004
est.)
|
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Natural
gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2004 est.)
|
|
Natural
gas - imports: |
0 cu m (2004 est.)
|
|
Natural
gas - proved reserves: |
107.6 billion cu m (1
January 2004)
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Current
account balance: |
$3.6 billion (2004 est.)
|
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Exports: |
$38.63 billion f.o.b.
(2004 est.)
|
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Exports
- commodities: |
electronic equipment,
machinery and transport equipment, garments, optical
instruments, coconut products, fruits and nuts, copper products,
chemicals
|
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Exports
- partners: |
US 17.5%, Japan 15.8%,
China 11.4%, Hong Kong 8.3%, Singapore 7.7%, Taiwan 6.4%,
Netherlands 6%, Malaysia 5.5%, Germany 4.2% (2004)
|
|
Imports: |
$37.5 billion f.o.b. (2004
est.)
|
|
Imports
- commodities: |
raw materials, machinery
and equipment, fuels, vehicles and vehicle parts, plastic,
chemicals, grains
|
|
Imports
- partners: |
Japan 20.6%, US 16%,
Singapore 8.4%, China 7.4%, Hong Kong 5.3%, South Korea 5.2%,
Taiwan 4.5%, Malaysia 4.4% (2004)
|
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$16.05 billion (2004)
|
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Debt -
external: |
$55.6 billion (September
2004 est.)
|
|
Currency (code): |
Philippine peso (PHP)
|
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Currency code: |
PHP
|
|
Exchange rates: |
Philippine pesos per US
dollar - 56.04 (2004), 54.203 (2003), 51.604 (2002), 50.993
(2001), 44.192 (2000)
|
|
Fiscal
year: |
calendar year
|
|
Communications |
|
Telephones - main lines in use: |
3,310,900 (2002)
|
|
Telephones - mobile cellular: |
15.201 million (2002)
|
|
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
international: country code - 63; 9 international
gateways; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 2 Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam,
Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan
|
|
Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 369, FM 583, shortwave
5
note: each shortwave station operates on multiple
frequencies in the language of the target audience (2004)
|
|
Radios: |
11.5 million (1997)
|
|
Television broadcast stations: |
225; note - 1373 CATV
networks (2004)
|
|
Televisions: |
3.7 million (1997)
|
|
Internet country code: |
.ph
|
|
Internet hosts: |
38,440 (2002)
|
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
33 (2000)
|
|
Internet users: |
3.5 million (2002)
|
|
Transportation |
|
Railways: |
total: 897 km
narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (492 km are in
operation) (2004)
|
|
Highways: |
total: 202,124 km
paved: 19,202 km
unpaved: 182,922 km (2002)
|
|
Waterways: |
3,219 km
note: limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m
(2004)
|
|
Pipelines: |
gas 565 km; oil 135 km;
refined products 100 km (2004)
|
|
Ports
and harbors: |
Batangas, Cagayan de Oro,
Cebu, Davao, Guimaras Island, Iligan, Iloilo, Jolo, Legazpi,
Manila, Masao, Puerto Princesa, San Fernando, Subic Bay,
Zamboanga
|
|
Merchant marine: |
total: 419 ships
(1,000 GRT or over) 4,524,259 GRT/6,437,171 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 85, cargo 109, chemical tanker 13,
container 5, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 15, passenger
11, passenger/cargo 73, petroleum tanker 47, refrigerated cargo
23, roll on/roll off 17, vehicle carrier 14
foreign-owned: 69 (Canada 1, China 2, Germany 2, Greece
5, Hong Kong 2, Japan 31, Malaysia 2, Netherlands 20, Norway 1,
UAE 1, United States 2)
registered in other countries: 40 (2005)
|
|
Airports: |
255 (2004 est.)
|
|
Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 82
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)
|
|
Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 173
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 68
under 914 m: 100 (2004 est.)
|
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Heliports: |
2 (2004 est.)
|
|
Military |
|
Military branches: |
Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard, Marine
Corps), Air Force
|
|
Military manpower - military age and obligation: |
18 years of age for
compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)
|
|
Military manpower - availability: |
males age 18-49:
20,131,179 (2005 est.)
|
|
Military manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 18-49:
15,170,096 (2005 est.)
|
|
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 907,542
(2005 est.)
|
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure: |
$805.5 million (2004)
|
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1% (2004)
|
|
Transnational Issues |
|
Disputes - international: |
The 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
|
|
Refugees and internally displaced persons:: |
IDPs: 150,000
(fighting between government troops and MILF and Abu Sayyaf
groups) (2004)
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Illicit
drugs: |
exports locally-produced
marijuana and hashish to East Asia, the US, and other Western
markets; serves as a transit point for heroin and crystal
methamphetamine; domestic methamphetamine production is a
growing problem; remains on Financial Action Task Force
Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories List for continued
failure to address deficiencies in money-laundering control
regime
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