1998 Edition

Area

total: 300,000 sq km land: 298,170 sq km water: 1,830 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly larger than Arizona

Climate

tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)

Coastline

36,289 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m

Environment-current issues

uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps which are important fish breeding grounds

Environment-international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 122 00 E

Irrigated land

15,800 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 19% permanent crops: 12% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 46% other: 19% (1993 est.)

Location

Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm 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

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

Natural resources

timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper

Terrain

mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

Age structure

0-14 years: 38% (male 14,867,972; female 14,379,722) 15-64 years: 59% (male 22,582,178; female 23,136,055) 65 years and over: 3% (male 1,232,813; female 1,527,122) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

28.43 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

6.52 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%

Infant mortality rate

34.56 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Pilipino (official, based on Tagalog), English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 66.35 years male: 63.57 years female: 69.28 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.6% male: 95% female: 94.3% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Filipino(s) adjective: Philippine

Net migration rate

-1.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

77,725,862 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

2.09% (1998 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.54 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

72 provinces and 61 chartered cities*; Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*, Antique, Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan City*, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Batangas City*, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Butuan*, Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro*, Calbayog*, Caloocan*, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Canlaon*, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu, Cebu City*, Cotabato*, Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City* Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar, General Santos*, Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao, La Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*, Lapu-Lapu*, La Union, Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao, Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*, Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Roxas*, Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*, Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur

Constitution

2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines conventional short form: Philippines local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas local short form: Pilipinas

Data code

RP

Executive branch

chief of state: President Fidel Valdes RAMOS (since 30 June 1992) and Vice President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1992); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Fidel Valdes RAMOS (since 30 June 1992) and Vice President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1992); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 11 May 1992 (next to be held 11 May 1998) election results: Fidel Valdes RAMOS elected president; percent of vote-Fidel Valdes RAMOS 23.6% (a narrow plurality); Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA elected vice president; percent of vote-NA%

FAX

[1] (202) 328-7614 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle consulate(s): San Jose (Saipan) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000 mailing address: FPO 96515 telephone: [63] (2) 523-1001

[63] (2) 522-4361

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays (each containing three individual rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star

Government type

republic

Independence

4 July 1946 (from US)

International organization participation

APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Chaves RABE chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council Political parties and leaders: Democratic Filipino Struggle (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, LDP), Edgardo ANGARA; People Power-National Union of Christian Democrats (Lakas ng EDSA-NUCD or Lakas-NUCD), Jose DE VENECIA, secretary general; Liberal Party (LP), Alfredo LIM, standard bearer; Laban Ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino (LMMP or Fight of the Patriotic Filipino Masses), Joseph ESTRADA, standard bearer; National People's Coalition (NPC), Eduardo COJUANGCO; People's Reform Party (PRP), Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO; New Society Movement (Kilusan Bagong Lipunan, KBL), Imelda MARCOS; Nacionalista Party (NP), Salvador H. LAUREL, president; Filipino Democratic Party (Partido Demokratikong Philipinas or PDP), Jose COJUANGCO, is part of the ruling coalition with the LDP note: political parties are highly fluid and personalistic; the major parties as of May 1998 are-Lakas-NUCD, LMMP, and LP

Legal system

based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats-one-half elected every three years; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (204 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note-an additional 50 members may be appointed by the president) elections: Senate-last held 8 May 1995 (next to be held 11 May 1998); House of Representatives-elections last held 8 May 1995 (next to be held 11 May 1998) election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-LDP 15, Lakas-NUCD 6, NPC 1, PRP 1, independent 1; House of Representatives-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Lakas-NUCD 126, LDP 28, NPC 28, NP 2, KBL 2, other 18

National capital

Manila

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 June (1898) (from Spain)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish catch of 2 million metric tons annually

Budget

revenues: $16.3 billion expenditures: $16.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.7 billion (1996 est.)

Currency

1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos

Debt-external

$45.4 billion (December 1997)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $3 billion pledged at December 1997 for 1998

Economy-overview

In 1997 the Philippine economy, primarily a mixture of agriculture and light industry, continued its fifth year of positive economic growth, led by expansion of exports and investment. The government expects growth to slow to about 3% in 1998 due to spillover effects of the financial crisis in East Asia. The government has promised to continue its economic reforms to help the Philippines match the pace of development in the newly industrialized countries of East Asia. The strategy includes improving infrastructure, overhauling the tax system to bolster government revenues, and moving toward further deregulation and privatization of the economy.

Electricity-capacity

7.64 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

350 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

25.65 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

Philippine pesos (P) per US$1-40.2 (April 1998), 26.36 (May 1997), 29.471 (1997), 26.216 (1996), 25.714 (1995), 26.417 (1994), 27.120 (1993)

Exports

total value: $25 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: electronics and telecommunications 51%, machinery and transport 10%, garments 9%, other 30% partners: US 34%, Japan 17%, EU 17%, ASEAN 14%, Hong Kong 4%, Taiwan 4% (1997 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$244 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 22% industry: 32% services: 46% (1996 est.)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$3,200 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

5.1% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $34 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: raw materials and intermediate goods 43%, capital goods 36%, consumer goods 9%, fuels 9% partners: Japan 21%, US 20%, ASEAN 12%, EU 10%, Taiwan 5%, Hong Kong 4%, Saudi Arabia 4% (1997 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

6.3% (1996)

Industries

textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing

Inflation rate-consumer price index

5.1% (1997)

Labor force

total: 29.13 million (1996 est.) by occupation: agriculture 43.4%, services 22.6%, government services 17.9%, industry and commerce 16.1% (1995)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 261, FM 55, shortwave 0

Radios

9.03 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system

good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations international: submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan; satellite earth stations-3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)

Telephones

1.9 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations

29

Televisions

9.2 million (1998)

Unemployment rate

8.7% (1997)

Airports

262 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 75 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 30 under 914 m: 10 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 187 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 63 under 914 m: 121 (1997 est.)

Heliports

1 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 156,997 km (1996 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: probably less than 30,000 km are designated arterial roads and not all of these are all-weather roads

Merchant marine

total: 535 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,334,164 GRT/11,511,707 DWT ships by type: bulk 206, cargo 130, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 12, container 11, liquefied gas tanker 10, livestock carrier 12, oil tanker 48, passenger 4, passenger-cargo 13, refrigerated cargo 20, roll-on/roll-off cargo 15, short-sea passenger 31, vehicle carrier 18 note: a flag of convenience registry; Japan owns 21 ships, Hong Kong 4, Cyprus 1, Denmark 1, Greece 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, Panama 1, Singapore 1, and Taiwan 1 (1997 est.)

Pipelines

petroleum products 357 km Ports and harbors: Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras Island, Iligan, Iloilo, Jolo, Legaspi, Manila, Masao, Puerto Princesa, San Fernando, Subic Bay, Zamboanga

Railways

total: 897 km of which 492 km in operation narrow gauge: 492 km 1.067-m gauge (1996)

Waterways

3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air Force

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$1.3 billion (1996)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

0.7% (1996)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 19,734,347 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 13,921,259 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

20 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 800,148 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; claims Malaysian state of Sabah

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 (dependent territory of the UK)