General information: The Philippines was ceded to the United States by Spain in 1898 after the Spanish-American War. The islands gained independence in 1946 after being liberated from Japanese occupation in World War II. The twenty-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986 when a widespread popular uprising forced him to flee the country. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the islands. Since MARCOS and his “rule of the people” regime, the Philippines has had two presidential successions through elections. In January 2001, the Supreme Court ruled that President Joseph ESTRADA was unable to serve due to massive resignations in his government and power passed to Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO as his constitutional successor.
Geography
Location: Southeast Asia, an archipelago between the Philippine and South China Seas east of Vietnam. See franciscogardening.com to know more about Philippines Geography.
Geographic coordinates: 13° 00′ N. latitude, 122° 00′ E
Reference map: Southeast Asia.
Area: total: 300,000 square kilometers; land surface area: 298,170 km2; water surface area: 1,830 km2
Comparative area: slightly larger than the state of Arizona.
Land borders: 0 km.
Coastline: 36,289 km.
Maritime claims: measured from the declared boundaries of the archipelago; continental shelf: to the depth of field development; exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles; territorial waters: irregular polygon extending 100 nautical miles from the coast in accordance with the treaty of 1898; since the late 1970s the country also claims a polygonal area of the South China Sea up to 285 nautical miles wide.
Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoons (November to April); southwest monsoons (May to October).
Terrain: mostly mountains with long narrow coastal lowlands.
Maximum and minimum heights: lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m; highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m.
Natural resources: timber, oil, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper.
Land use: arable land: 19%; cultivated land: 12%; pastures: 4%; forests and plantations: 46%; others: 19% (1993 est.).
Irrigated land: 15,800 km2 (1993 est.).
Natural hazards: located in the typhoon belt, usually there are about 15 cyclonic storms per year, 5-6 of them are especially strong; landslides, active volcanoes, destructive earthquakes, tsunamis.
Current environmental issues: uncontrolled deforestation in river basins, soil erosion, air and water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps, which are breeding grounds for fish.
International agreements on environmental protection: member: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Pollution, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 1983, Tropical Timber 1994, Wetlands; signed but not ratified: Kyoto Protocol.
Note to the section “Geography”:
Population
Population: 82,841,518 (July 2001 est.).
Age structure: under 14: 36.87% (male 15,547,712; female 14,997,544); 15 to 64 years: 59.45% (male 24,374,849; female 24,873,595); over 65: 3.68% (male 1,355,046; female 1,692,772) (2001 est.)
Population growth: 2.03% (2001 est.).
Birth rate: 27.37 newborns / 1000 people. (2001 est.).
Mortality: 6.04 deaths / 1000 people. (2001 est.).
Migration: -1.01 people /1000 people (2001 est.).
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male/female; under 15: 1.04 male/female; 15 to 64 years old: 0.98 male/female; over 65: 0.8 male/female; for the general population: 0.99 male/female (2001 est.);
Child mortality: 28.7 deaths/1000 live births (2001 est.).
Life expectancy: for the general population: 67.8 years; men: 64.96 years; women: 70.79 years (2001 est.).
Total fertility rate: 3.42 children/wives. (2001 est.).
Proportion of adults infected with HIV: 0.07% (1999 est.).
Number of people infected with HIV: 28,000 (1999 est.).
AIDS deaths: 1,200 (1999 est.).
Nationality: noun: Filipino; adjective: Filipino.
Ethnic groups: Christian Malays 91.5%, Muslim Malays 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%.
Believers: Catholics 83%, Protestants 9%, Muslims 5%, Buddhists and others 3%.
Languages): two official languages: Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English; eight major dialects.
Literacy: definition: persons aged 15 and over who can read and write; for the general population: 94.6%; men: 95%; women: 94.3% (1995 est.).
Politics
conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines;
conventional short form: Philippines; local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas; local short form: Pilipinas. State system: republic.
State structure:
Capital: Manila.
Administrative division: 73 provinces and 61 privileged cities*: Abra, Aurora, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Al Bai, Angeles*, Antique, Baguio*, Bago*, Bais*, Bacolod*, Basilan, Basilan City*, Batan, Batangas, Batangas City*, Batanes, Benquet, Bohol, Bukid-non, Bulakan, Butuan*, East Samar, Gingug*, Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao- City*, Dagupan*, Danao, Dapitan*, Dipolog*, Du-magete*, Iligan*, Iloilo, Ipoylo City*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iriga*, Isabela, Ifugao, Cabanatuan*, Cavite, Cavite -City*, Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro*, Cadiz*, Kalinga-Apayo, Caloocan*, Calbayog*, Camarinhas Norte, Camarinhas Sur, Camigin, Canlaon*, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cotobato*, Quizon, Quizon City*, Quirino*, Laguna, La Carlota*, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*, Lapu Lapu*, La Union, Legas-pi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena *, Maguindanao, Mandaye*, Manila*,Maravi*, Marinduque, Masbate, Mountain, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Equija, Ozamis*, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Orokieta*, Pagadi-an*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Rizal, Romblon, Rojas*, Samar, Sambales, Samboanga*, Sambo- anga del Norte, Samboanga del Sur, San Carlos* (Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (Pangasinan), San Pablo*, San José*, Cebu, Cebu City*, North Samar, Siquijor, Silai*, Sorsogon, Sultan Kudarat, Supu, Surigao*, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tavitavi, Tagaytau*, Tagbilaran*, Tacloban*, Tangub*, Tar Lak, Toledo*, Tres Martires*, General Santos*, South Cotobato, South Leyte.Misamis Oriental, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ekija, Ozamis*, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*, Pagadi-an*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Rizal, Romblon, Rojas*, Samar, Sambales, Samboanga*, Sambo Anga del Norte, Samboanga del Sur, San Carlos* (Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (Pangasinan), San Pablo*, San Jose*, Cebu, Cebu City*, Northern Samar, Siquijor, Silai*, Sorsogon, Sultan Kudarat, Supu, Surigao*, Su-rigao del -Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tavitavi, Tagaytau*, Tagbilaran*, Tacloban*, Tangub*, Tar Lak, Toledo*, Tres Martires*, General Santos*, South Cotobato, South Leyte.Misamis Oriental, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ekija, Ozamis*, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*, Pagadi-an*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Rizal, Romblon, Rojas*, Samar, Sambales, Samboanga*, Sambo Anga del Norte, Samboanga del Sur, San Carlos* (Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (Pangasinan), San Pablo*, San Jose*, Cebu, Cebu City*, Northern Samar, Siquijor, Silai*, Sorsogon, Sultan Kudarat, Supu, Surigao*, Su-rigao del -Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tavitavi, Tagaytau*, Tagbilaran*, Tacloban*, Tangub*, Tar Lak, Toledo*, Tres Martires*, General Santos*, South Cotobato, South Leyte.Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Rizal, Romblon, Rojas*, Samar, Sambales, Samboanga*, Sambo Anga del Norte, Samboanga del Sur, San Carlos* (Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (Pangasinan), San Pablo*, San Jose*, Cebu, Cebu City*, North Samar, Siquijor, Silai*, Sorsogon, Sultan Kudarat, Supu, Surigao*, Su-rigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tavitavi, Tagaytau*, Tagbilaran*, Tacloban*, Tangub*, Tar Lak, Toledo*, Tres Martires*, General Santos*, South Cotobato, South Leyte.Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Rizal, Romblon, Rojas*, Samar, Sambales, Samboanga*, Sambo Anga del Norte, Samboanga del Sur, San Carlos* (Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (Pangasinan), San Pablo*, San Jose*, Cebu, Cebu City*, North Samar, Siquijor, Silai*, Sorsogon, Sultan Kudarat, Supu, Surigao*, Su-rigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tavitavi, Tagaytau*, Tagbilaran*, Tacloban*, Tangub*, Tar Lak, Toledo*, Tres Martires*, General Santos*, South Cotobato, South Leyte.Tagbilaran*, Tacloban*, Tangub*, Tar Lak, Toledo*, Tres Martires*, General Santos*, South Cotobato, South Leyte.Tagbilaran*, Tacloban*, Tangub*, Tar Lak, Toledo*, Tres Martires*, General Santos*, South Cotobato, South Leyte.
Dependent territories:
Independence: from July 4, 1946 (until 1946 – possession of the United States).
National holiday: Independence Day, June 12, 1898 (until 1898 – a colony of Spain). February 1987 Constitutions, effective February 11, 1987
Constitution:
Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American laws; subject to the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.
Suffrage: from the age of 18, universal.
chief of state: President Gloria MACAPA-GAL ARROIO (since 30 June 1998); note – the president is both head of state and head of government;
head of the government: President Gloria MACA-PAGAL-ARROYO (since June 30, 1998); note – the president is both head of state and head of government;
government: the cabinet is appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments; elections: the president and vice president are elected on separate ballots by universal suffrage for six years; elections last held 11 May 1998 (next to be held 16 May 2004); election results: Joseph ESTRADA elected president; the percentage of votes he received: about 40%; Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected Vice President; percentage of votes cast: no data; note – On January 20, 2001, Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was sworn in as the constitutional successor to President Joseph ESTRADA after the Supreme Court ruled that the latter was unable to serve due to massive resignations in his government; according to the constitution, only in case of death, permanent inability to perform duties,
Legislature: the bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (24 seats, half of the members are re-elected every three years, the term of office is 6 years) and the House of Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan) (204 seats; members are elected for three years; note – additional members can be appointed by the president, but the constitution limits the size of the House of Representatives to 250 members); elections: for Senate – last held 11 May 1998 (next to be held 14 May 2001); to the House of Representatives – last held on May 11, 1998 (next to be held on May 14, 2001); election results: Senate, distribution of votes between parties – no data; distribution of seats among parties: LAMP 12, Lakas 5, PRP 2, LP 1, others 3; note – there are only 22 members in the Senate now, as one seat became vacant after how Gloria MACAPA-GAL-ARROYO was elected vice president and one senator died; vacant seats can only be filled after the 2001 elections; House of Representatives, distribution of votes between parties – no data; distribution of seats among parties: LAMP 135, Lakas 37, LP 13, AD 1, others 35.
Judiciary: Supreme Court, judges are appointed for four years by the president on the recommendation of the Council of Judges and Advocates.
Political parties and leaders: The Coalition for Democracy (PPC) includes the following parties: Democratic Action (AD) (Raul ROCO), Lakas (Gloria MA-CAPAGAL-ARROYO, figurehead, Teofisto GUINGONA, president parties); Liberal Party (LP) (Florencio ABAD), Promdi (Lito OSMENA), Reform Party (Renato DE VILLA); Popular Power includes the following parties: Philippine Democrat Struggle (LDP) (Eduardo ANGARA), Philippine Popular Mass Struggle (LAMP) (Joseph ESTRADA), People’s Reform Party (PRP) (Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO) SANTIAGO]); New social movement (Imelda MARCOS [Imelda MARCOS]); Nationalist Party (Jose OLIVEROS);
Political influence groups and their leaders:
Participation in international organizations: ARES, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO.
US Diplomatic Mission: Head of Mission: Ambassador position vacant, Acting Ariel ABA-DILLA; office: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036; phone: [1] (202) 467-9300; fax: [\] (202) 467-9317; consulates general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco; Consulates: San Diego.
US Mission: Chief of Mission: Ambassador Vacant, Chargé d’Affaires Michael E. MALINOWSKI; embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000; mailing address: FPO 96515; phone: [63] (2) 523-1001; fax: [63] (2) 522-4361.
Description of the flag: two equal horizontal stripes of blue (top) and red with a white equilateral triangle, the base of which is the left side of the flag; in the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with eight main rays, each of which is composed of three separate rays, in each corner of the triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star.
