Philippines, Republic of the - Country Information

Film Commissions

Philippine Film Export Services Office
Tel: 2 632 9512, 2 632 2204 Fax: 2 634 6984
E-mail: fdcphil@yahoo.com
Executive Director: Digna Santiago

Permits/visas
Visas are required.

General Information

Location: Asia
Local Time: GMT +8
Capital City: Manila
Population: 91,077,287
Area: 300,000 square km, square miles.
Language(s): Filipino (Tagalog), English
Dialling Code: 63
Emergency: Police: 166. Fire: 5273609 (Manila)
Directory Enquiries: 114
TV Standard: NTSC
Driving: Driving is on the right. National licence (may be used for 30 days) or International Driving Permit (until validity date)
Electricity: 110V/220V AC 60Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP 1 = 100 Centavos)
Notes: PHP: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000
Coins: PHP: 1, 5, 10. Centavos: 5, 10, 25

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: International credit cards are widely accepted in major establishments throughout big cities. It is adviseable to carry a sufficient amount of local currency when travelling to provinces
Travellers cheques and major foreign currency may be cashed in large commercial banks and Central Bank dealers in Metro Manila. Also accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops. Always use authorised money changers or banks. Outside the capital, there is a shortage of facilities for changing foreign currency

Opening Hours
Bank: 0900-1500 Mon-Fri
Office: 0800-1200 & 1300-1700 Mon-Fri
Shops: 1000-2000

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Years Day, Mar 20 Holy Thursday, Mar 21 Good Friday, Apr 9 Bataan Day, May 1 Labour Day, Jun 12 Independence Day, Aug 31 National Heroes Day, Nov 1 All Saints Day, Nov 30 Bonifacio Day, Dec 25 Christmas Day, Dec 30 Rizal Day, Dec 31 New Year's Eve

Business/Social Hints: Business is usually conducted in English. Some executives speak Spanish and Chinese. On social occasions punctuality is appreciated. Dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. The minimum drinking age is 18 years

Tipping: A service charge is normally added to bills, therefore tips are not necessary, but it is customary to leave small change

Health

Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate if arriving from infected areas. Exempt infants under 1 year.

Recommended immunisations: Cholera*, diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, Japanese B encephalitis*, malaria, TB*, tetanus, typhoid, rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: Risk present below 600m in rural areas except in the island provinces of Aklan, Nilaran, Bohol, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cebu Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte, Masbate, northers Samar, Sequijor and metropolitan Manila. Risk is small in the plains to the north of Manila and in other major cities. Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Restrictions: Entry & transit is refused to persons of Chinese origin holding only a `Declaration of Identity for Visa Purposes' (DIVP)

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:
1) Holders of a Hong Kong Identity Card issued to residents of Hong Kong

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid 6 months beyond intended length of stay

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of the Philippines & former Filipino citizens (except of the countries listed in note 3 below) holding an expired Philippine passport, foreign naturalisation papers showing former Philippine citizenship, birth certificate or certification from adopted country
2) For stays up to 7 days by holders of Hong Kong S.A.R. passports, British Nationals Overseas (BNO) passports, Macao-Portuguese passports & Macao S.A.R. passports
3) For tourism visits up to 21 days for nationals in possession of return tickets (except nationals of Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan,Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia & Herzegovina, China, Croatia (holders of regular passports), Cuba, Denmark, East Timon, Egypt, Estonia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Korea (North), Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldova, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Serbia & Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovenia (holders of regular passports), Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Taipei, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yemen, Yogoslavia, & stateless persons & holders of Documents of Identity (DI), Certificates of Identity (CI) or Travel Documents ("Titre de Voyage")

Air Transit

Required by all except
1) Persons continuing to a third country within 72 hours, provided holding tickets with confirmed seats & documents for onward journey (except nationals of Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia & Herzegovina, China, Croatia (holders of regular passports), Cuba, Egypt, Estonia, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Korea (North), Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Russia, Serbia & Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovenia (holders of regular passports), Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan & stateless persons & holders of Documents of Identity (DI), Certificates of Identity (CI) or Travel Documents ("Titre de Voyage") who must transit on the same day & same aircraft & not leave the airport transit area)

Climate

Typically tropical all year with relative high humidity andabundant rainfall. There are three pronounced seasons, rainy from Jun-Oct, cool to dry from Nov-Feb, hot and dry from Mar-May. The coolest month is Jan, the hottest April-May

Clothing

Lightweights or tropical throughout the year with warmer clothes for cooler evenings. Light rainwear essential for rainy season

Charts for Manila

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 30 31 33 34 34 33 31 31 31 31 31 30 Min Temp (C) 21 21 22 23 24 24 24 24 24 23 22 21 Humidity am (%) 89 88 85 85 88 91 91 92 93 92 91 90 Humidity pm (%) 63 59 55 55 61 68 74 73 73 71 69 67 Rainfall (mm) 23 13 18 33 130 254 432 422 356 193 145 66

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Philippine Department of Tourism
146 Cromwell Road
London, SW7 4EF
tel: +44 20 7835 1100
fax: +44 20 7835 1926
e-mail: infotourism@wowphilippiness.co.uk
website: www.wowphilippines.com.uk

Embassy
Embassy of Philippines
6 Suffolk Street
London, SW1Y 4HG
tel: +44 20 7451 1800
fax: +44 20 7451 1840
e-mail: embassy@philemb.co.uk
website: www.philembassy-uk.org
hours: 0900-1300 (Mon-Fri) lodging, 1600-1700 (Mon-Fri) collection