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Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$45.4 billion (December 1997)

Economic aid [time series]

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

Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]

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 (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

7.64 million kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

350 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

25.65 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

calendar year Communications

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]

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

Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]

5.1% (1997 est.)

Imports [time series]

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 [time series]

6.3% (1996)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

5.1% (1997)

Labor force [time series]

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

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 261, FM 55, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

9.03 million (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

1.9 million (1997)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

9.2 million (1998)

Unemployment rate [time series]

8.7% (1997)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

slightly larger than Arizona

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

36,289 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

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 [time series]

13 00 N, 122 00 E

Irrigated land [time series]

15,800 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000 mailing address: FPO 96515 telephone: [63] (2) 523-1001

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Chaves RABE chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300

Executive branch [time series]

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%

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[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 in the US (FAX) [time series]

[63] (2) 522-4361

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

4 July 1946 (from US)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

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

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Manila

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$1.3 billion (1996)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

0.7% (1996)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 19,734,347 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 13,921,259 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 800,148 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

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

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

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

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Filipino(s) adjective: Philippine

Net migration rate [time series]

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

Population [time series]

77,725,862 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.09% (1998 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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 [time series]

3.54 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

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

Illicit drugs [time series]

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 PITCAIRN ISLANDS (dependent territory of the UK)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

262 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

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 (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 187 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 63 under 914 m: 121 (1997 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

petroleum products 357 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras Island, Iligan, Iloilo, Jolo, Legaspi, Manila, Masao, Puerto Princesa, San Fernando, Subic Bay, Zamboanga

Railways [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

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