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Philippines Practical Info  |
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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
Data code: RP
Government type: republic
Capital: Manila
Independence: 4 July 1946 (from US)
Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ernesto MACEDA
chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-7614
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tamuning (Guam)
consulate(s): San Diego and 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
FAX: [63] (2) 522-4361
Economy
Economy - overview: In 1998 the Philippine economy - a mixture of agriculture, light industry, and supporting services - deteriorated as a result of spillover from the Asian financial crisis and poor weather conditions. Growth fell to about -0.5% in 1998 from 5% in 1997, but recovered to 2.9% in 1999. 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.
Industries: textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing
Agriculture - products: rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish
Currency: 1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.9 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.959 million (1998)
Telephone system: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate
domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations
international: 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 366, FM 290, shortwave 3 (1999)
Radios: 11.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 31 (1997)
Televisions: 3.7 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 93 (1999)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 492 km (an additional 405 km are not in operation)
narrow gauge: 492 km 1.067-m gauge (1996)
Highways:
total: 199,950 km
paved: 39,590 km
unpaved: 160,360 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels
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
Merchant marine:
total: 480 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,973,024 GRT/9,025,087 DWT
ships by type: bulk 159, cargo 122, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 9, container 7, liquified gas 13, livestock carrier 9, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 47, refrigerated cargo 20, roll-on/roll-off 19, short-sea passenger 32, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 20 (1999 est.)
note: a flag of convenience registry; Japan owns 19 ships, Hong Kong 5, Cyprus 1, Denmark 1, Greece 1, Netherlands 1, Singapore 1, and UK 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 266 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 76
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 190
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 66
under 914 m: 121 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.) |
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