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INTRODUCTION
Background: The Philippines were ceded by Spain
to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. They attained
their independence in 1946 after being occupied by the Japanese
in World War II. The 21-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986
when a widespread popular rebellion forced him into exile. In 1992,
the US closed down its last military bases on the islands. The Philippines
has had two electoral presidential transitions since Marcos' removal
by "people power." In January 2001, the Supreme Court
declared Joseph ESTRADA unable to rule in view of mass resignations
from his government and administered the oath of office to Vice
President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO as his constitutional successor.
The government continues to struggle with ongoing Muslim insurgencies
in the south.
GEOGRAPHY
Location: South-eastern Asia, archipelago
between the Philippine Sea
and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam.
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 122 00 E
Area: total: 300,000 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km
Land boundaries: 0 km
Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November
to April);
southwest monsoon (May to October).
Natural resources: timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt,
silver, gold, salt, copper.
note: favorably located in relation to many
of Southeast Asia's main water bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine
Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Strait.
PEOPLE
Population: 82 841 518 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36.87% (male 15,547,712;
female 14,997,544)
15-64 years: 59.45% (male 24 374 849; female 24,873,595)
65 years and over: 3.68% (male 1 355 046; female 1,692,772) (2001
est.)
Population growth rate: 2.03% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 27.37 births/1,000 population (2001
est.)
Death rate: 6.04 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.8
years
male: 64.96 years
female: 70.79 years (2001 est.)
Ethnic groups: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay
4%, Chinese 1.5%,
other 3%.
Religions: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim
5%, Buddhist
and other 3%.
Languages: two official languages - Filipino (based
on Tagalog) and
English, eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano,
Ilocan,
Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and
Pangasinense.
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and
write.
total population: 94.6%
male: 95%
female: 94.3% (1995 est.)
GOVERNMENT
Government type: republic
Capital: Manila
Administrative divisions: 73 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
Independence: 4 July 1946 (from US)
National holiday: Independence Day (from Spain),
12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 is the date of independence
from Spain, 4 July 1946 is the date of independence from the US.
Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American
law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations.
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
(since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Teofisto GUINGONA (since
20 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government.
head of government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
(since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Teofisto GUINGONA (since
20 January 2001); 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 1998 (next to be held 16 May 2004).
Eection results: results of the last presidential election
- Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA elected president; percent of vote - approximately
40%; Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected vice president; percent of
vote - NA%; note - on 20 January 2001, Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
was sworn in as the constitutional successor to President Joseph
ESTRADA after the Supreme Court declared that President ESTRADA
was unable to rule in view of the mass resignations from his government;
according to the Constitution, only in cases of death, permanent
disability, removal from office, or resignation of the president,
can the vice president serve for the unexpired term
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 about 3% in 1999 and 3.6% in 2000. 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, moving toward further
deregulation and privatization of the economy, and increasing trade
integration with the region.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $310 billion (2000
est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.6% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,800
(2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20%
industry: 32%
services: 48% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 41% (1997 est.)
Household income or Consumption
by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 39.3% (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (2000 est.)
Labour force: 48.1 million (2000 est.)
Labour force - by occupation: agriculture 39.8%,
government and social services 19.4%,
services 17.7%, manufacturing 9.8%, construction
5.8%, other 7.5% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10% (2000)
Budget: revenues: $14.5 billion
expenditures: $12.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals,
wood products, food
processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining,
fishing.
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (2000 est.)
Agriculture - products: rice, coconuts, corn,
sugarcane, bananas, pineapples,
mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish.
Exports: $38 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities: electronic equipment, machinery
and transport equipment,
garments, coconut products.
Exports - partners: US 34%, Japan 14%, Netherlands
8%, Singapore 6%, UK 6%, Hong Kong 4% (1998).
Imports: $35 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities: raw materials and intermediate
goods, capital goods,
consumer goods, fuels.
Imports - partners: US 22%, Japan 20%, South Korea
8%, Singapore 6%, Taiwan 5%, Hong Kong 4% (1998 est.)
Debt - external: $52 billion (1999)
Currency: Philippine peso (PHP)
Currency code: PHP
Exchange rates: Philippine pesos per US dollar
- 50.969 (January 2001), 44.192 (2000), 39.089 (1999), 40.893 (1998),
29.471 (1997), 26.216 (1996).
Fiscal year: calendar
year
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