Philippines

§1. Philippines Introduction

Background:
  The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century;
  they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In
  1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON
  was elected President and was tasked with preparing the country for
  independence after a 10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under
  Japanese occupation during WWII, and US forces and Filipinos fought
  together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Philippines
  attained their independence. The 20-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in
  1986, when a widespread popular rebellion forced him into exile and
  installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by
  several coup attempts, which prevented a return to full political stability
  and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992 and his
  administration was marked by greater stability and progress on economic
  reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the islands.
  Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998, but was succeeded by his
  vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's
  stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and widespread
  demonstrations led to his ouster. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a
  six-year term in May 2004. The Philippine Government faces threats from
  armed communist insurgencies and from Muslim separatists in the south.

§2. Philippines Geography

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

Geographic coordinates:
  13 00 N, 122 00 E

Map references:
  Southeast_Asia

Area:
  total: 300,000 km²
  land: 298,170 km²
  water: 1,830 km²

Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than Arizona

Land boundaries:
  0 km

Coastline:
  36,289 km

Maritime claims:
  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
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

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

Terrain:
  mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

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

Natural resources:
  timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper

Land use:
  arable land: 19%
  permanent crops: 16.67%
  other: 64.33% (2005)

Irrigated land:
  15,500 km² (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
  astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six
  cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive
  earthquakes; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:
  uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air
  and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation;
  increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish
  breeding grounds

Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
    Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
    Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
    83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:
  the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands; 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

§3. Philippines People

Population:
  89,468,677 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 35% (male 15,961,365/female 15,340,065)
  15-64 years: 61% (male 27,173,919/female 27,362,736)
  65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,576,089/female 2,054,503) (2006 est.)

Median age:
  total: 22.5 years
  male: 22 years
  female: 23 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
  1.8% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
  24.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
  5.41 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
  -1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  total: 22.81 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 25.59 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 19.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 70.21 years
  male: 67.32 years
  female: 73.24 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  3.11 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  9,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  less than 500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid
    fever
  vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some
    locations
  animal contact disease: rabies (2005)

Nationality:
  noun: Filipino(s)
  adjective: Philippine

Ethnic groups:
  Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon
  Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000 census)

Religions:
  Roman Catholic 80.9%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan
  2%, other Christian 4.5%, Muslim 5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none
  0.1% (2000 census)

Languages:
  two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English; eight
  major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol,
  Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 92.6%
  male: 92.5%
  female: 92.7% (2002)

§4. Philippines Government

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

Government type:
  republic

Capital:
  Manila

Administrative divisions:
  79 provinces and 117 chartered cities
  : provinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Antique,
    Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Benguet,
    Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur,
    Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu, Compostela, Davao del Norte,
    Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos
    Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte,
    Lanao del Sur, La Union, Leyte, Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro
    Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental,
    Mountain Province, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato,
    Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga,
    Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Siquijor,
    Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao
    del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del
    Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay
  : chartered cities: Alaminos, Angeles, Antipolo, Bacolod, Bago, Baguio,
    Bais, Balanga, Batangas, Bayawan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabanatuan, Cadiz,
    Cagayan de Oro, Calamba, Calapan, Calbayog, Candon, Canlaon, Cauayan,
    Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Danao, Dapitan, Davao, Digos, Dipolog,
    Dumaguete, Escalante, Gapan, General Santos, Gingoog, Himamaylan, Iligan,
    Iloilo, Isabela, Iriga, Kabankalan, Kalookan, Kidapawan, Koronadal, La
    Carlota, Laoag, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Legazpi, Ligao, Lipa, Lucena,
    Maasin, Makati, Malabon, Malaybalay, Malolos, Mandaluyong, Mandaue,
    Manila, Marawi, Markina, Masbate, Muntinlupa, Munoz, Naga, Olongapo,
    Ormoc, Oroquieta, Ozamis, Pagadian, Palayan, Panabo, Paranaque, Pasay,
    Pasig, Passi, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, Roxas, Sagay, Samal, San Carlos
    (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos (in Pangasinan), San Fernando (in La
    Union), San Fernando (in Pampanga), San Jose, San Jose del Monte, San
    Pablo, Santa Rosa, Santiago, Silay, Sipalay, Sorsogon, Surigao, Tabaco,
    Tacloban, Tacurong, Tagaytay, Tagbilaran, Taguig, Tagum, Talisay (in
    Cebu), Talisay (in Negros Oriental), Tanauan, Tangub, Tanjay, Tarlac,
    Toledo, Tuguegarao, Trece Martires, Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela,
    Victorias, Vigan, Zamboanga

Independence:
  12 June 1898 (from Spain)

National holiday:
  Independence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 was date of
  declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of
  independence from US

Constitution:
  2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

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

Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January 2001);
    note - president is both chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January
    2001); note - president is both chief of state and head of government
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of Commission of
    Appointments
  elections: president and vice president (Manuel "Noli" DE CASTRO) elected
    on separate tickets by popular vote for six- year terms; election last
    held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2010)
  election results: results of the election - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected
    president; percent of vote - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 40%, Fernando POE
    37%, three others 23%

Legislative branch:
  bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats -
  one-half elected every three years; members elected at large by popular
  vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or
  Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (212 members representing districts plus 24
  sectoral party-list members; members elected by popular vote to serve
  three-year terms; note - the Constitution prohibits the House of
  Representatives from having more than 250 members)
  elections: Senate - last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2007);
    House of Representatives - elections last held 10 May 2004 (next to be
    held in May 2007)
  election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - Lakas 30%, LP 13%,
    KNP 13%, independents 17%, others 27%; seats by party - Lakas 7, LP 3,
    KNP (coalition) 3, independents 4, others 6; note - there are 23 rather
    than 24 sitting senators because one senator was elected Vice President;
    House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party
    - Lakas 93, NPC 53, LP 34, LDP 11, others 20; party-listers 24 (2004)

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (15 justices are appointed by the president on the
  recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council and serve until 70 years of
  age); Court of Appeals; Sandigan-bayan (special court for hearing
  corruption cases of government officials)

Political parties and leaders:
  Kabalikat Ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) [Ronaldo PUNO, president]; Laban Ng
  Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo
  ANGARA, president]; Lakas Ng Edsa (National Union of Christian Democrats)
  or Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA, president]; Liberal Party or LP [Franklin
  DRILON, president]; Nacionalista [Manuel VILLAR, president]; National
  People's Coalition or NPC [Frisco SAN JUAN, president]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino
  PIMENTEL, president]; People's Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO,
  president]; PROMDI [Emilio OSMENA, president]; Pwersa Ng Masang Pilipino
  (Party of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA, president];
  Reporma [Renato DE VILLA, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
  AKBAYAN [Reps. Etta ROSALES, Mario AGUJA, and Risa HONTIVEROS-BARAQUIEL];
  ALAGAD [Rep. Rodante MARROLITA]; ALIF [Rep. Acmad TOMAWIS]; An Waray [Rep.
  Horencio NOEL]; Anak Mindanao [Mujiv HATAMIN]; ANAKPAWIS [Reps. Crispin
  BELTRAN and Rafael MARIANO]; APEC [Reps. Ernesto PABLO, Edgar VALDEZ];
  Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) [Reps. Edgar VALDEZ,
  Ernesto PABLO, and Sunny Rose MADAMBA]; AVE [Rep. Eulogio MAGSAYSAY]; Bayan
  Muna [Reps. Satur OCAMPO, Joel VIRADOR, and Teodoro CASINO, Jr.]; BUHAY
  [Reps. Rene VELARDE and Hans Christian SENERES]; BUTIL [Rep. Benjamin
  CRUZ]; CIBAC [Rep. Emmanuel Joel VILLANUEVA]; COOP-NATCO [Rep. Guillermo
  CUA]; GABRIELA [Rep. Liza MAZA]; Partido Ng Manggagawa [Rep. Renato
  MAGTUBO]; Veterans Federation of the Philippines [Rep. Ernesto GIDAYA]
  (2006)

International organization participation:
  APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS
  (observer), ONUB, OPCW, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Albert DEL ROSARIO
  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, San Jose (Northern Mariana Islands), Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Paul W. JONES
  embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000, Manila
  mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000
  telephone: [63] (2) 528-6300
  FAX: [63] (2) 522-4361

Flag description:
  two equal horizontal bands of blue (top; representing peace and justice)
  and red (representing courage); a white equilateral triangle based on the
  hoist side represents equality; the center of the triangle displays a
  yellow sun with eight primary rays, each representing one of the first
  eight provinces that sought independence from Spain; each corner of the
  triangle contains a small, yellow, five-pointed star representing the three
  major geographical divisions
  of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design of the flag dates
    to 1897; in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at
    the top

§5. Philippines Economy

Economy - overview:
  The Philippines was less severely affected by the Asian financial crisis of
  1998 than its neighbors, aided in part by its high level of annual
  remittances from overseas workers, and no sustained runup in asset prices
  or foreign borrowing prior to the crisis. From a 0.6% decline in 1998, GDP
  expanded by 2.4% in 1999, and 4.4% in 2000, but slowed to 3.2% in 2001 in
  the context of a global economic slowdown, an export slump, and political
  and security concerns. GDP growth accelerated to about 5% between 2002 and
  2005 reflecting the continued resilience of the service sector, and
  improved exports and agricultural output. Nonetheless, it will take a
  higher, sustained growth path to make appreciable progress in the
  alleviation of poverty given the Philippines' high annual population growth
  rate and unequal distribution of income. The Philippines also faces higher
  oil prices, higher interest rates on its dollar borrowings, and higher
  inflation. Fiscal constraints limit Manila's ability to finance
  infrastructure and social spending. The Philippines' consistently large
  budget deficit has produced a high debt level, and this situation has
  forced Manila to spend a large portion of the national government budget on
  debt service. Large unprofitable public enterprises, especially in the
  energy sector, contribute to the government's debt because of slow progress
  on privatization. Credit rating agencies have at times expressed concern
  about the Philippines' ability to service the debt, though central bank
  reserves appear adequate and large remittance inflows appear stable. The
  implementation of the expanded Value Added Tax (VAT) in November 2005
  boosted confidence in the government's fiscal capacity and helped to
  strengthen the peso, which gained 5.7 percent year-on-year, making it East
  Asia's best performing currency in 2005. Investors and credit rating
  institutions will continue to look for effective implementation of the new
  VAT and continued improvement in the government's overall fiscal capacity
  in the coming year.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $451.3 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
  $90.3 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  4.6% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $5,100 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 14.8%
  industry: 31.7%
  services: 53.5% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
  36.73 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture 36%, industry 16%, services 48% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
  12.2% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:
  40% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2.3%
  highest 10%: 31.9% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  46.6 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7.9% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
  16.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $12.38 billion
  expenditures: $15.77 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.4
    million (2005 est.)

Public debt:
  77.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
  sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, cassavas, pineapples, mangoes;
  pork, eggs, beef; fish

Industries:
  electronics assembly, garments, footwear, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood
  products, food processing, petroleum refining, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:
  0.5% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
  47.82 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - consumption:
  44.48 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
  14,360 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:
  335,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
  312,000 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:
  152 million bbl (1 January 2004)

Natural gas - production:
  2.3 billion m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
  2.3 billion m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
  0 m³ (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
  0 m³ (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
  106.8 billion m³ (1 January 2004)

Current account balance:
  $3.872 billion (2005 est.)

Exports:
  $41.25 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  electronic equipment, machinery and transport equipment, garments, optical
  instruments, coconut products, fruits and nuts, copper products, chemicals

Exports - partners:
  Japan 20.1%, US 18.2%, Netherlands 9%, Hong Kong 7.9%, China 6.7%,
  Singapore 6.6%, Taiwan 5.6%, Malaysia 5.2% (2004)

Imports:
  $42.66 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
  raw materials, machinery and equipment, fuels, vehicles and vehicle parts,
  plastic, chemicals, grains

Imports - partners:
  US 18.8%, Japan 17.4%, Singapore 7.8%, Taiwan 7.3%, South Korea 6.2%, China
  6%, Malaysia 4.5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $18.09 billion (November 2005)

Debt - external:
  $67.62 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
  ODA commitments, $2 billion (2004)

Currency (code):
  Philippine peso (PHP)

Exchange rates:
  Philippine pesos per US dollar - 55.086 (2005), 56.04 (2004), 54.203
  (2003), 51.604 (2002), 50.993 (2001)

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

§6. Philippines Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  3,437,500 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  32,935,900 (2004)

Telephone system:
  general assessment: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable
    services; domestic and inter-island service adequate
  domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations
  international: country code - 63; 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 369, FM 583, shortwave 5
  note: each shortwave station operates on multiple frequencies in the
    language of the target audience (2004)

Television broadcast stations:
  225; note - 1373 CATV networks (2004)

Internet country code:
  .ph

Internet hosts:
  96,500 (2005)

Internet users:
  7.82 million (2005)

§7. Philippines Transportation

Airports:
  256 (2005)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 83
  over 3,047 m: 4
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
  914 to 1,523 m: 36
  under 914 m: 10 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 173
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
  914 to 1,523 m: 68
  under 914 m: 100 (2005)

Heliports:
  2 (2005)

Pipelines:
  gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 100 km (2004)

Railways:
  total: 897 km
  narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (492 km are in operation) (2004)

Roadways:
  total: 200,037 km
  paved: 19,804 km
  unpaved: 180,233 km (2003)

Waterways:
  3,219 km (limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m) (2005)

Merchant marine:
  total: 413 ships (1000 GRT or over) 4,740,008 GRT/6,595,554 DWT
  by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 83, cargo 116, chemical tanker 13,
    container 7, liquefied gas 6, livestock carrier 17, passenger 10,
    passenger/cargo 72, petroleum tanker 47, refrigerated cargo 15, roll
    on/roll off 14, vehicle carrier 12
  foreign-owned: 67 (Canada 1, Germany 2, Greece 7, Hong Kong 2, India 1,
    Japan 25, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 20, Taiwan 2, UAE 2, US 4)
  registered in other countries: 45 (Australia 1, The Bahamas 1, Cambodia 1,
    Cayman Islands 1, Comoros 1, Cyprus 2, Hong Kong 15, Indonesia 1, Panama
    17, Singapore 3, unknown 2) (2005)

Ports and terminals:
  Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iligan, Iloilo, Manila, Surigao

§8. Philippines Military

Military branches:
  Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (including Marine Corps),
    Air Force

Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:
  males age 18-49: 20,131,179 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 18-49: 15,170,096 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
  males: 907,542 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $836.9 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  0.9% (2005 est.)

§9. Philippines Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  Philippines claims sovereignty over certain of the Spratly Islands, known
  locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, also claimed by China, Malaysia,
  Taiwan, and Vietnam; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the
  South China Sea," has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short
  of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the
  disputants; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the
  Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic
  activities in the Spratly Islands; Philippines retains a dormant claim to
  Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu's
  granting the Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue a
  sovereignty claim on his behalf

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  IDPs: 150,000 (fighting between government troops and MILF and Abu Sayyaf
    groups) (2005)

Illicit drugs:
  domestic methamphetamine production has been a growing problem in recent
  years; longstanding marijuana producer


<Factbook 2006>
