| |
| Philippines |
| Introduction
(Basic Data) |
| Name of Country |
Republic of the Philippines |
| National
Day |
4th July 1946 |
| Capital |
Metro Manila (population 1,581,000) |
| Land Area |
300,000 sq. km. (archipelago) |
| Climate |
Tropical marine
Northeast monsoon (November to April)
Southwest monsoon (May to October) |
Natural resources
|
Timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver,
gold, copper (biggest producer in Asia), Salt |
| Currency |
Philippine peso (PHP) (Ps = 100 sentimos)
1 US Dollar = 55.68 Philippine Peso |
| Population |
Size: 76.82 Mn (2000) 84.62 Mn (July 2003
est.)
Population growth rate: 1.92% (2003 est.)
Urban population 58.2% (2000)
Population below poverty line 40% (2001)
Composition: 0 – 14 years – 36.2%
15-64 years – 59.9%
65 years and over – 3.9% |
| Life expectancy at
birth |
Male 66.4 years
Female 72.3 years
Total population 69.29 years |
| Culture Language |
National Language : Filipino (based on
Tagalog a Malay dialect). English is widely understood
and generally used in government and commerce. Also spoken
Spanish. |
| Literacy |
95.9% of the population over 15 years of
age can read and write. |
| Religions |
Roman Catholic 83% Protestant 9% Muslim
5% Buddhist and other 3%. |
| Ethnic Groups
|
Christian Malay 91.5% Muslim Malay 4% Chinese
1.5% Other 3% |
| Labour Force |
Size : 33.7 Mn. (2002)
| By occupation : |
Agriculture 39.8% |
| |
Government & Social Services
19.4% |
| |
Services 17.7% |
| |
Manufacturing 9.8% |
| |
Construction 6.8% |
| |
Other 7.5% |
|
| Unemployment |
10.2% (2002) |
| Political/Legal System
|
The Republic of the Philippines has an
executive President who is elected by universal mandate
and then appoints a Cabinet. The Congress has two Chambers.
The House of Representatives has 260 seats elected for
a 3 year term, 208 seats in single seat constituencies
and 52 seats allotted to party
lists according to proportional representation The Senate
has 24 members elected for a six year term by proportional
representation, half of them
renewed every three years. The Legal system is based on
Spanish and Anglo-American Law. The Philippines accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations. |
Membership of International
Organizations
|
APEC, ART, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO,
G-24, G-77, IAEA, IRBD, ICAO, ICE, ICCt (signatory) ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UPU, WHO, WTO |
| Environment International
Agreements |
Philippines is a signatory to international
agreements on Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered species, Hazardous, wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber 83 and 94, Wetlands, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol (signed but not ratified). |
|
|
