Country Trading Profiles Philippines

Political outline | Living conditions | Useful resources | Communications

Political outline

Executive Power: The President is both the head of the state and the head of the government. The President is elected by a popular vote to serve a single six-year term. He presides over and appoints the cabinet members. The President holds the executive powers which include the implementation of the law in the country and running the day-to-day affairs. The President is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Legislative Power: The legislature in the Philippines is bicameral. The parliament, called the Congress, consists of: the Senate (the upper house) having 24 seats with its members elected mostly by popular vote to serve six-year terms, and the House of Representatives (the lower house) having up to a maximum of 250 seats, with its members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms. The President has the power to veto acts of the legislature, and in turn a supermajority (generally two—thirds) of legislators may act to override his veto. The people of the Philippines enjoy considerable political rights.
Main political parties: The Philippines has a multi-party system and political parties have diverse ideologies. As a result, parties generally work together to form coalition governments. The major political parties in the country are:
- Lakas-CMD (Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats)- a right-of-centre conservative political party;
- LP (Liberal Party) - liberals;
- NPC (Nationalist People's Coalition) – a nationalist left-wing party;
- LDP (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) – a union of democratic parties;
- AD (Democratic Action) - mainstream political party that advocates "non-traditional" means of politics.
Current political leaders: President: Benigno S. AQUINO III (since June 2010), Liberal Party.
Next election dates: Presidential: May 2016
Senate: May 2013
House of Representatives: 2013

Living conditions

Health and safety

Health precautions: A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required from travelers who are more one year old and coming from infected zones. The risk of malaria exists throughout the year in zones below 600 m, except in the provinces of Bohol, Catanduanes and Cebu and in the suburbs of Manila. The risk is low in the provinces of Aklan, Biliran, Camiguin, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte del Sur, Northern Samar and Siquijor. It is estimated that there is no risk in the urban areas and the plains. Resistance of P. falciparum to chloroquine has been reported. Disease prevention recommended in the risk areas: C+P.
International hospitals: It is recommended to get care in private hospitals, or to go to Singapore if there is a serious problem.
For further information on sanitary conditions: Recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the Philippines
For further information on safety conditions: US State Department
Foreign Affairs Canada
Contact your Embassy: Embassy of Greece in Philippines
Sage House, 110 VA Rufino Street
Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philippines
Phone: (00632)-8174444, 8173417
Fax: 8121876

Emergency numbers

Emergency services	117
Police	168
Tourist assistance in Manila	02-524-1660
Firemen	816-25-53
Treatment center for poisoning cases	524-10-78

Time difference and climate

Time and time difference: It is %T:%M %A in Manila (GMT+8)
Summer time period: None

Map of the time zone

Type of climate: Annual average temperature is approximately 27°C, rains occur during the summer monsoons from May to November.

For further information: National Weather Service Office

Average annual temperatures and rainfall

Useful resources

To find an accommodation: Hotels in the Philippines Bungalows. Ministry of Tourism
Lonely Planet
To find an apartment: Pearl's Letting Agency

Islands Properties
Viviun
Move in the city
To find a job: Phil-JobNet

Communications

Telephone codes: To make a call from the Philippines to Greece: dial 00 (or +) 30
To make a call to in the Philippines from Greece: dial 00 (or +) +63
Mobile telephone standards: GSM, UMTS, HSDPA, iDEN, AMPS.
Internet suffix: .ph

COUNTRY TRADING PROFILES

General Information

Political outline

Living conditions

Health and safety

Emergency numbers

Time difference and climate

Map of the time zone

Average annual temperatures and rainfall

Useful resources

Communications