Overview of the Philippines

• Overview of the Philippines

Location and Accessibility

• The Philippines is located in Southeast Asia, in the West Pacific Ocean
• Its boundaries include the South China Sea to the north, the Celebes Sea to the south, the Sulu Sea to the southwest, the West Philippine Sea to the west, and the Philippine Sea to the east
• It is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
• The Philippines is the second largest archipelago in the world with 7,641 islands as of 2019

Accessibility Challenges

• The archipelagic nature of the Philippines necessitates the use of both air and sea travel in addition to land travel
• The Philippine Nautical Highway System (also known as the Road Roll-on/Roll-off Terminal System or RoRo System) is an integrated network of highways and vehicular ferry routes
• It forms a nationwide vehicle transport system connecting provinces from Luzon to Mindanao via the Visayas
• There are ongoing and proposed projects from the previous administration, but the current status of these projects is unknown

Ro-Ro System Highways

• Western Nautical Highway: Batangas City, Oriental Mindoro, Western Visayas, Negros Oriental & Zamboanga Peninsula
• Central Nautical Highway: Sorsogon, Masbate, Cebu, Bohol, Camiguin, and Cagayan de Oro City
• Eastern Nautical Highway: Masbate, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte

Ports

• It has 821 commercial passenger and ferry ports, and about 429 fishing ports as of June 2019
• All public ports are under the authority of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), of the Department of Transportation (DOTr)
• Large Ports have five or more ferry lines operating
• Medium Ports have three to five ferry lines operating
• Small Ports have one to two inter-island operations

Main Commercial Ports in Metro Manila

• Manila North Harbor
• Manila South Harbor
• Manila International Container Terminal

Popular Ferry Operators

• Some popular operators include 2GO, Atienza, Jomalia, Montenegro, Starlite, Lite, Oceanjet, FastCat, Weesam, and SuperCat

Airports

• There are 70 airports in the country, managed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) under the DOTr
• International Airports cater to international flights
• Principal Domestic Airport Class 1 accommodate aircraft with at least 100 seats
• Principal Domestic Airport Class 2 accommodate propeller airplanes with at least 19 seats
• Community Airports are for general aviation purposes like private jets, medical flights, etc.

International Airports in the Philippines

• Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Pasay City, Metro Manila)
• Bacolod-Silay International Airport (Silay City, Negros Occidental)
• Clark International Airport (Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga)
• Puerto Princesa International Airport (Puerto Princesa, Palawan)
• Mactan-Cebu International Airport (Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, Cebu)
• Subic Bay International Airport (Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales)
• Francis Bangoy International Airport (Davao City, Davao del Sur)
• General Santos International Airport (General Santos City, South Cotabato)
• Iloilo International Airport (Cabatuan, Iloilo)
• Bicol International Airport (Daraga, Albay)
• Kalibo International Airport (Kalibo, Aklan)
• Laguindingan International Airport (Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao)
• Laoag International Airport (Laoag City, Ilocos Norte)
• Zamboanga International Airport (Zamboanga City)
• Godofredo P. Ramos - Caticlan/Boracay Airport (Caticlan, Aklan) is a Principal Domestic Airport Class 2 because of its size and has been used for international arrivals

Brief History & Government

• Chinese settlers and traders arrived by the 10th century AD
• Muslim traders came from Borneo, spreading Islam in the southern part of the country
• The spread of Islam was interrupted by the Spanish conquistadores
• In 1521, Spaniards led by Ferdinand Magellan arrived
• The islands were initially called Las Felipinas, then renamed Las Islas Filipinas
• In 1898, the Philippines was granted to the United States after the Spanish-American War
• In 1935, the Philippines became self-governing, but independence was delayed by World War II
• The islands were liberated by U.S. forces in 1944-45
• The Republic of the Philippines was proclaimed in 1946
• The government was patterned on that of the United States
• In 1965, Ferdinand Marcos was elected president
• In 1972, martial law was declared, lasting until 1981
• In 1986, Marcos was driven from power, and Corazon Aquino became president, instituting democratic rule

The Government

• The Philippines is a republic with a presidential form of government
• Power is divided among three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial
• The Legislative branch is authorized to make, alter, and repeal laws through the Philippine Congress
• The Executive branch consists of the President and Vice President, elected by popular vote to serve a term of six years
• The President has the authority to appoint the Cabinet
• The Judicial branch settles controversies involving legally demandable and enforceable rights
• It determines abuses of discretion by the government and is composed of a Supreme Court and lower courts

Highest Philippine Officials as of June 2022

• President: Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr.
• Vice-President: Sara Duterte-Carpio
• Senate President: Francis "CHIZ" Escudero
• Speaker of the House: Ferdinand Martin Romualdez
• Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: Alexander G. Gesmundo

Local Government Units (LGUs)

• LGUs run their respective provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays
• Provinces are led by a Governor, with a Vice-Governor and Members of the Board
• Cities and municipalities are led by a Mayor, with a Vice-Mayor and Councilors
• Barangays are led by a Barangay Captain and Kagawad

Major Island Groups

• Luzon, in the northern region, is the country's largest and most populous island. Luzon is subdivided into Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and the National Capital Region
• Visayas is composed of Panay, Negros, Cebu, Samar and Leyte, plus Guimaras, Bohol, Siquijor and Biliran
• Visayas has the smallest geographical division
• Mindanao is the second largest island and is the southern boundary of the country
• It contains the Mt. Apo and Mt. Dulang Dulang
• Outlying islands are Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Camiguin, and Dinagat Islands

Major Landforms

• The highest point in the Philippines is Mount Apo, a solfataric mountain on Mindanao, with an elevation of 9,692 feet
• Mount Apo has a tropical rainy climate with relatively distributed rainfall throughout the year and is home to 272 species of birds, 111of which are endemic
• There are nineteen rivers that drain Mount Apo's eight major watersheds
• Six indigenous groups including Bagobo, Ubos, and Tagacaol live around the regions of Mount Apo
• The oldest province is Aklan, originally called Minuro
• The province was established during the early 12th century by settlers originating from Borneo
• Datu Dinagandan was the first ruler, followed by Kalantiaw
• There are 81 Provinces as of March 31, 2018 with the Largest being Palawan with a land area of 17,030.75 sq. kms
• The Smallest Province is Batanes with a land area of 203.22 sq kms

Climate

• The best months to visit are January to May while November to February are cooler months
• March to May is hot and dry
• June to October is rainy, with typhoons between July and September
• Average temperature is 78 degrees F/25 degrees C
• Average humidity is 77%

Language/Dialects

• The official languages are Filipino (or Pilipino) and English
• Filipino has eight major dialects which include Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense
• There are 76-78 major language groups with more than 500 dialects

Major Ethnic Groups

• The Philippines has more than 100 ethnic groups including Tagalog, Bisaya, Cebuano, Ilocano, Ilonggo, and Waray
• Tagalog speaks provinces with a communal "bayaniban" spirit of helping each other
• Tagalog families are closely-knit
• Bicolanos are religious, conservative, prefer spicy food with coconut milk and express themselves through song and dance
• Warays are situated in the Eastern Visayas Region and are often stereotyped as brave warriors, as in the popular phrase. "hasta ang Waray, bind aurong sa away."
• Ilongos are very hospitable and gentle and also take like as it comes
• Mindanao is the only predominantly Muslim region in the country
• Majority of the population of Mindanao region believes in the Islam religion and submits themselves completely to the will of Allah Communal assistance is widely practiced among the

17 Regions and their provinces

• Region 1 - Ilocos Region: Ilocos Norte (Laoag City), Ilocos Sur (Vigan City), La Union (San Fernando), Pangasinan (Lingayen)
• Region II - Cagayan Valley: Batanes (Basco), Cagayan Valley (Tuguegarao), Isabela (Ilagan), Nueva Vizcaya (Bayombong), Quirino (Cabarroguis)
• CAR: Cordillera Administrative Region: Abra (Bangued), Apayao (Kabugao), Benguet (La Trinidad), Ifugao (Lagawe), Kalinga (Tabuk), Mountain Province (Bontoc)
• Region III - Central Luzon: Aurora (Baler), Bataan (City of Balanga), Bulacan (City of Malolos), Nueva Ecija (Palayan City), Pampanga (San Fernando), Tarlac (Tarlac City), Zambales (Iba)
• National Capital Region: Caloocan, City of Manila, Las Pinas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, Pasig, Pateros, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela
• Region IVA - CALABARZON: Batangas (Batangas City), Cavite (Imus), Laguna (Santa Cruz), Quezon (Lucena City), Rizal (Antipolo City)
• Region IVB - MIMAROPA: Marinduque (Boac), Mindoro Occidental (Mamburao), Mindoro Oriental (Calapan), Palawan (Puerto Princesa), Romblon (Romblon)
• Region V - Bicol Region: Albay (Legazpi City), Camarines Norte (Daet), Camarines Sur (Pili), Catanduanes (Virac), Masbate (Masbate City), Sorsogon (Sorsogon City)
• Region VI – Western Visayas: Aklan (Kalibo), Antique (San Jose de Buenavista), Capiz (Roxas City), Guimaras (Jordan), Iloilo (Iloilo City), Negros Occidental (Bacolod)
• Region VII- Central Visayas: Bohol (Tagbilaran), Cebu (Cebu City), Negros Oriental (Dumaguete City), Siquijor (Siquijor)
• Region VIII - Eastern Visayas: Biliran (Naval), Eastern Samar (Borongan City), Northern Samar (Catarman), Samar (Catbalogan City), Leyte (Tacloban City), Southern Leyte (Maasin City)
• Region IX – Zamboanga Peninsula: Zamboanga del Norte (Dipolog City), Zamboanga del Sur (Pagadian City), Zamboanga Sibugay (Ipil)
• Region X- Northern Mindanao: Bukidnon (Malaybalay), Camiguin (Mambajao), Lanao del Norte (Tubod), Misamis Occidental (Oroquieta), Misamis Oriental (Cagayan de Oro)
• Region XI- Davao Region: Davao de Oro (Nabunturan), Davao del Norte (Tagum), Davao del Sur (Digos), Davao Occidental (Malita), Davao Oriental (Mati)
• Region XII- SOCCSKSarGen: South Cotabato (Koronadal) , Cotabato (Kidapawan), Sultan Kudarat (Isulan), Sarangani (Arabel)
• Region XIII – CARAGA: Agusan del Norte (Cabadbaran), Agusan del Sur (Prosperidad), Dinagat Islands (San Jose), Surigao del Norte (Surigao City), Surigao del (Tandag)
• BARMM - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Basilan (Lamitan City), Lanao del Sur (Marawi) , Maguindanao (Buluan), Sulu (Jolo) ,Tawi-tawi (Bongao)