|
Visa requirements, security, medical & other essential information
The following information will give you the basic facts you need to know before starting out on your trip. Visa requirements, security concerns, local medical facilities and laws vary tremendously across the Asia Pacific region, so it is important that you know the facts for your destination and don't arrive without a visa or inadvertently break a local law! The information on this page is intended to give you an overview - please be sure to confirm entry requirements with your travel agent when purchasing your ticket.
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:
The Philippines is a developing nation with a democratic system of government, located in Southeast Asia. The archipelago consists of more than 7,000 islands, of which 880 are inhabited.
The major island groupings are Luzon in the north, the Visayas in the center, and Mindanao in the south. Tourist facilities are available within population centers and the main tourist areas. English is widely spoken in the Philippines, and most signs are in English.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:
Many visitors may enter the Philippines without a visa upon presentation of their passport valid for at least six months after the date of entry into the Philippines, and an onward ticket to another country.
Upon your arrival, immigration authorities will annotate your passport with an entry visa valid for 21 days. If you plan to stay longer than 21 days, you must apply for an extension at the Philippine Bureau of Immigration and Deportation's main office at Magallanes Drive; Intramuros, Manila, Philippines, or at any of their provincial offices located nationwide (http://www.immigration.gov.ph).
Persons who overstay their visas are subject to fines and detention by Philippine immigration authorities. Visitors are urged to remain aware of their visa status while in the Philippines and to follow immigration laws and regulations strictly. Travelers departing the country from international airports must pay a Passenger Service Charge in Philippine Pesos.
Special requirements exist for the entry of unaccompanied minors. In an effort to prevent international child abduction, the Philippine government requires that a waiver of exclusion must be obtained from a Philippine Embassy or Consulate or from the Bureau of Immigration and Detention in Manila for a child under 15 years of age who plans to enter the Philippines unaccompanied by either a parent or legal guardian prior to the child's entry into the Philippines.
SAFETY/SECURITY:
The terrorist threat to foreigners in the Philippines remains high and you are advised against all but essential travel to the Philippines. There are reports of ongoing activities and of multiple planned attacks throughout the Philippines by known terrorist groups. Visitors should carefully consider the risks of travel to the Philippines.
Numerous security-related incidents highlight the risk of travel in certain areas due to kidnappings, bombings, and other violence and criminal activity. The Philippine government has been engaged on and off in negotiations with Communist and Muslim rebel groups.
Nonetheless, rebel activity and armed banditry in certain areas of the Philippines still pose security concerns. The Communist Party of the Philippines and its terrorist military arm, the New People's Army, operate throughout the country and have issued public threats against foreigners in the Philippines.
You are urged to exercise caution when traveling throughout the country and are specifically warned to avoid hiking or camping in the vicinity of Mt. Pinatubo in Pampanga Province.
In Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, kidnappings, bombings, violence, and insurgent activity make travel hazardous in many areas. The Abu Sayyaf Group has kidnapped several foreign tourists since April 2000. Some were freed after substantial ransoms were paid, some escaped or were rescued by military action, and some were killed. Other kidnapping gangs operate in the same general area and have abducted a number of foreigners for ransom.
Visitors are urged to defer non-emergency travel to central, southern, and western Mindanao, and the islands of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Jolo, located in the Sulu archipelago in the southwest of the Philippines, due to military operations against kidnappings and other criminal activity.
Operatives of the Jemaah Islamiyah are also present in the Philippines. JI is an extremist group linked to al-Qaeda and other regional terrorist groups and has cells operating throughout Southeast Asia.
Extremist groups in the region have demonstrated a capability to carry out transnational attacks in locations where Westerners congregate. Terrorist groups do not distinguish between official and civilian targets.
Westerners may be at increased risk of terrorist actions from foreign or domestic extremist groups in the Philippines. There are periodic reports of plans for possible terrorist acts aimed at public and private institutions, and transportation carriers. The U.S. Embassy takes all such threats seriously.
CRIME INFORMATION:
Crime is a serious concern in Metro Manila. As a rule of thumb, visitors are advised to exercise good judgment and remain aware of their surroundings. Reports of confidence games, pick-pocketing and credit card fraud are common.
Be wary of unknown individuals who attempt to befriend you, especially just after you have arrived in country. A number of recent robberies and assaults involving the “date rape drug” (known locally as Ativan) have occurred; the drug is generally administered to unwitting male and female visitors via food or drink.
It is best not to accept food, drink or rides in private vehicles from strangers, even if they appear legitimate. There have been several kidnappings and violent assaults of foreigners in the Metro Manila area. There have also been reports of gunmen robbing foreign passengers in vehicles traveling to and from the international airport.
Taxis are the recommended form of public transportation. However, the following safeguards are important: do not enter a taxi if it has already accepted another passenger; and, request that the meter be used.
If the driver is unwilling to comply with your requests, it is best to wait for another cab. It is also a good idea to make a mental note of the license plate number should there be a problem.
When driving in the city, make certain that the doors are locked and the windows rolled up. All other forms of public transportation, such as the light rail system, buses, and “jeepneys” should be avoided for both safety and security reasons.
Visitors should also be vigilant when using credit cards. One common form of credit card fraud involves the illicit use of an electronic device to retrieve and record information, including the PIN, from the card's magnetic strip. The information is then used to make unauthorized purchases. To limit your vulnerability to this scam, never let your card out of your sight.
A continuing problem is the commercial scam or sting that attempts to sell or to seek negotiation of, fraudulent U.S. securities. Visitors and residents should be wary when presented with supposed Federal Reserve Notes or U.S. securities for sale or negotiation.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME:
The loss or theft of a passport in the Philippines should be reported immediately to the local police and your Embassy in Manila. If you are the victim of a crime while in the Philippines, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact your Embassy.
The Embassy staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends, and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION:
Adequate medical care is available in major cities in the Philippines, but even the best hospitals may not meet the standards of medical care, sanitation, and facilities provided by hospitals at home. Medical care is limited in rural and more remote areas. Most hospitals will require a down payment of estimated fees in cash at the time of admission.
Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation overseas can cost several or even tens of thousands of dollars.
MEDICAL INSURANCE:
You are urged to consult with your medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether your policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS:
While in a foreign country, visitors may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those at home. The information below concerning the Philippines is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Travel within the Philippine archipelago is possible by boat, plane, bus, or car. Few tourists rent a car to drive, as the road system is crowded and drivers are undisciplined.
Driving off the national highways and paved roads is particularly dangerous, especially at night, and should be avoided. To avoid overcrowded or unsafe transport, exercise caution in planning travel by older, inter-island ferryboats, or other public conveyances.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT:
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Philippine Government as being in compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards for oversight of the Philippines' air carrier operations.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
Marriage in the Philippines:
The Philippine Government requires foreigners who wish to marry in the Philippines to obtain from their Embassy a “Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage” before filing an application for a marriage license.
Relationship fraud is a persistent problem in the Philippines, and it is not uncommon for Filipinos to enter into marriages with foreigners solely for immigration purposes. Relationships developed via correspondence, particularly those begun on the Internet, are particularly susceptible to manipulation.
Disaster Preparedness:
The Philippines is a volcano-, typhoon- and earthquake-prone country. From May to December, typhoons and flash floods often occur. Flooding can cause road delays and cut off bridges.
Typhoons in the vicinity of the Philippines can interrupt air and sea links within the country. Volcanic activity is frequent, and periodically the Philippine Government announces alerts for specific volcanoes. Earthquakes can also occur throughout the country.
Customs:
Philippine customs authorities enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from the Philippines of items such as firearms and currency.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES:
While in a foreign country, you are subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those at home and may not afford the protections available to the individual at home. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than at home for similar offenses.
Persons violating Philippines laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in the Philippines are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.
Capital punishment is possible for certain drug-related crimes.
The Bureau of Immigration arrests several foreigners each year on immigration charges of “undesirability,” sometimes based solely on complaints arising from personal or business disputes in the Philippines.
Frequently, these detainees cannot be deported and/or released from custody until substantial fines are paid and any underlying criminal charges are resolved – a process that sometimes takes months or even years.
Fraud, swindling, and “bad debts” are also serious criminal offenses in the Philippines, as is the illegal recruitment of Philippine citizens for employment overseas.
Several foreigners are currently serving lengthy prison sentences for illegal recruitment activities. The Philippine Government also has strict laws against the possession of firearms, and several foreigners have been sentenced to life imprisonment for bringing firearms into the country. |
HOTEL RESERVATIONS 
