from
CIA World Factbook 2006
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.
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine
Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Geographic 13 00 N, 122 00 E
coordinates:
Map Southeast Asia
references:
Area: total: 300,000 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km
Area - slightly larger than Arizona
comparative:
Land 0 km
boundaries:
Coastline: 36,289 km
Maritime territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100
claims: 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 lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
extremes: highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Natural timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt,
resources: copper
Land use: arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 16.67%
other: 64.33% (2005)
Irrigated 15,500 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck
hazards: by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides;
active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
Environment - uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed
current areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major
issues: urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing
pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important
fish breeding grounds
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
international Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
agreements: 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 - the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands;
note: 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
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 1.8% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 24.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 5.41 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration -1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
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 total: 22.81 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 25.59 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 19.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 70.21 years
expectancy at male: 67.32 years
birth: female: 73.24 years (2006 est.)
Total 3.11 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 9,000 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - less than 500 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Major degree of risk: high
infectious food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea,
diseases: 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)
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 republic
type:
Capital: name: Manila
geographic coordinates: 14 35 N, 121 00 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington,
DC during Standard Time)
Administrative 79 provinces and 117 chartered cities
divisions: 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 Independence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898
holiday: 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 chief of state: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
branch: (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 a single six-year term; 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 bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate
branch: 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 Supreme Court (15 justices are appointed by the
branch: 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 Kabalikat Ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) [Ronaldo PUNO];
parties and Laban Ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino
leaders: Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA]; Lakas Ng Edsa
(National Union of Christian Democrats) or Lakas [Jose
DE VENECIA]; Liberal Party or LP [Franklin DRILON/Eli
QUINTO]; Nacionalista [Manuel VILLAR]; National
People's Coalition or NPC [Frisco SAN JUAN]; PDP-Laban
[Aquilino PIMENTEL]; People's Reform Party [Miriam
Defensor SANTIAGO]; PROMDI [Emilio OSMENA]; Pwersa Ng
Masang Pilipino (Party of the Philippine Masses) or PMP
[Joseph ESTRADA]; Reporma [Renato DE VILLA]
Political AKBAYAN [Reps. Etta ROSALES, Mario AGUJA, and Risa
pressure HONTIVEROS-BARAQUIEL]; ALAGAD [Rep. Rodante MARROLITA];
groups and ALIF [Rep. Acmad TOMAWIS]; An Waray [Rep. Horencio
leaders: 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 APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-24,
organization G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU,
participation: 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, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Willy C. GAA
representation chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
in the US: 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 chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney
representation embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000, Manila
from the US: mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000
telephone: [63] (2) 528-6300
FAX: [63] (2) 522-4361
Flag two equal horizontal bands of blue (top; representing
description: 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
Economy
Economy - The Philippines was less severely affected by the Asian
overview: 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 $412.5 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $91.36 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 4.8% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $4,700 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 14.4%
composition by industry: 32.6%
sector: services: 53% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 36.73 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 36%
by occupation: industry: 16%
services: 48% (2004 est.)
Unemployment 8.7% (2005 est.)
rate:
Population 40% (2001 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: 2.3%
income or highest 10%: 31.9% (2003)
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 46.6 (2003)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 7.6% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 15.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $12.38 billion
expenditures: $15.77 billion; including capital
expenditures of NA (2005 est.)
Public debt: 72.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, cassavas,
products: pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish
Industries: electronics assembly, garments, footwear,
pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food
processing, petroleum refining, fishing
Industrial 2.2% (2005 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 47.82 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 55.6%
production by hydro: 17.5%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 26.9% (2001)
Electricity - 44.48 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 14,360 bbl/day (2003 est.)
production:
Oil - 335,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports: 312,000 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - proved 152 million bbl (1 January 2004)
reserves:
Natural gas - 2.3 billion cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 2.3 billion cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2004 est.)
exports:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2004 est.)
imports:
Natural gas - 106.8 billion cu m (1 January 2004)
proved
reserves:
Current $2.354 billion (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $41.25 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - electronic equipment, machinery and transport
commodities: equipment, garments, optical instruments, coconut
products, fruits and nuts, copper products, chemicals
Exports - US 18%, Japan 17.5%, China 9.9%, Netherlands 9.8%, Hong
partners: Kong 8.1%, Singapore 6.6%, Malaysia 6%, Taiwan 4.6%
(2005)
Imports: $42.66 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - raw materials, machinery and equipment, fuels, vehicles
commodities: and vehicle parts, plastic, chemicals, grains
Imports - US 19.2%, Japan 17%, Singapore 7.9%, Taiwan 7.5%, China
partners: 6.3%, South Korea 4.8%, Saudi Arabia 4.6%, Hong Kong
4.1% (2005)
Reserves of $18.5 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $65.71 billion (2005 est.)
external:
Economic aid - ODA commitments, $2 billion (2004)
recipient:
Currency Philippine peso (PHP)
(code):
Currency code: PHP
Exchange Philippine pesos per US dollar - 55.086 (2005), 56.04
rates: (2004), 54.203 (2003), 51.604 (2002), 50.993 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 3,437,500 (2004)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 32.81 million (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: good international radiotelephone
system: 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 AM 369, FM 583, shortwave 5
broadcast note: each shortwave station operates on multiple
stations: frequencies in the language of the target audience
(2004)
Radios: 11.5 million (1997)
Television 225; note - 1373 CATV networks (2004)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 3.7 million (1997)
Internet .ph
country code:
Internet 111,262 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 33 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 7.82 million (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 256 (2006)
Airports - total: 83
with paved over 3,047 m: 4
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 36
under 914 m: 10 (2006)
Airports - total: 173
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 69
under 914 m: 99 (2006)
Heliports: 2 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 105 km (2006)
Railways: total: 897 km
narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (492 km are in
operation) (2005)
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 total: 403 ships (1000 GRT or over) 4,661,285 GRT/
marine: 6,426,183 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 82, cargo 115, chemical tanker
13, container 6, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 17,
passenger 9, passenger/cargo 73, petroleum tanker 42,
refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 13, vehicle
carrier 13
foreign-owned: 66 (Greece 5, Hong Kong 3, Japan 26,
Malaysia 1, Netherlands 19, Norway 3, UAE 1, US 8)
registered in other countries: 41 (Australia 1, Bahamas
1, Cambodia 1, Cayman Islands 1, Comoros 1, Cyprus 1,
Hong Kong 16, Indonesia 1, Panama 13, Singapore 5)
(2006)
Ports and Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iligan, Iloilo, Manila,
terminals: Surigao
Military
Military Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy
branches: (including Marine Corps), Air Force
Military 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service age service (2001)
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 20,131,179
available for females age 18-49: 20,009,526 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 15,170,096
for military females age 18-49: 16,931,191 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 907,542
reaching females age 18-49: 878,712 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $836.9 million (2005 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 0.9% (2005 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - Philippines claims sovereignty over certain of the
international: 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 IDPs: 150,000 (fighting between government troops and
internally MILF and Abu Sayyaf groups) (2005)
displaced
persons:
Illicit drugs: domestic methamphetamine production has been a growing
problem in recent years; longstanding marijuana
producer