Entry Regulations Health Regulations Medical Facilities Customs Regulations Foreign Exchange Regulations Airports and Facilities Terminal Fee / Departure Tax Climate Clothing Time Language Government Religion Currency and Credit Cards Business and Banking Hours Communication Facilities Internet Facilities Drinking Water Driving License Electrical Current Tipping Tourist Information Important Telephone Numbers Emergency Numbers Public Holidays Entry Regulations A valid passport is required for entry to the Philippines. Generally, foreign visitors from countries with diplomatic relations with the Philippines are allowed to enter the country without visas and may stay for 21 days provided their passports are valid for at least 6 months and they hold return tickets. When staying for more than 21 days, a Tourist Visa, which is valid for 59 days, is necessary. Permits and visas can be obtained from Philippine Embassies and Consulates. The following are allowed to enter the country without a visa for a stay not exceeding seven (7) days: holders of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports, holders of British National Overseas (BNO) passports, holders of Portuguese passports issued in Macau and holders of Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports. Further inquiries may be addressed to the Visa Division (tel. nos. (632) 834-3707 / (632) 834-4810), Department of Foreign Affairs or log on to www.dfa.gov.ph/consular/visa.htm. Health Regulations The Philippines is fortunate to be free from epidemics. The country remains free from bird flu and foot-and-mouth diseases. A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travelers coming from an infected area. Medical Facilities Hospitals in the country are manned by highly skilled and competent doctors and nurses and equipped with modern facilities. The unique Filipino brand of caring and compassion makes the Philippines’ medical services at par with the best of the world. The country boasts of a wide variety of medical healthcare groups to choose from. Its healthcare system is largely patterned after the American model. There are private as well as government run medical facilities, hospitals and clinics all over the country. Hotels and resorts provide medical assistance as well. Towns and cities have health centers that provide emergency medical attention. Customs Regulations To facilitate customs examination, visitors are advised to fill in the Baggage and Currency Declaration Form before disembarking. Visitors are allowed to bring in the following items duty-free: reasonable quantity of clothes and jewelry; two bottles of wine or liquor of not more than one liter each; and 400 sticks of cigarettes or two tins of tobacco. Foreign Exchange Regulations Visitors carrying more than US$ 3,000 are requested to declare the amount at the Central Bank of the Philippines counter at the customs area. Foreign currency taken out upon departure must not exceed the amount brought in. Keep all exchange receipts for record purposes. Departing passengers may not bring out more than P 10,000 in local currency. Airports and Facilities The Philippines has four (4) international airports: the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila, Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Angeles City, Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu and the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City. The NAIA is the main international gateway of the country. It is seven (7) kilometers south of Manila and southwest of Makati City’s Central Business District. It has three (3) terminals that serve Manila and its surrounding metropolitan area. Manila is also served by the Manila Domestic Airport which is one kilometer from the NAIA. DMIA, also called Clark International Airport, is the main airport serving the immediate vicinity of the Clark Special Economic Zone and the general area of Angeles City. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport serves as the southern hub of the air transportation system of the country. The airport is strategically located making the travel time only 3-4 hours to 14 cities in Asia Pacific. The Francisco Bangoy International Airport, also called Davao International Airport, is the main airport serving Davao City. It is the busiest airport in the Mindanao region and is the only international airport in Mindanao serving actual international flights on a regular basis. These international airports have adequate traveler facilities: duty-free shopping centers, souvenir shops, tourist information counters, hotel and travel agency representatives and car rental services. The NAIA has banks, postal service, a medical clinic, a pharmacy, chapels, salon, sauna and massage services. Hotel Transfers: Hotel transport can be arranged with hotel representatives at designated counters at the arrival lobby of the airport. Terminal Fee / Departure Tax Airport fees of P750 (about US$17) for the international flights and P100-200 for domestic flights (paid in Philippine pesos only) will be charged upon departure. Climate The first half of the year, from January to May, is the best time to visit the country. November to February is cool, while March to May is hot and dry. June to October is rainy, with the months between July to September characterized by typhoons. Average temperature is 78 degrees F / 25 degrees C to 90 degrees F / 32 degrees C; average humidity is 77%. Some parts of the country, such as Cebu, are warm and comfortable in all seasons and can be visited throughout the year. For up-to-date weather information, visit the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) website: www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph or call PAGASA 24-hour hotline (632) 433-8526. Clothing Light clothes, preferably cottons, are advisable. Jackets or sweaters are needed in upland areas like the city of Baguio. Casual wear is the rule although formal parties may require a suit or Barong Tagalog for men and a dressy frock for ladies. When visiting churches and mosques, it is well to remember that shorts or provocative dresses will be inappropriate. Visitors are also advised to bring walking shoes, sunglasses, sun block cream, insect repellant and a wide brimmed hat. Time The Philippines is eight (8) hours ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Language The two official languages are Filipino and English. Filipino, which is based on Tagalog, is the national language. English is widely used and is the medium of instruction in higher education. It is also the dominant language in business government, the legal system, medicine, the sciences and education. A large percentage of the media such as television, newspapers, and entertainment are also in English. Eight (8) major dialects are spoken by majority of the Filipinos: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango and Pangasinense. Government The Philippines has a democratic republic type of government. Religion Majority of Filipinos (approximately 83%) are Catholic; about 5% are Muslims. The rest are made up of smaller Christian denominations. Currency and Credit Cards Unit of currency is the Philippine peso, divided into 100 centavos. Bills are in: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 pesos. Coins come in 5, 10, 25 centavo and 1, 5, 10 peso denominations. Next to the peso, the US dollar enjoys wide acceptance. Most foreign currencies can be easily exchanged at banks, hotels and authorized foreign exchange dealers. Remember to transact only with banks and licensed foreign exchange dealers. Always keep receipts of transactions. For a complete list of registered foreign exchange dealers / money changers by the Central Bank of the Philippines, log on to www.bsp.gov.ph/banking/FXDMCRA_registry.pdf. International credit cards such as Visa, Diners Club, MasterCard, American Express Card and JCB are accepted in major establishments. It is advisable to use credit cards for major expenses. Business and Banking Hours Private and government offices are open either from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm or from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Mondays to Fridays. Some private companies hold office on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. Most shopping malls, department stores and supermarkets are open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm daily. There are 24-hour convenience stores and drugstores. Banks are open from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Mondays to Fridays, with automated teller machines (ATM) operating 24 hours. Communication Facilities The International access code for the Philippines is +63. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code. Major towns, cities and popular tourist spots are covered by GSM 900 and 1800 mobile networks. There are also providers that offer international roaming. Phone units are rented in malls at a reasonable price. Internet connections are available in hotels, internet cafes and major resorts all over the country. Internet Facilities Internet facilities are available in most hotels and resorts and in several internet or cyber cafes all over the country. Drinking Water Generally, tap water is not suitable for drinking in some areas. It is advisable to either buy mineral water or boil tap water prior to drinking. Driving License An international driving license is valid for up to three months. Electrical Current Electrical current is 220 volts, 60 Hz. Two-pin flat blade attachments and two-pin round plugs are used. A transformer is necessary for appliances with electrical current of 110 volts. Tipping In general, tipping is expected for many services. The standard practice is 10% of the total bill. However, most hotels and restaurants include a 10% service charge, making additional tipping optional. Tourist Information The Department of Tourism (DOT) has a 24-hour Tourist Assistance Unit located at T.M Kalaw Street, Rizal Park, Manila. It can be reached at 524-1728 / 524-1660. Important Telephone Numbers DOT Information Center (24 hours): 524-2384 / 525-2000 DOT Manila Airport Office: 832-2964 DOT – Tourist Assistance Unit: 524-1660 / 524-1728 NAIA Airport Security Center: 877-1727 / 877-1109 loc.3437 Philippine Airlines – Manila: 777-4800 (trunk line) / 855-8888 / 855-7888 Emergency Numbers Philippine National Police (PNP) Public Information Office: 725-5115 PNP 24-hour Hotline: 722-2353 / 722-9587 Patrol 117: 117 Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA): 136 Association of Volunteer Fire Chiefs & Firefighters of the Philippines: 160-16 Civil Defense Operation Center: 911-5061 Public Holidays January 1 February 25 April 9 May 1 June 12 Last Sunday of August Movable November 1 November 30 December 25 December 30 New Year’s Day EDSA Revolution Day Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) Labor Day Independence Day National Heroes Day Eid-il-Fitr (end of the month of fasting) All Saints Day Bonifacio Day Christmas Day Rizal Day During the Catholic observance of Holy Week (Lenten season), Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are declared as holidays.