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Philippines Flag of Philippines

Pre Arrival:  Charts | Documents
Communications:  Pratique | Pre-Arrival
Pollution:  Pollution
Facilities:  Medical
Security:  Emergency | Piracy
Local Info:  Time | Holidays | Weather
Shore:  Consuls | Telephones | Banks
Crew:  Leave | Repatriation | ID Cards
General Information for Philippines
Geo-political:
Capital City: Manila.
Nationality: (noun) Filipino(s), (adjective) Philippine.
Population: 109,180,815 (July 2020).
Communications:
International Direct Dial Code: 63.
Number of Internal Airports: 247 (2013).
Major Languages Spoken: 
Economy:
Currency: 1 Philippine Piso (PHP) of 100 Centavos.
Exchange Rates:  (as of November 2020)
USD 1.00 = PHP 48.40
PHP 1.00 = USD 0.02
Exchange rates under licence from XE.com
Main Industries: Semiconductors, electronics assembly, business process outsourcing, food, beverage manufacturing, construction, electric/gas/water supply, chemical products, radio/television/communications equipment, apparatus, petroleum, fuel, textile, garments, non-metallic minerals, basic metal industries and transport equipment.
Agricultural Products: Rice, fish, livestock, poultry, bananas, coconut, copra, corn, sugarcane, mangoes, pineapple and cassava.
Imports: Electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery, transport equipment, iron, steel, textile fabrics, grains, chemicals and plastic.
Exports: Semiconductors, electronic products, machinery, transport equipment, wood manufactures, chemicals, processed food, beverages, garments, coconut oil, copper concentrates, seafood and bananas/fruits.
Commodities: Crude: Production 13,000 bbl/d. Exports 16,450 bbl/d. Imports 211,400 bbl/d. Reserves 138,500,000 bbl. Products: Production 215,500 bbl/d. Exports 26,710 bbl/d. Imports 211,400 bbl/d. LNG: Production 3,058,000,000 cu.m.. Reserves 98,540,000,000 cu.m..
Environment:
Territorial Sea: 100 n.m.
Continental Shelf: Continental Shelf: to the depth of exploitation. Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 n.m.
Coastline Extent: 36,289 km.
Climate: Tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October).
Natural Resources: Timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt and copper.
Natural Hazards: Astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms each year, landslides, active volcanoes, destructive earthquakes, tsunamis and significant volcanic activity; Taal (311 m), which has shown recent unrest and may erupt in the near future, has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Mayon (2,462 m), the country's most active volcano, erupted in 2009 forcing over 33,000 to be evacuated; other historically active volcanoes include Biliran, Babuyan Claro, Bulusan, Camiguin, Camiguin de Babuyanes, Didicas, Iraya, Jolo, Kanlaon, Makaturing, Musuan, Parker, Pinatubo, and Ragang; see note 2 under "Geography - note".
Terrain: Mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands.
Average Temperatures: 
Month High Low
January 30° C 21° C
June 33° C 23° C
September 30° C 23° C
CHARTS:  Notices to Mariners and navigational warnings published by the Philippines Coast Guard and National Mapping & Resource Information Authority. Available online at www.namria.gov.ph
DOCUMENTS:  Inward Foreign Manifest (IFM)/Consolidated Cargo Manifest (CCM):  Every vessel from a foreign port must have on board a complete manifest of all its cargoes. All cargoes intended to be landed at a port in the Philippines must be described in separate manifests for each port of call. A true and complete copy of the cargo manifest and CCM shall be electronically sent in advance by the shipping company, NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier), freight forwarder, cargo consolidator, or their authorised agents within the following cut-off period prior to the arrival of the carrying vessel at the port of entry:
  1. if the transit time from port of origin to port of entry is at least 72 hours, the Cargo Manifest and CCM must be electronically submitted to the Bureau of Customs 24 hours prior to arrival
  2. if the transit time from port of origin to port of entry is less than 72 hours, the Cargo Manifest and CCM must be electronically submitted to the Bureau of Customs 12 hours prior to arrival.
Submission of documents shall be via any accredited value-added service provider (VASP) onto the BOC-VASP Gateway.
Ship's Documents: 
Customs:  The following should be available on arrival for the boarding Customs Officer:
   Last Port Clearance (original)
2 Cargo Declarations (FAL 2)
2 Crew Effects Declarations (FAL 4)
   Crew List (FAL 5)
2 Nil Lists
2 Ports of Call Lists
2 Provisions Lists
2 Ship’s Particulars
2 Stores Lists (FAL 3)
The following should be made available for inspection on board: 
   Cargo Declaration (FAL 2)
   Crew Effects Declarations (FAL 4)
   Crew list (FAL 5)
   Nil List
   Ports of Call Lists
   Provisions Lists
   Ship’s Particulars
   Stores Lists (FAL 3)
   Stowage Plan
Immigration:  The following should be available on arrival for the boarding Immigration Officer:
2 Crew Lists* (FAL 5)
   Nil List
   Ports of Call List
   Ship’s Particulars
* One arrival Crew List and one departure Crew List.
Quarantine:  The following should be available on arrival for the boarding Quarantine Bureau Officer:
   Crew List (FAL 5)
   Maritime Declaration of Health
   Medical Chest Certificate
   Ports of Call List
   QR Code for eTravel
   Quarantine Medical Clearance#
   Seven-day Temperature Log
   Ship Sanitation Control (Exemption) Certificate
   Ship’s Particulars
   Vaccination List
# for foreign off-signers
On-signing Crew:  A Crew List showing the names of all on-signing crew should be submitted to the Bureau of Quarantine at least 24 hours before embarkation. The Crew List should include a statement by the shipping principal/licensed manning agency or appointed agent that all on-signing crew are healthy and with no symptoms of infectious disease. The following should be clearly stated:
  1. name of the LPA/LMA authority (with signature over printed name)
  2. name of vessel
  3. date of embarkation
  4. statement indicating that all crew are healthy and with no signs and symptoms for the past 48 hours.
The Crew List should be submitted by email to [email protected] for the National Capital Region ports or the relevant regional Bureau of Quarantine office as follows:
Quarantine Station Email
Baatan [email protected]
Baclolod [email protected]
Batangas [email protected]
Cagayan de Oro [email protected]
Cebu [email protected]
Clark [email protected]
Davao [email protected]
General Santos [email protected]
Iloilo [email protected]
Kalibo [email protected]
Laoag [email protected]
La Union [email protected]
Lucena [email protected]
Puerto Princesa [email protected]
Subic [email protected]
Tabaco [email protected]
Tacloban [email protected]
Zamboanga [email protected]
Off-signing Crew:  For the issuance of the Outgoing Clearance, the following should be submitted to [email protected] within 4-6 hours prior to departure:
  1. updated Maritime Declaration of Health
  2. Temperature Log (from the first day of arrival until no more than eight hours prior to departure)
  3. Medical Log (from the first day of arrival until no more than eight hours before departure) - photocopy of the last page of the medical logbook.
Also see Repatriation.
PRATIQUE:  All vessels from foreign seaports calling at any seaport in the Philippines to disembark its passengers or discharge its cargoes, or for other purposes must secure a quarantine clearance in compliance with the health regulations. This Quarantine Certificate or clearance (pratique) shall be a prerequisite to Customs clearance.
Upon arrival, such vessel shall be boarded by a Quarantine Officer, and after pratique or health clearance is granted, shall be boarded by a Customs Officer. Subsequently, no person shall be permitted to board or leave the vessel without the permission of the Customs Officer; however, if a vessel has already been issued a Quarantine Certificate in the first Philippine port of entry, she will not be required to undergo another quarantine formalities at succeeding ports of call in the Philippines.
The health clearance shall be part of the required documents to be received by the authorised Customs Officer from the Master of the vessel.
No Quarantine Permit shall be required for the discharge of the regularly manifested cargo including animals, plants, etc. unless otherwise required by law or regulations. However if animals or plants are carried as baggage, their discharge shall be subject to regulations promulgated by the Bureau or office concerned.
PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION:  Notice of Arrival and Application for Berthing Anchorage should be submitted electronically, by registered users, on the PPA Online section of Philippine Ports Authority website. iports.ppa.com.ph/
POLLUTION:  The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is the responsible agency for preventing and controlling pollution in the country's territorial waters. The Marine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM), a unit of the PCG, is the point of contact for oil spill response operations and comprises the National Operations Center for Oil Pollution (NOCOP). The NOCOP Commander serves as the national on-scene commander and is able to request assistance from other government, private and military sources. In addition to the NOCOP, there are eight Marine Environment Protection Offices under the control of the eight Coast Guard districts.
Spill Notification Point:  Philippine Coast Guard Operations Center. T: +63 (2) 8527 3880. (24 hr) or Operator: T: +63 (2) 8527 8481. F: +63 (2) 8527 3880.
Marine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM). T: +63 (2) 8245 9165. F: +63 (2) 8245 9165. [email protected]
MEDICAL:  The availability and standard of medical care varies across the Philippines. Although adequate in major cities, medical care is limited in more remote areas. Even some of the more popular tourist destinations have limited and basic medical provisions. This may result in a delay when seeking urgent medical attention in an emergency. Private hospital treatment can be too expensive for many people, e.g. the daily cost in intensive care units can be more than the equivalent of GBP1,000 (USD1,400; EUR1,100) per day. Make sure you have adequate health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
Mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis and Zika virus occur all year round.
To enter the Philippines, you must have certificates to prove you’ve had: 
  1. a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk nathnacyfzone.org.uk/factsheet/65/countries-with-risk-of-yellow-fever-transmission
  2. a polio vaccine if you are coming from certain countries with a transmission risk.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE CENTRE:  The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is the national maritime search and rescue service of the country. The Coast Guard Action Center (CGAC) at the PCG Headquarters in Manila serves as the coordinating centre for all search and rescue operations. There are twelve Coast Guard districts designated as Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centres (MRCC) within their areas of responsibility while the 59 Coast Guard stations are designated as Maritime Rescue Sub-Centres (MRSC). The detachments under these stations are designated as SAR units.
Contact details of Coast Guard districts available at www.coastguard.gov.ph/index.php/districts
PIRACY:  There is a high level of piracy and armed robbery against ships in and around the Sulu and Celebes seas. Boats travelling to and from offshore islands and dive sites are also possible targets.
HOLIDAYS:  1 January (New Year's Day); 25 February (People Power Day); 9 April (Bataan Day); Maundy Thursday; Good Friday; 1 May (Labour Day); 12 June (Independence Day); 21 August (Ninoy Aquino Day); last Monday of August (National Heroes' Day); 1 November (All Saints' Day); 30 November (Bonifacio Day); 25 December (Christmas Day); 30 December (Rizal Day); 31 December (New Year's Eve). When any holiday falls on a Sunday, the following day (Monday) is, by law, considered a legal public holiday. Employees of the Philippines Port Authority – Port of Manila, Limay Sub-Port, report for work on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
WEATHER/TIDES:  Typhoons:  Around 20 typhoons hit the Philippines each year. Most typhoons occur from June to November. There may be flooding and landslides. You should monitor the progress of approaching storms on the websites of the Philippines state weather agency www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph the Philippines Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council, www.ndrrmc.gov.ph and www.typhoon2000.ph
CONSULS:  Contact details of foreign embassies available in the Philippines available dfa.gov.ph/resources/office-of-protocol/diplomatic-and-consular-list
TELEPHONES:  Telephone numbers in the Philippines follow an open telephone numbering plan and an open dial plan. Telephone numbers are fixed at seven digits, with area codes fixed at one, two, or three digits. Mobile phone numbers are always 10 digits.
Since the Philippines employs an open dial plan, telephone numbers dialled within a given area code do not require the area code, excluding calls made from mobile phones or pay phones. When dialling other area codes, the domestic long distance access prefix 0 is added, but when dialling from overseas, this domestic prefix is not included.
BANKS:  Some ATMs accept international credit and debit cards. Shops in towns and cities usually accept international credit cards. Banks and foreign exchange outlets rarely accept travellers’ cheques. Cash in UK sterling or US dollars can be exchanged for Philippine pesos at some airports, in banks, hotels and some shops. Buying foreign currency in the Philippines can be difficult.
You may only bring up to PHP50,000.00 (approx. GBP670; USD950) into the Philippines. If you are bringing in foreign currency (cash or cheques) worth more than USD10,000, you must declare it on your foreign currency declaration form on arrival.
SHORE LEAVE:  There’s a high level of violent crime, including gun crime. Criminal gangs sometimes use terrorist tactics like kidnapping. Explosions attributed to criminal organisations have caused fatalities
There is a high incidence of street crime and robbery. You should take sensible precautions. On arrival (by air) arrange to be met at the airport, or use a hotel transfer service or an official airport taxi where they exist. Only use taxis from a reputable company. Some taxi drivers and their accomplices have robbed and harmed passengers.
Avoid displaying cash or jewellery. Beware of strangers offering drinks or confectionery. They may be spiked. Be particularly vigilant when travelling on public transport. Armed hold-ups have occurred on ‘jeepneys’ and buses, mainly in larger cities like metro Manila and Cebu. In some cases these have resulted in fatalities.
Terrorism:  There is a threat of kidnapping by terrorist groups operating in the Philippines, including the targeting of foreign nationals in rural, urban and coastal areas.
Terrorist attacks occur frequently in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. While attacks primarily target Filipino security forces, certain groups operating in these regions have pledged allegiance to Daesh and have targeted religious groups. Terrorist groups may also consider foreigners as legitimate targets for an attack.
There are multiple terrorist and militant groups operating in the Philippines, including the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Islamic State Philippines (IS-Philippines), the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
Multiple terrorist groups have the intent to carry out attacks anywhere in the Philippines, including in the capital Manila. Terrorism attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals, such as shopping malls, entertainment establishments, public transport, including airports and the metro system, places of worship.
REPATRIATION:  9(c) Seaman’s Visa:  A (9c) Seaman’s Visa is a non-immigrant visa for individuals employed as seafarers on board a vessel, seeking to enter the Philippines to work or join a vessel.
The following will be required for visa applications: 
  1. letter from employer or manning agency stating the vessel where the applicant will work and the Philippine port where the applicant will board the vessel. (Seamen are allowed to present a one-way plane ticket)
  2. notarised and duly accomplished non-immigrant visa application form (FA Form 2), available from the nearest Philippines Embassy or Consulate
  3. electronic or machine-readable passport valid for at least six months beyond authorised period of stay in the Philippines
  4. one recently taken coloured photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm.), front view, with a white background; no eyeglasses or sleeveless attire. Digital photographs are not allowed
  5. payment of visa fee (see relevant Philippine Embassy or Consulate for payment methods)
  6. a self-addressed pre-paid stamped envelope, with tracking number.
Further details of the required documents and visa application process are available from the nearest Philippines Embassy or Consulate website.
The relevant visa checklist can be obtained at immigration.gov.ph/services
9(c) Crew List Visa:  The Crew List Visa is issued for the entire crew of a registered vessel or aircraft landing in the Philippines. Personnel on the aircraft or vessel whose names are not included in the Crew List Visa or not possessing a valid individual Philippine entry visa will not be allowed to enter the Philippines.
Requirements for 9(C) Crew List Visa: 
  1. copy of vessel Registry Certificate showing vessel’s name, official number (IMO) and specification particulars
  2. copy of the passport of the vessel Master who will be commanding the vessel when it enters the Philippines. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure from the Philippines. The copy must be printed on A4-size paper
  3. copy of the Seaman’s Record Book of the vessel Master who will be commanding the vessel when it enters the Philippines. The copy of the Seaman’s Record Book/maritime credentials record must show the page with the latest log entry. The copy must be printed on A4-size paper
  4. copy of the Crew members’ national passport valid for at least six months beyond intended stay in the Philippines or completion of trip
  5. signed letter from the vessel owner, naming the vessel Master, identifying the authorised ship agent, requesting multiple entry crew list visa for the vessel’s foreign crew members. The letter must be supported with attachments showing relevant information on the vessel’s multiple port calls
  6. three printed copies of the accomplished Crew List Visa application form
  7. accomplished Supplemental Form for Crew List Visa
  8. payment of the visa fee.
Further details of the required documents and visa application process are available from the nearest Philippines Embassy or Consulate website.
The relevant visa checklist can be obtained at immigration.gov.ph/services
9(a) Temporary Visitor’s Visa:  The 9(a) Temporary Visitor's Visa is a non-immigrant visa issued to foreign nationals who come to the Philippines for a short period of time, whether for tourism, business or medical purposes. Restricted foreign nationals are required to secure an entry visa before they can enter the Philippines. Temporary Visitor’s Visa applications can be made at the nearest Philippines Embassy or consulate or online at evisa.gov.ph
Visa Waiver Program:  Nationals of the following countries do not require a visitor visa (9(a) Temporary Visitor Visa) for stays of no more than thirty days (unless stated below). Travellers must hold valid ticket for return journey to country of origin or next country of destination and a passport valid for a period of at least six months beyond the stay in the Philippines.
Andorra, Angola, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil*, Brunei Darussalam*, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia*, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Conga Rep of, Congo, DR of, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong*, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel*, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea Rep of, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau*, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia*, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar*, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome & Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore*, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand*, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, UAE, UK, USA, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam*, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
* Exceptions: 
  1. Brazil, Israel: maximum stay 59 days
  2. Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam: maximum stay 21 days
  3. Hong Kong (SAR), Macau (SAR): maximum stay 14 days
  4. Hong Kong (British National Overseas), Macau (Portuguese): maximum stay 7 days.
Nationals of all other countries intending to visit the Philippines as a tourist will be required to apply for a 9(a) Temporary Visitor Visa, obtainable from their nearest Philippines Embassy or Consulate.
Cruise Visa Waiver Program:  The Bureau of Immigration has launched a Cruise Visa Waiver program for visa-required travellers. Visa-required foreigners must apply for the waiver at the Bureau of Immigration’s e-services portal at e-services.immigration.gov.ph The waiver is only for single-entry use of tourists. It is non-convertible to other types of visa and is non-extendable. It requires the cruise passenger to arrive and depart on the same ship. Those who avail of the visa waiver cannot deviate from the cruise itinerary.
eTravel:  The eTravel System is a digital single data collection platform for passengers arriving in and departing from the Philippines, and is utilised for border control, health surveillance and economic data analysis. eTravel replaces the former One Health Pass.
The following travellers are required to register with eTravel: 
  1. arriving Filipino and foreign air/sea crew members
  2. arriving Filipino and foreign passengers
  3. departing Filipino passengers.
The eTravel System is free of charge and the official website is etravel.gov.ph
Travellers can register with eTravel within 72 hours prior to arrival into or departure from the Philippines. Once registration in eTravel is complete, the traveller must take a screenshot or download the QR code before closing or exiting the eTravel website or application. The traveller will be required to show this QR code to an airline representative prior to boarding their flight. Printed copies are acceptable.
Travellers may retrieve their personal QR code and view and update data using the “Edit Registration” tab in the eTravel website or application provided that they have not been processed and verified by the Philippines border control authorities (Bureau of Quarantine (BPQ) and Bureau of Immigration).
Travellers that are already registered in the eTravel System can simply update their details every time they travel; passengers may update their status/eTravel record under the ``Edit Registration'' tab of eTravel, while crew members under the ``Registered Crew''.
Data submitted in the eTravel System is reviewed and verified by BOQ. Travellers are issued a green QR code or a red QR code. The green QR code is issued when the submission of required information is proper and complete. Travellers issued a green QR code may proceed directly to immigration inspection upon arrival at the (Philippines) airport. A red QR code is issued when the data submitted is incomplete/incorrect, and/or during the past 30 days you are sick or have a history of exposure to a person who is sick or known to have communicable/infectious disease prior to travel. Travellers issued a red QR code will require further BOQ inspection before proceeding to immigration.
IDENTIFICATION CARDS:  You must be able to show some personal identification if requested by the police. If you want to keep your passport in a safe place, carry a printed copy of the photo page.