Philippines travel info

General information for the traveller new to Philippines.

Visas
All visitors to the Philippines must hold a passport valid for at least one year and should also be in possession of a return or onward ticket. No visa is required for citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the European Union and the United States for visits of up to 21 days. Holders of Taiwanese Passports and Hong Kong Certificates of Identity will need a special entry permit. Citizens of these and other countries should check with the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate regarding visa requirements.

Customs
Visitors carrying more than $3,000 must declare the amount at customs on arrival. On departure, foreign currency taken out of the country must not exceed the amount brought in.

Visitors may take the following into the Philippines duty free:

• Alcoholic beverages - 2 litres of alcohol
• Tobacco - 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco

Penalties for carrying or trafficking illegal drugs are extremely severe, ranging from long prison sentences to the death penalty.

Time
Philippines Time: GMT + 8 hours

Currency
Peso (P) - Check current exchange rates
100 centavos = 1 Peso
Notes issued: P1,000, P500, P100, P50, P20, P10
Coins issued: P5, P2, P1, 50c, 25c, 10c, 5c, 1c

Tipping
Tipping is an accepted practice and 10% is usual if service has not been added.
There should be a list of rates posted at the airport for porter charges and hotel porters should receive about P5 - 10 per bag.

Banking Hours
Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 3.00 pm

Language
Filipino, is the national language of the Philippines, although many other regional dialects are also spoken - Tagalog is one of the most widely used. English is commonly spoken and is often used in business transactions.

Telephone
The international dialling code for the Philippines is 63
When making international telephone calls from the Philippines first dial 00 +country code + area code + telephone number

Local Telephone Codes

Angeles	455
Baguio City	74
Batangas	43
Boracay	36
Cebu City	32
Davao	82
Iligan City	63
Iloilo City	33
Lucena	42
Manila, Quezon City, Pasay	2
Masbate	56
Puerto Princesa	48
San Pablo	93
Zamboanga	62

Electricity
220/110 V AC, 60 cycles
Flat 2 or 3 pin plugs are most commonly used, so take a universal adapter. In certain less developed areas blackouts - locally known as "brownouts" are common, therefore a torch would be useful.

Water
Water from the tap is not safe to drink and ice cubes should be avoided. Stick to bottled water, which is widely available.

Health
Outside of major cities, sometimes medical services are inadequate and health insurance covering evacuation is recommended. Consider inoculations against typhoid, polio, hepatitis A, Japanese encephalitis and take advice regarding anti-malarials. Dengue fever is also a problem in certain areas of the Philippines. It is always best to check the current situation and any vaccination requirements with a doctor when planning your trip.

International Airports

• Cebu - Mactan
• Davao
• Manila - Ninoy Aquino

International Airport Departure Tax
P550

Domestic Airports
In addition to the above international, there are numerous domestic airports dotted around the Philippines, some of which include:

• Bagabag
• Calapan
• Caticlan
• Davao
• El Nido
• Kalibo
• Manila
• Mamburao
• San Jose
• Puerto Princesa

Domestic Airport Departure Tax
P100

Etiquette/Dress Code
A great emphasis is placed on politeness and a soft tone should always be maintained during conversation. As with many Asian countries, situations should be avoided which would cause a loss of "face". Try to steer clear of confrontation as it is not appreciated and will only worsen rather than resolve any situation. Fixed eye contact between men should also be avoided as this can be considered aggressive.

Gestures, rather than words, are sometimes used to convey messages; the raising of an eyebrow coupled with a smile can mean "hello" or "yes". Dress is fairly relaxed throughout the Philippines, although it is slightly more formal in Manila City.

Diplomatic Missions
Many countries have representative offices and consulates in the Philippines.

Useful Sources of Information
Further information on Filipino culture and tourist attractions.

The Philippines Department of Tourism-OnLine
http://www.tourism.gov.ph/welcome.htm

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