Content area
Full text
General Data
Area: 300,000 sq.km (115,860 sq. miles): 37% arable, 4% meadows and pastures, 40% forest and woodland, 19% other.
Coastline: 36,2891an (22,550 miles).
Maritime claims: Territorial waters up to 100nm from coastline; EEZ 370km (200nm); continental shelf to depth of exploitation.
Population: 84,525,639 (July 2002 est.); annual growth rate 1.99% (2002 est.). The population is 95.5% Malay, 1.5% Chinese, 3% other.
Religion: 83% Roman Catholic, 9% Protestant, 5% Muslim, 3% Buddist and others.
Languages: Pilipino (based on Tagalog) and English (both official).
Literacy rate: 94%.
Government
Long-form or legal name: Republic of the Philippines (Republika fig Pilipinas).
Type of government: Presidential Republic. Administrative divisions: 73 provinces and 61 chartered cities.
Legal system: Based on Spanish and AngloAmerican law.
Branches of government: Executive power is vested in the president as both the Head of State and Government; Cabinet appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission of Appointments; bicameral legislature (24-member Senate and 214-member House of Representatives); judiciary headed by Supreme Court.
Suffrage: Universal over age 18.
Member of: UN, ASEAN, APEC, IAEA, ICAO, Seabeds Committee and others.
Economy
GDP: US$335 billion (2001 est.), US$4,000 per capita; real growth rate 2.8% (2001 est.).
Balance of trade: Imports, US$30 billion (fo.b., 2000); exports, US$37 billion (fo.b., 2000).
Budget: Revenues, US$10.9 billion; expenditures, US$13.8 billion (2001 est.).
Defence
Structure:In September 2002, the President tasked the CoS with the formulation of a new military doctrine that would address the broad range of emerging threats.
Total active manpower: 110,000, including some 65,000 regulars.
Para-military forces: 112,500 (Philippines National Police is 40,500 strong with 12 Regional commands and 73 Provincial commands; Active Auxiliary has 72,000). The Police also has 1 Special Action Force airborne battalion.
Conscription: None,...