Government and Politics of Philippines

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

79 provinces and 115 chartered cities*; Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*, Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan City*, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Batangas City*, Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Butuan*, Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro*, Calbayog*, Caloocan*, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Canlaon*, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu, Cebu City*, Compostela, Cotabato*, Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City*, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar, General Santos*, Gingoog*, Guimaras, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga, La Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*, Lapu-Lapu*, La Union, Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao, Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*, Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Roxas*, Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Sarangani, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*, Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay

Legal System

based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Philippines dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Ferdinand MARCOS Jr. (since 30 June 2022); note - president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ferdinand MARCOS Jr. (since 30 June 2022); note - president is both chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 9 May 2022 (next to be held in May 2028) election results: results of the election - Ferdinand MARCOS Jr. elected president; percent of vote - Ferdinand MARCOS Jr. 58.7%, Leni ROBREDO 27.9%, Manny PACQUIAO 6.8%, others 6.6%; Sara DUTERTE-Carpio elected vice president with approximately 61.5% of the vote

Legislative Branch

bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate 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 Branch

Supreme Court (15 justices are appointed by the 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 Parties

Kabalikat Ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) [Ronaldo PUNO, president]; Laban Ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA, president]; Lakas Ng Edsa (National Union of Christian Democrats) or Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA, president]; Liberal Party or LP [Franklin DRILON, president]; Nacionalista [Manuel VILLAR, president]; National People's Coalition or NPC [Frisco SAN JUAN, president]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL, president]; People's Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO, president]; PROMDI [Emilio OSMENA, president]; Pwersa Ng Masang Pilipino (Party of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA, president]; Reporma [Renato DE VILLA, chairman]

Head of State

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Head of Government

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of Commission of Appointments

Elections

president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for a single six-year term; election held on 10 May 2004 (next held on 10 May 2010; Benigno AQUINO declared winner and takes office on 30 June 2010); next election to be held in May 2016

Election Results

Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected president in May 2004; percent of vote - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 40%, Fernando POE 37%, three others 23%; Benigno AQUINO elected president in May 2010; percent of vote - Benigno AQUINO 42.1%, Joseph ESTRADA 26.3%, seven others 31.6%; Jejomar BINAY elected vice president in May 2010; percent of vote Jejomar BINAY 41.6%, Manuel ROXAS 39.6%, six others 18.8%

Constitution

2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Independence

12 June 1898 (from Spain)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 12 June (1898)

International Organization Participation

APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Albert DEL ROSARIO chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 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)

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Paul W. JONES embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000, Manila mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000 telephone: [63] (2) 528-6300 FAX: [63] (2) 522-4361

Capital City

Manila

Location

14 36 N, 120 58 E

Time Difference

UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

derives from the Tagalog "may-nila" meaning "where there is indigo" and refers to the presence of indigo-yielding plants growing in the area surrounding the original settlement

The U.S. EmbassyManila 1201 Roxas Boulevard Manila, Philippines Email:acsinfomanila@state.gov Telephone (63) (2) 301-2000 Facsimile: (63) (2) 301-2017 There is a Consular Agency in Cebu City, which provides limited services to U.S. citizens, but it is not authorized to issue passports or visas. If you are requesting service at the Consular Agency, you should call ahead to verify that the service requested will be available on the day you expect to visit the Agency. U.S. Consular Agency Ground Level, Waterfront Hotel Salinas Drive Lahug, Cebu City Philippines 6000 Email: amconsularcebu@ bayandsl.com Telephone: (63)(32) 231-1261 Facsimile: (63)(32) 231-0174

Military Branches

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force

Service Age and Obligation

17-23 years of age (officers 20-24) for voluntary military service; no conscription; applicants must be single male or female Philippine citizens with either 72 college credit hours (enlisted) or a baccalaureate degree (officers)