GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE PHILIPPINES

  • ENTRY REGULATIONS

    ENTRY REGULATIONS

    A valid passport is required for entry to the Philippines 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 is necessary and is valid for 59 days. Permits and visas can be obtained from the Philippine Embassies and Consulates.

  • GETTING THERE

    GETTING THERE

    A valid passport is required for entry to the Philippines 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 is necessary and is valid for 59 days. Permits and visas can be obtained from the Philippine Embassies and Consulates.

  • CUSTOMS

    CUSTOMS

    Visitors are advised to fill in the Baggage Declaration Form before disembarking to facilitate Customs examination.

  • WHAT TO WEAR

    WHAT TO WEAR

    Light, casual clothes are recommended. On formal occasions, a dinner jacket and tie may be worn for men and cocktail dress or long gowns for women.

  • Medical Services

    MEDICAL SERVICES

    Hospitals in the country are equipped with modern facilities to meet any medical need. Most hotels and resorts provide medical assistance.

  • ELECTRICAL CURRENT

    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.

  • CLIMATE

    CLIMATE

    March to May is hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 32° C. June to October is rainy. November to February is cool, temperatures range from 22 to 28° C. Average humidity year-round is 77%.

  • COMMUNICATION FACILITIES

    COMMUNICATION FACILITIES

    The Philippines has modern and efficient communication services such as international direct dialing, facsimile, email and internet facilities, worldwide express delivery and postal services.

  • LANGUAGE

    LANGUAGE

    Filipino is the national language. The Philippines is also the third largest English-speaking country in the world. Thus, English is widely spoken and is extensively used in business and government.

  • TIPPING

    TIPPING

    Tipping is generally expected for any services. The standard practice is 10% of the total bill. However, most hotels and restaurants include a 10% service charge, making additional tipping optional.

  • AIRPORT FACILITIES

    AIRPORT FACILITIES

    It is served by the Ninoy Aquino International Airport which is 6 kms from the SMX Manila, Mall of Asia Complex. The international airports have adequate traveler facilities: duty-free shopping centers, souvenir shops, tourist information and assistance counter, hotel and travel agency representatives, car rental services, banks and automated teller machines, postal service, national and international direct dial telephone booths, medical clinic and baggage deposit areas.

eTravel

eTravel is an online portal of the Philippine National Government for the implementation of an electronic passenger registration and Health Declaration Checklist (HDC) and is being used by the Border Control Authorities (Bureau of Quarantine [BOQ], Bureau of Immigration[BI], Bureau of Customs [BOC],....) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) in carrying out Border Security and Tourism-related Economic Analytics for all inbound international travelers to the Philippines.

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Banking & Currency Overview

  • BUSINESS AND BANKING HOURS

    BUSINESS AND BANKING HOURS

    Private and government offices are open either from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. Some private companies hold office on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Most shopping malls, department stores and supermarkets are open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily. There are 24-hour convenience stores and drugstores. Banks are open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, with automated teller machines (ATM) operating 24 hours.

  • CURRENCY AND CREDIT CARDS

    CURRENCY AND CREDIT CARDS

    Unit of currency: Philippine peso (P). Bills are in: P 20, P 50, P 100, P 200, P 500, and P 1,000. Coins come in 5, 10, 25 centavo and P1, P5, P10 peso denominations. Exchange rate is approximately USD 1 to P 56. 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. International credit cards such as Visa, Diners Club, Mastercard, American Express Card and JCB are accepted in major establishments. Hide

  • INSURANCE

    INSURANCE

    The congress organizers cannot accept liability for personal injuries sustained, or for loss or damage of property belonging to congress participants or their accompanying persons, either during the congress or during tours. It is therefore recommended that participants and accompanying persons arrange for appropriate travel and health insurance before travelling.

Safety

For those who have not previously been to the Philippines and are perhaps concerned about their personal safety, we wish to assure all delegates that Manila, Philippines is like any other major city in the world, where common sense will ensure a trouble-free and enjoyable congress and vacation.

  • Do not leave luggage or valuables unattended.
  • Use the safety deposit boxes provided by most hotels.
  • Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
  • Keep cash, credit cards, and identification documents in a secure place.