THE PHILIPPINES

Current Political Parties and Leaders

This page was posted in May 2009 and is awaiting an update.

Filipino Political Parties and Leaders:

Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino or Kampi [Luis VILLAFUERTE];

Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA];

Lakas ng EDSA-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD [Prospero NOGRALES];

Liberal Party or LP [Manuel ROXAS];

Nacionalista Party or NP [Manuel VILLAR];

Nationalist People’s Coalition or NPC [Frisco SAN JUAN];

PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL];

People’s Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO];

Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (Force of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA];

United Opposition or UNO [Jejomar BINAY]

Continue reading “Current Political Parties and Leaders”

International Territorial Disputes

The Republic of the Philippines claims sovereignty over certain of the Spratly Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, also claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

The 2002 “Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea” has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding “code of conduct” desired by several of the disputants.

In March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands.

The Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia’s Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu’s granting the Philippine Government power of attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf

Maritime delimitation negotiations continue with Palau.

The Military in the Philippines

Military branches:
 Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP):

Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps and Coast Guard), Air Force (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
 18-25 years of age (officers 21-29) for compulsory and voluntary military service;

applicants must be single male or female Philippine citizens (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 23,547,252

females age 16-49: 23,177,487 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 19,169,298

females age 16-49: 20,636,853 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,023,431

female: 986,434 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
 0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Communications in the Philippines

Telephones – main lines in use:
 3.633 million (2006)
Telephones – mobile cellular:
 51.795 million (2007)
Telephone system:
 general assessment: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate

domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations; cellular communications now dominate the industry; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone density about 60 telephones per 100 persons

international: country code – 63; a series of submarine cables together provide connectivity to Asia, US, the Middle East, and Europe; multiple international gateways (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:
 AM 381, FM 628, shortwave 4 (2007)
Radios:
 11.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
 250 (plus 1,501 CATV networks) (2007)
Televisions:
 3.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:
 .ph
Internet hosts:
 283,579 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
 33 (2000)
Internet users:
 5.3 million (2007)