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| TIME
ZONE | GETTING THERE | ENTRY
REGULATIONS | HEALTH REGULATION |
| AIRPORT INFORMATION | DOMESTIC TRANSPORT
| CURRENCY | CREDIT CARDS |
| DINING
CHARGES | LANGUAGES | COMMUNICATION FACILITIES
| BUSINESS & BANKING HOURS |
| CLOTHING
| ACCOMMODATIONS | TOURS AND SPECIAL INTEREST ACTIVITIES
| PUBLIC HOLIDAYS |
 TIME ZONE
GMT plus 8 hours
 
GETTING THERE
Manila, Cebu, Davao, Subic, Clark and Laoag are the international gateways. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila is the premier gateway. It is served by more than 30 airlines which fly to different cities around the world. Cebu-Mactan International Airport (MIA) in Cebu handles regular flights from Japan, Singapore, Australia , Hong Kong, the United States and other major travel markets.
Subic and Clark Airfields in Central Luzon service both chartered and cargo planes. Laoag International Airport in Ilocos Norte services flights from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.
Philippine Airlines, the country's flag carrier, links Manila to 14 cities in eight countries. Together with Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific, PAL plies the air routes of principal cities and towns all over the country. Asian Spirit services the missionary routes.
The seasports bustle with the comings and goings of major cruise liners.
ENTRY REGULATIONS
Please refer to the VISA Section for more details.
HEALTH REGULATIONS
A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travelers coming from infected areas. Travelers with infectious diseases are subject to quarantine. Children under one year of age are subject to isolation when necessary.
AIRPORT INFORMATION
Airport and Facilities: The international airports have adequate traveler facilities: tourist information and assistance centers, duty-free and souvenir shops, hotel and travel agency representatives, car rental services, banks and automated teller machines, postal service, national and international direct dial telephone booths, postal service, medical clinics and baggage deposit areas.
Customs Regulations: To facilitate customs examination, visitors are advised to fill in the Baggage and Currency Declaration Form before disembarking. Visitors are allowed to bring in the following items duty-free: reasonable quantity of clothes, jewelry and toiletries, 400 sticks of cigarettes or two tins of tobacco, and two bottles of wine or spirits of not more than one liter each.
Currency Regulations: Visitors carrying more than US$3,000 are requested to declare the amount at the Central Bank of the Philippines counter situated at the customs area. Foreign currency taken out upon departure must not exceed the amount brought in. Keep all exchange receipts for record purposes. Departing passengers may not bring out more than P1,000 in local currency.
Porterage: For passengers arriving at the NAIA, baggage carts are available for free. Porterage fee on departure is P10 per baggage. At MIA, Cebu porters are paid P5 per baggage. Tipping is additional.
Airport Transfers: There are accredited fixed rate and metered taxis at the NAIA's Arrival Area. Other airports are served by metered taxis. All airports have counters for hotel transport and limousine service.
Airport Fees: At the NAIA and MIA, the amount of P550 is charged for international departure and P100 for local departure. Paid in Philippine pesos only.
Duty-Free Shopping: Duty-free shops are located at the airports' departure and transit areas. Near NAIA is Duty-Free Fiesta Shopping Center, the country's largest duty-free outlet.
DOMESTIC TRANSPORT
By Air. Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific provide daily services to major towns and cities. Asian Spirit services the missionary routes. There are also scheduled chartered flights to major domestic destinations serviced by smaller commuter planes.
By Sea. Inter-island ships connect Manila to major ports. Ferry services connect the smaller islands.
By Land. Philtranco connects Manila to Bicol in Southern Luzon to Samar and Leyte in the Visayas and Davao in Mindanao. Metered and fixed rate taxis are widely available in key cities nationwide. Jeepneys and buses are inexpensive ways of getting around most places. In Metro Manila, the fastest way of commuting is via the elevated railway system. LRT connects northern district of Monumento to the southern district of Baclaran. MRT connects North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City. The popular means of transport in the suburbs is the tricycle (motorcycle with sidecar).
CURRENCY
The peso (P) is the unit of currency, with P1=100 centavos. Bank notes come in denominations of P10, P20, P50, P100, P500 and P1,000. Coins come in 5c, 10c, 25c, P1 and P5.
CREDIT CARDS
International credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, Bank Americard and American Express are accepted in major establishments in key cities.
DINING CHARGES
A Government Tax ranging from 12-13.5% is charged by most hotels and restaurants. A 10% service charge is also normally included. Tipping is traditional. The standard practice is 10% of the total cost.
LANGUAGE
Pilipino is the national language. English is the business language and spoken widely.
COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
The country has international direct dial phone and facsimile service, cellphone sites, internet and e-mail facilities, and worldwide express delivery service. The postal system is efficient. Most national dailies are in English. There are five commercial-run, one government-run and one religious-run national television stations. Cable TV is available in many hotels. Foreign publications are sold at major hotels, malls, and bookstores in Metro Manila and key cities.
BUSINESS AND BANKING HOURS
Private and government offices are open either from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays to Fridays. Some private companies hold Saturday office from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Most shopping malls, department stores and supermarkets are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. There are 24-hour convenience stores and drugstores. Banks are open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with automated teller machines (ATM) operating 24 hours.
CLOTHING
Light, casual clothes and sturdy walking shoes are recommended. Warmer garments are needed for mountain regions. When visiting churches and temples, propriety dictates that shorts and scanty clothing be avoided. Formal occasions require dinner jackets and ties (or the native barong tagalog) for men and cocktail dresses or long gowns for women.
ACCOMMODATIONS
In Metro Manila, key cities and major towns throughout the country, a wide selection of de luxe, standard, economy and pension-type accommodations is available. In island destinations, there is a proliferation of resorts ranging from "AAA", "AA" and "A" to "SIR" (special interest resort).
The tourism department has a Homestay Program in 15 destinations outside Manila. The program offers visitors the comfort of modest homes and an insight into Philippine life.
TOURS AND SPECIAL INTEREST ACTIVITIES
Information on tour packages, itineraries, accommodations and special interest activities like golfing, game-fishing, diving and aquasports, trekking, spelunking, and safari trips may be obtained from the Department of Tourism, Hongkong SAR Office located at 6/F. United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty , with telephone numbers (852) 2823 8544 or 2823 8500 . Information may also be obtained from the Department of Tourism-accredited travel agents and operators or from the Tourist Information Center located at the ground floor of the DOT Bldg. In Rizal Park, Manila. Telephone number s (63 2) 5242384/5241703.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
New Year's Day, January 1; Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), April 9; Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, movable; Labor Day, May 1; Independence Day, June 12; National Heroes Day, last Sunday of August; All Saints Day, November 1; Bonifacio Day, November 30; Christmas Day, December 25; Rizal Day, December 30.
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