Customs regulations
The following can be imported duty-free to the Philippines: alcoholic beverages – 2 bottles, cigarettes – 400 pcs, or cigars – 50 pcs, or tobacco – 250 g, food, household items and items – within the limits of personal needs.
It is forbidden to import: firearms and objects that imitate them, explosives, ammunition, written or printed materials of an anti-state or inhuman nature, materials, photographs, engravings and other images of a pornographic nature, any drugs and their components, antiques, paintings, products made of gold, wood, ivory bones.
Export is allowed: cigarettes – 200 pcs, or cigars – 50 pcs, or tobacco – 500 g of alcoholic beverages – 0.95 l.
General information
An island state, the second largest archipelago, consisting of 7107 islands, of which only 2000 are inhabited. The Philippine archipelago was discovered in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan (the tomb of Magellan is located on Mactan Island).
The Republic of the Philippines is located in the Western Pacific between the southern tip of China and the northern islands of Borneo. The length of the archipelago from north to south is about 1800 km, and from west to east – 1100 km. In the east and northeast, the shores of the Philippines are washed by the Philippine Sea, and in the west and northwest by the South China Sea, in the south by the Sulawesi Sea. Land area – 300 thousand square meters. km, the length of the coastline is 36,290 km. There are more than 12,000 plants and more than 500 species of birds in the Philippines, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. More than 580 species of corals live in the seas surrounding the Philippines. 12,000 species of shellfish and 1,200 species of coral fish.
The country’s gateway is the capital Manila, with a population of over 10 million. The largest resort islands: Luzon, Mindanao, Palawan, Cebu, Boracay.
Population: 84 million people. Filipinos belong to the Malay race, there are immigrants from Spain, China and other countries.
Transport
Manila has an unusual mode of transport, which, perhaps, you will not find anywhere else. After the Second World War, the Americans intended to drown their jeeps in the ocean, but then they sold them to the Filipinos – for $ 200 per car. And now, colorfully painted jeeps, converted to transport passengers into “route taxis”, drive through the streets of Manila and other Philippine cities. The fare in them is low, and therefore they never stand idle.
LRT – Light Rail Transit (“light” railway) – the best way to get into the city center in Manila. This is a relatively inexpensive and very fast mode of transport. In addition, PRN (Philippine National Railways) is the best choice for those who wish to travel around the island of Luzon. The railway covers approximately 1,060 km of the Philippines.
In order to travel between the islands, you can use the services of a ferry or plane.Philippines Airlines has 43 provincial airports.Aerolift Philippines and Pacific Airways are relatively small airlines serving tourists in more remote areas.Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), is located only a kilometer from Manila. NAIA has many amenities ranging from a medical clinic and banks to a postal service, DUTJ FREE duty free shops, gift shops, tourist information centers, and more.
Inter-island ships connect Manila with other major ports on the island. The most important Philippine seaports are Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga.
Money
The national currency is the Philippine peso. The exchange rate is about 45 pesos to 1 US dollar.
Time
Philippine time is ahead of Moscow by 5 hours.
Climate
The climate in the Philippines is tropical monsoonal. The best time to visit is from November to May. The average temperature during this period is 26-30 C. The rainy season is from June to October.
Language
There are over 110 dialects in the Philippines. The official language is Tagalog, and English is also widely spoken.
Religion
The only Catholic state in Asia, approximately 93% of the population are Catholics, the rest of the population are Muslims, Buddhists, etc.
When problems occur
Embassy of the Russian Federation in Manila: Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Philippines: 1245 Acacia Road, Dasmarinas VilIage, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines, Phone: (632) 893-01-90
Consular Section – Phone: (632) 810-95- 81, Fax: (632) 810-95-81.
Philippines Entry Rules
RULES FOR ENTRY TO THE PHILIPPINES
The entry procedure for vaccinated tourists is required:
– availability of a certificate of completion of the full course of vaccination (none of the Russian vaccines is recognized). Children under the age of 12 must follow their parents’ quarantine protocols, children aged 12 and over must also have a certificate of vaccination. In the absence of such, protocols for non-vaccinated travelers must be followed.
– have a negative PCR test result taken no more than 48 hours before departure
– Possession of travel insurance to cover the costs of COVID 19 treatment with a minimum coverage of USD 35,000 for the period of stay in the Philippines
– register on the site www.onehealthpass.com.ph and receive a QR CODE ONE HEALTH PASS
Entry procedure for underage tourists
– not vaccinated
– children over 12 years of age must have a certificate of the full course of vaccination.
for non-vaccinated tourists it is necessary:
– have a negative PCR test result taken no more than 48 hours before departure
– observe 5 nights quarantine in a specialized hotel
LIST OF APPROVED VACCINES
Pfizer BioNTech/ Comirnaty COVID 19 mRNA Vaccine (nucleoside)
ChAdOx1 S[recombinant] (COVID 19 Vaccine AstraZeneca)
SARS CoV 2 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated [CoronaVac]
Janssen COVID 19 Vaccine (Ad26.COV2 S (recombinant)
Whole Virion, Inactivated Corona Virus Vaccine
COVID 19 mRNA Vaccine (nucleoside modified) [COVID 19 Vaccine Moderna]
COVID 19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated [COVID 19 Vaccine Sinopharm]
SARS CoV 2 rS Protein Nanoparticle Vaccine [Covovax]
REQUIREMENTS AND SECURITY PROTOCOLS FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
– Each island (city, district) has its own entry requirements, which are set by the local government (LGU). The rule must be specified upon request.
– you must provide a passport, vaccination certificate, confirmed booking of air tickets
– compliance with sanitary and hygienic requirements (social distance, wearing masks, sanitizing hands, controlling body temperature, etc.)