sDB, ASEAN, CCC,
CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Chaves RABE
chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco, and Tamuning (Guam)
consulate(s): San Diego and Susupe (Saipan)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000
mailing address: FPO 96515

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and
red with a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in
the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays
(each containing three individual rays) and in each corner of the
triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star

Economy

Economy--overview: In 1998 the Philippine economy?a mixture of
agriculture, light industry, and supporting services--deteriorated as
a result of spillover from the Asian financial crisis and poor
weather conditions. Growth fell to about -0.5% in 1998 from 5% in
1997, but is expected to recover to more than 2% in 1999. The
government has promised to continue its economic reforms to help the
Philippines match the pace of development in the newly
industrialized countries of East Asia. The strategy includes
improving infrastructure, overhauling the tax system to bolster
government revenues, and moving toward further deregulation and
privatization of the economy.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$270.5 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -0.5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,500 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 32%
services: 48% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: 32% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 33.5% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.7% (1998)

Labor force: 31.3 million (1998 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 39.8%, government and
social services 19.4%, services 17.7%, manufacturing 9.8%,
construction 5.8%, other 7.5% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate: 9.