AD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNTAET,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ernesto MACEDA
chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: (202) 467-9300
FAX: (202) 328-7614
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco, and Tamuning (Guam)
consulate(s): San Diego and San Jose (Saipan)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000
mailing address: FPO 96515
telephone: (2) 523-1001
FAX: (2) 522-4361

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

@Philippines: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
recovered to 2.9% 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 - $282 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 2.9% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,600 (1999 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): 6.8% (1999)

Labor force: 32 million (1999 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: 9.6% (October 1998)

Budget:
revenues: $14.5 billion
expenditures: $12.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)

Industries: textile