Filippinerna

Översikt

The principle security threat to the Filipino government and its citizens is the collection of insurgent groups throughout the country. The main threat groups are situated in the country’s southern islands, where regional jihadist groups Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) operate. Overlapping them in Mindanao is a nationalist-Islamist insurgency led by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which struck a major peace deal with the government in 2012. The Maoist New People’s Army (NPA) is the country’s largest insurgent group with membership estimated around 5,000-15,000 and presence in possibly 69 out of country’s 81 provinces. On the criminal front, President Rodrigo Duterte also launched a large-scale drug war upon taking office in 2016 to which there were reports of rampant extra-judicial killings and abuses. 

Hälsa, sjukdomar och vaccination

Travellers are advised to consult a travel health specialist or general practitioner (GP) to obtain the latest information with regards to what vaccines are recommended about 4-8 weeks prior to departing for Philippines. Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before your trip. The following vaccinations are recommended: measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, polio and influenza. Travellers might also consider the vaccinations for Hepatitis B and rabies, according to the specifics of their travel.

The Philippines has confirmed Dengue cases nationally with recent cases reported from Iloilo, Central Visayas, and Cebu Province. Dengue occurs nationally year-round with peak transmission during the rainy season, from May to November.

Chikungunya is endemic in the Philippines, most cases have been reported in the centre and south of the country. Insect protection measures are essential.

Malaria risk is present throughout the Philippines, excluding the following areas: Metropolitan Manila, the islands of Bohol, Catanduanes, Cebu, Leyte, and Samar.

There is risk of ongoing Zika virus transmission in the Philippines. Travellers should take meticulous anti-mosquito bite measures during the daytime. Pregnant women and those considering becoming pregnant should avoid travel to the country.

A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from a country with risk of Yellow Fever transmission.

Risk of Japanese Encephalitis is present on all islands and transmission occurs year-round.

Risk of Schistosomiasis is present in the Irosin-Juban valley and in the municipality of Gonzaga; area surrounding Lake Naujan; the entire western coastal area from Allen to Basey and along the northern coast from Lavezares to Palapag, the entire Leyte province except for the southern quarter; northern coastal areas of Talibon and Trinidad in Bohol province; municipality of Calatrava in Negros Occidental province; villages along the Bay of Panquil, the Agusan River valley, the northern coastal peninsual area from Butuan to Tago, the area around Davao and Tagum city. Cases have been also reported from South Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces.

Typhoid fever vaccination is recommended when going outside the areas usually visited by tourists such as traveling extensively in the interior of the country, for persons on working assignments in remote areas, or travellers visiting for extended periods of time.

The Philippines has one of the lowest rates of HIV, yet has one of the fast growing worldwide in terms of rate of increase in infections of HIV/AIDS, with an estimated 68.000 people living with HIV/AIDS.

Travellers should be aware of the risks associated with travellers’ ailments such as diarrhoea. Travellers must take all necessary precautions when drinking water or eating food within the country and only drink water from sealed bottles obtained from a reputable source or water that has been filtered and boiled.

It is advisable to bring anti-diarrhoea medication and oral rehydration salts to prevent dehydration.

Tuberculosis is highly endemic and a major public health problem in the Philippines.

As of 20 November 2019, authorities have banned the use of electronic cigarettes in public places nationwide and offenders may risk arrest if caught vaping.  

Hospitals in the capital provide high quality medical care; outside it, this may be difficult to find. A down payment might be required upon the time of admission. There have been cases in both public and private hospitals where lifesaving treatments and medicine have been withheld, and staff have refused to discharge patients for not being able to pay their medical expenses.

Pass

A passport valid for at least six months after your date of intended departure will be required to enter the Philippines.

Visum

Visas are not normally needed for entry into the Philippines for an initial period of 30 days. The website for the Department of Foreign Affairs (http://www.dfa.gov.ph/consular/visa.htm) contains a list of 146 countries that do not require a visa for a stay not longer than 21 days.