Transportation Paracel Islands
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals:small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Islandbeing expanded
Military Paracel Islands
Military - note: occupied by China
Transnational Issues Paracel Islands
Disputes - international: occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Paraguay
Introduction Paraguay
Background:In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), Paraguaylost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. Itstagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco Warof 1932-35, large, economically important areas were won fromBolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER wasoverthrown in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in politicalinfighting in recent years, relatively free and regular presidentialelections have been held since then.
Geography Paraguay
Location:Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Geographic coordinates:23 00 S, 58 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 406,750 sq kmland: 397,300 sq kmwater: 9,450 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries: total: 3,920 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the easternportions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Terrain:grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chacoregion west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river,and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Elevation extremes:lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 mhighest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m
Natural resources:hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use: arable land: 7.47% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 92.29% (2005)
Irrigated land:670 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorlydrained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Environment - current issues:deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposalpose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; populationconcentrated in southern part of country
People Paraguay
Population:6,506,464 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37.7% (male 1,245,149/female 1,204,970)15-64 years: 57.5% (male 1,878,761/female 1,862,266)65 years and over: 4.8% (male 145,899/female 169,419) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 21.3 yearsmale: 21.1 yearsfemale: 21.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.45% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:29.1 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.49 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 24.78 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 29.4 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 19.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.1 yearsmale: 72.56 yearsfemale: 77.78 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:15,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:600 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups:mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%
Religions:Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant 10%
Languages:Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94%male: 94.9%female: 93% (2003 est.)
Government Paraguay
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Paraguayconventional short form: Paraguaylocal long form: Republica del Paraguaylocal short form: Paraguay
Government type:constitutional republic
Capital:name: Asunciongeographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*,Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion,Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari,Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Independence:14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May annually)
Constitution:promulgated 20 June 1992
Legal system:based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicialreview of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75
Executive branch:chief of state: President Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS (since 15 August2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS (since 15 August2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 27April 2003 (next to be held April 2008)election results: Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS elected president; percentof vote - Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS 37.1%, Julio Cesar Ramon FRANCOGomez 23.9%, Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella 21.3%, GuillermoSANCHEZ Guffanti 13.5%, other 4.2%
Legislative branch:bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senatorsor Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popularvote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camarade Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 27 April 2003 (next to beheld April 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 27 April 2003(next to be held April 2008)election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - ANR 16, PLRA 12, UNACE 7, PQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1;Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party- ANR 37, PLRA 21, UNACE 10, PQ 10, PPS 2note: as of January 2006, changes in party affiliation has led tothe composition of the legislature as follows: Chamber of Senators -seats by party - ANR 18, PLRA 12, UNACE 5, PQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1;Chamber of Deputies - seats by party - ANR 39, PLRA 21, UNACE 8, PQ10, PPS 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judgesappointed on the proposal of the Council of Magistrates or Consejode la Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders:Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [HerminioCACERES, interim president]; Movimiento Union Nacional de CiudadanosEticos or UNACE [Enrique GONZALEZ Quintana, acting chairman]; PatriaQuerida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADULNiella]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Luis TORALES Kennedy];Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Blas LLANO]; Partido PaisSolidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]note: Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS on leave as party leader of the ColoradoParty or ANR while serving as President of Paraguay; Lino CesarOVIEDO Silva, leader of UNACE, is currently serving a ten-yearprison term
Political pressure groups and leaders:Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Coordinating Board ofCampesino Organizations or MCNOC [Luis AGUAYO]; National Federationof Campesinos or FNC [Odilon ESPINOLA]; National Workers Central orCNT [Secretary General Juan TORRALES]; Paraguayan WorkersConfederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Centralor CUT [Jorge Guzman ALVARENGA Malgarejo]
International organization participation:CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA,MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador James SPALDING Hellmerschancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508consulate(s) general: Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:Ambassador James C. CASONembassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncionmailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001telephone: [595] (21) 213-715FAX: [595] (21) 213-728
Flag description:three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with anemblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblemis different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left)bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within agreen wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all withintwo circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the sealof the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and thewords Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the wordsREPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
Economy Paraguay
Economy - overview:Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informalsector. This sector features both reexport of imported consumergoods to neighboring countries, as well as the activities ofthousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because ofthe importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measuresare difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the populationderives its living from agricultural activity, often on asubsistence basis. The formal economy grew by an average of about 3%annually in 1995-97, but averaged near-zero growth in 1998-2001 andcontracted by 2.3 percent in 2002, in response to regional contagionand an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth disease. On a per capita basis,real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attributeParaguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty,corruption, lack of progress on structural reform, substantialinternal and external debt, and deficient infrastructure. Aided by afirmer exchange rate and perhaps a greater confidence in theeconomic policy of the DUARTE FRUTOS administration, the economyrebounded between 2003 and 2005, posting modest growth each year.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$29.11 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$7.281 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.7% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$4,600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22.4% industry: 20.7% services: 56.9% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 2.68 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 45% industry: NA% services: NA%
Unemployment rate:16% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:32% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 43.8% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:56.8 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6.8% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.334 billionexpenditures: $1.37 billion; including capital expenditures of $700million (2005 est.)
Public debt:36% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava(tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber
Industries:sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel,metallurgic, electric power
Industrial production growth rate:0% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:51.29 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 99.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0.1% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:3.528 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:44.17 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:25,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:$-255 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$3.13 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood,leather
Exports - partners:Uruguay 26.7%, Brazil 15.2%, Argentina 4.8%, Chile 4.7% (2005)
Imports:$3.832 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products,electrical machinery
Imports - partners:Brazil 26.8%, Argentina 21.1%, US 20.8%, China 9.5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.297 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$3.45 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):guarani (PYG)
Currency code:PYG
Exchange rates:guarani per US dollar - 6,178 (2005), 5,974.6 (2004), 6,424.3(2003), 5,716.3 (2002), 4,105.9 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Paraguay
Telephones - main lines in use:320,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.887 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switchingcenter is in Asunciondomestic: fair microwave radio relay networkinternational: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998)
Radios:925,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (2003)
Televisions:990,000 (2001)
Internet country code:.py
Internet hosts:13,178 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):4 (2000)
Internet users:200,000 (2005)
Transportation Paraguay
Airports: 881 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 12over 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 5914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 8691,524 to 2,437 m: 26914 to 1,523 m: 325under 914 m: 518 (2006)
Railways: total: 36 km standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 29,500 km paved: 14,986 km unpaved: 14,514 km (1999)
Waterways:3,100 km (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 21 ships (1000 GRT or over) 34,749 GRT/39,280 DWTby type: cargo 15, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1foreign-owned: 3 (Argentina 3)registered in other countries: 1 (Ecuador 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
Military Paraguay
Military branches:Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation,Marine Corps, General Naval Prefecture), Air Force (Fuerza AereaParaguay, FAP) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months forNavy (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,345,022females age 18-49: 1,342,725 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,109,166females age 18-49: 1,135,046 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 63,058females age 18-49: 62,217 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$53.1 million (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.9% (2003 est.)
Transnational Issues Paraguay
Disputes - international:unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay bordersis locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcoticstrafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations
Illicit drugs:major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which isconsumed in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country forAndean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, andEurope; corruption and some money-laundering activity, especially inthe Tri-Border Area; weak anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Peru
Introduction Peru
Background:Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andeancivilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire wascaptured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independencewas declared in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1824.After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democraticleadership in 1980, but experienced economic problems and the growthof a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in theeconomy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity.Nevertheless, the president's increasing reliance on authoritarianmeasures and an economic slump in the late 1990s generated mountingdissatisfaction with his regime, which led to his ouster in 2000. Acaretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001,which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head of government -the first democratically elected president of Quechua ethnicity. Thepresidential election of 2006 saw the return of Alan GARCIA who,after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to 1990, returnedto the presidency with promises to improve social conditions.
Geography Peru
Location:Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, betweenChile and Ecuador
Geographic coordinates:10 00 S, 76 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 1,285,220 sq kmland: 1.28 million sq kmwater: 5,220 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:total: 5,536 kmborder countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km,Colombia 1,496 km (est.), Ecuador 1,420 km
Coastline:2,414 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate tofrigid in Andes
Terrain:western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center(sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Natural resources:copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal,phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 2.88% permanent crops: 0.47% other: 96.65% (2005)
Irrigated land:12,000 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake,with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316 m peak, is theultimate source of the Amazon River
People Peru
Population:28,302,603 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 30.9% (male 4,456,195/female 4,300,233)15-64 years: 63.7% (male 9,078,123/female 8,961,981)65 years and over: 5.3% (male 709,763/female 796,308) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 25.3 yearsmale: 25 yearsfemale: 25.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.32% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:20.48 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 30.94 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 33.49 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 28.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.84 yearsmale: 68.05 yearsfemale: 71.71 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.51 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:82,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:4,200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Peruvian(s)adjective: Peruvian
Ethnic groups:Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Religions:Roman Catholic 81%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other Christian0.7%, other 0.6%, unspecified or none 16.3% (2003 est.)
Languages:Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large numberof minor Amazonian languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 87.7%male: 93.5%female: 82.1% (2004 est.)
Government Peru
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Peruconventional short form: Perulocal long form: Republica del Perulocal short form: Peru
Government type:constitutional republic
Capital:name: Limageographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 Wtime difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during StandardTime)
Administrative divisions:25 regions (regiones, singular - region) and 1 province*(provincia); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho,Cajamarca, Callao, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, LaLibertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Lima*, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua,Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali
Independence:28 July 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
Constitution:31 December 1993
Legal system:based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; note- members of the military and national police may not vote
Executive branch:chief of state: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July 2006);First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas; Second Vice PresidentLourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July 2006); note - the presidentis both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July2006); First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas; Second VicePresident Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July 2006)note: Prime Minister Jorge DEL CASTILLO Galvez (since 28 August2006) does not exercise executive power; this power is in the handsof the presidentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); presidential and congressionalelections held 9 April 2006, with runoff election held 4 June 2006;next to be held April 2011election results: Alan GARCIA elected president in runoff election;percent of vote - Alan GARCIA 52.5%, Ollanta HUMALA Tasso 47.5%
Legislative branch:unicameral Congress of the Republic of Peru or Congreso de laRepublica del Peru (120 seats; members are elected by popular voteto serve five-year terms)elections: last held 9 April 2006 (next to be held April 2011)election results: percent of vote by party - UPP 21.2%, PAP 20.6%,UN 15.3%, AF 13.1%, FC 7.1%, PP 4.1%, RN 4.0%; seats by party - UPP45, PAP 36, UN 17, AF 13, FC 5, PP 2, RN 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges areappointed by the National Council of the Judiciary)
Political parties and leaders:Alliance For Progress (Alianza Para El Progreso) [Cesar ACUNAPeralta]; Alliance For The Future (Alianza Por El Futuro) or AF - acoalition of pro-FUJIMORI parties including Cambio 90, NuevaMayoria, and Si Cumple [Martha CHAVEZ Cossio]; Centrist Front(Frente Del Centro) or FC - a coalition of Accion Popular, SomosPeru, and Coordinadora Nacional de Independientes [Valentin PANIAGUACorazoa]; Independent Moralizing Front (Frente IndependienteMoralizador) or FIM [Fernando OLIVERA Vega]; Nationalist PartyUniting Peru (Partido Nacionalista Uniendo al Peru) or UPP - acoalition of Union for Peru (UPP) and Peruvian Nationalist Party(PNP) [Ollanta HUMALA Tasso]; National Restoration (RestauracionNacional) or RN [Humberto LAY Sun]; National Unity (Unidad Nacional)or UN [Lourdes FLORES Nano]; Peru Possible (Peru Posible) or PP[David WAISMAN]; Peruvian Aprista Party (Partido Aprista Peruano) orPAP - also referred to by its original name Alianza PopularRevolucionaria Americana or APRA [Alan GARCIA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path [Abimael GUZMANReynoso (imprisoned), Gabriel MACARIO (top leader at-large)]; TupacAmaru Revolutionary Movement or MRTA [Victor POLAY (imprisoned),Hugo AVALLENEDA Valdez (top leader at-large)]
International organization participation:APEC, CAN, CSN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA,Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Felipe ORTIZ de Zevalloschancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Hartford, Houston,Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco,Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador J. Curtis STRUBLEembassy: Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17s/n, Surco, Lima 33mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima),APO AA 34031-5000telephone: [51] (1) 434-3000FAX: [51] (1) 618-2397
Flag description:three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and redwith the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of armsfeatures a shield bearing a vicuna, cinchona tree (the source ofquinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, allframed by a green wreath
Economy Peru
Economy - overview:Peru's economy reflects its varied geography - an arid coastalregion, the Andes further inland, and tropical lands borderingColombia and Brazil. Abundant mineral resources are found in themountainous areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellentfishing grounds. However, overdependence on minerals and metalssubjects the economy to fluctuations in world prices, and a lack ofinfrastructure deters trade and investment. After several years ofinconsistent economic performance, the Peruvian economy grew by morethan 4 percent per year during the period 2002-2005, with a stableexchange rate and low inflation. Risk premiums on Peruvian bonds onsecondary markets reached historically low levels in late 2004,reflecting investor optimism regarding the government's prudentfiscal policies and openness to trade and investment. Despite thestrong macroeconomic performance, the TOLEDO administration remainedunpopular in 2005, and unemployment and poverty have stayedpersistently high. Economic growth will be driven by the Camiseanatural gas megaproject and by exports of minerals, textiles, andagricultural products. Peru is expected to sign a free-tradeagreement with the United States in early 2006.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$167.3 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$69.81 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$6,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 27% services: 65% (2003 est.)
Labor force: 9.06 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 9% industry: 18% services: 73% (2001)
Unemployment rate:7.6% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:54% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:49.8 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.6% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $21.87 billionexpenditures: $22.47 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.8billion for general government, but excluding private enterprises(2005 est.)
Public debt:38% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains, grapes,oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish
Industries:mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication;petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas; fishing and fishprocessing, textiles, clothing, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:6.9% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:22.68 billion kWh (2003 est.)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 14.5% hydro: 84.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0.8% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:21.09 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:120,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:157,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:49,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:370 million bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:560 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:910 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:247.1 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:$1.03 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$15.95 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee
Exports - partners:US 31.1%, China 10.8%, Chile 6.6%, Canada 5.9%, Switzerland 4.6%(2005)
Imports:$12.15 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles,iron and steel, wheat, paper
Imports - partners:US 18.2%, China 8.5%, Brazil 8%, Ecuador 7.4%, Colombia 6.1%,Argentina 5.1%, Chile 5.1%, Venezuela 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$14.18 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$30.94 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$491 million (2002)
Currency (code):nuevo sol (PEN)
Currency code:PEN
Exchange rates:nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.2958 (2005), 3.4132 (2004), 3.4785(2003), 3.5165 (2002), 3.5068 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Peru
Telephones - main lines in use:2,250,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:5.583 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate for most requirementsdomestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domesticsatellite system with 12 earth stationsinternational: country code - 51; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); Pan American submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations:AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)
Radios:6.65 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:3.06 million (1997)
Internet country code:.pe
Internet hosts:269,981 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):10 (2000)
Internet users:4.6 million (2005)
Transportation Peru
Airports: 268 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 54 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 214 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 63 under 914 m: 124 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 983 km; gas/lpg 61 km; liquid natural gas 106 km; liquidpetroleum gas 517 km; oil 1,754 km; refined products 13 km (2006)
Railways:total: 3,462 kmstandard gauge: 2,962 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 500 km 0.914-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 78,672 kmpaved: 10,314 km (including 276 km of expressways)unpaved: 68,358 km (2003)
Waterways:8,808 kmnote: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 kmof Lago Titicaca (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 4 ships (1000 GRT or over) 38,954 GRT/62,255 DWTby type: cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1foreign-owned: 1 (US 1)registered in other countries: 15 (Panama 15) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Callao, Iquitos, Matarani, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas; note - Iquitos,Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are on the upper reaches of the Amazon andits tributaries
Military Peru
Military branches:Peruvian Army (Ejercito Peruano), Peruvian Navy (Marina de Guerradel Peru; includes naval air, naval infantry, and coast guard),Peruvian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru, FAP)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service (1999)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 6,647,874females age 18-49: 6,544,408 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 4,938,417females age 18-49: 5,278,511 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 277,105females age 18-49: 269,799 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$829.3 million (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (2003 est.)
Transnational Issues Peru
Disputes - international:Chile and Ecuador rejected Peru's November 2005 unilateral law toshift the axis of their joint treaty-defined maritime boundary alongthe parallel of latitude to an equidistance line which favors Peru;organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia have penetratedPeru's shared border; Peru does not support Bolivia's claim torestore maritime access through a sovereign corridor through Chilealong the Peruvian border
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 60,000 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are indigenouspeasants in Andean and Amazonian regions) (2005)
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Peru is primarily a source country for women andchildren trafficked internally for the purposes of sexualexploitation and forced domestic labor; most victims are girls andyoung women moved internally from rural to urban areas, or from cityto city, and lured or coerced into prostitution in nightclubs, bars,and brothels; Peruvians have also been trafficked for sexualexploitation to Spain, Japan, the United States, and Venezuela; thegovernment acknowledges that sex tourism occurs, particularly in theAmazon region of the countrytier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Peru is placed on the Tier 2 WatchList for failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to eliminatetrafficking in 2005
Illicit drugs:until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer; cultivation ofcoca in Peru fell 15% to 31,150 hectares between 2002 and the end of2003; much of the cocaine base is shipped to neighboring Colombiafor processing into cocaine, while finished cocaine is shipped outfrom Pacific ports to the international drug market; increasingamounts of base and finished cocaine, however, are being moved toBrazil and Bolivia for use in the Southern Cone or transshipped toEurope and Africa
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Philippines
Introduction Philippines
Background:The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16thcentury; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following theSpanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became aself-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected President andwas tasked with preparing the country for independence after a10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japaneseoccupation during WWII, and US forces and Filipinos fought togetherduring 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Philippinesattained their independence. The 20-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOSended in 1986, when a widespread popular rebellion forced him intoexile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency washampered by several coup attempts, which prevented a return to fullpolitical stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS waselected president in 1992 and his administration was marked bygreater stability and progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the USclosed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA waselected president in 1998, but was succeeded by his vice-president,Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormyimpeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and widespreaddemonstrations led to his ouster. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to asix-year term in May 2004. The Philippine Government faces threatsfrom armed communist insurgencies and from Muslim separatists in thesouth.
Geography Philippines
Location:Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and theSouth China Sea, east of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:13 00 N, 122 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 300,000 sq kmland: 298,170 sq kmwater: 1,830 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:36,289 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm fromcoastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has alsoclaimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm inbreadthexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwestmonsoon (May to October)
Terrain:mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Natural resources: timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 16.67% other: 64.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:15,500 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five tosix cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes;destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
Environment - current issues: uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands; favorablylocated in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies:the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, andLuzon Strait
People Philippines
Population:89,468,677 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 35% (male 15,961,365/female 15,340,065)15-64 years: 61% (male 27,173,919/female 27,362,736)65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,576,089/female 2,054,503) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 22.5 yearsmale: 22 yearsfemale: 23 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.8% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:24.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:5.41 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 22.81 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 25.59 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 19.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.21 yearsmale: 67.32 yearsfemale: 73.24 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.11 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:9,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks insome locationsanimal contact disease: rabies (2005)
Nationality:noun: Filipino(s)adjective: Philippine
Ethnic groups:Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%,Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000census)
Religions:Roman Catholic 80.9%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%,Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, Muslim 5%, other 1.8%,unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)
Languages:two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English;eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon orIlonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.6%male: 92.5%female: 92.7% (2002)
Government Philippines
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of the Philippinesconventional short form: Philippineslocal long form: Republika ng Pilipinaslocal short form: Pilipinas
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Manilageographic coordinates: 14 35 N, 121 00 Etime difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:79 provinces and 117 chartered citiesprovinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay,Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas,Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, CamarinesNorte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu,Compostela, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, EasternSamar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela,Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La Union, Leyte,Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, MindoroOriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain Province,Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar,Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon,Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Siquijor, Sorsogon, SouthCotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte,Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte,Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugaychartered cities: Alaminos, Angeles, Antipolo, Bacolod, Bago,Baguio, Bais, Balanga, Batangas, Bayawan, Bislig, Butuan,Cabanatuan, Cadiz, Cagayan de Oro, Calamba, Calapan, Calbayog,Candon, Canlaon, Cauayan, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Danao,Dapitan, Davao, Digos, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Escalante, Gapan, GeneralSantos, Gingoog, Himamaylan, Iligan, Iloilo, Isabela, Iriga,Kabankalan, Kalookan, Kidapawan, Koronadal, La Carlota, Laoag,Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Legazpi, Ligao, Lipa, Lucena, Maasin, Makati,Malabon, Malaybalay, Malolos, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marawi,Markina, Masbate, Muntinlupa, Munoz, Naga, Olongapo, Ormoc,Oroquieta, Ozamis, Pagadian, Palayan, Panabo, Paranaque, Pasay,Pasig, Passi, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, Roxas, Sagay, Samal, SanCarlos (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos (in Pangasinan), SanFernando (in La Union), San Fernando (in Pampanga), San Jose, SanJose del Monte, San Pablo, Santa Rosa, Santiago, Silay, Sipalay,Sorsogon, Surigao, Tabaco, Tacloban, Tacurong, Tagaytay, Tagbilaran,Taguig, Tagum, Talisay (in Cebu), Talisay (in Negros Oriental),Tanauan, Tangub, Tanjay, Tarlac, Toledo, Tuguegarao, Trece Martires,Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela, Victorias, Vigan, Zamboanga
Independence:12 June 1898 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 was date ofdeclaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date ofindependence from US
Constitution:2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
Legal system:based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January2001); note - president is both chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20January 2001); note - president is both chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent ofCommission of Appointmentselections: president and vice president (Manuel "Noli" DE CASTRO)elected on separate tickets by popular vote for a single six-yearterm; election last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2010)election results: results of the election - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYOelected president; percent of vote - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 40%,Fernando POE 37%, three others 23%
Legislative branch:bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected at largeby popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House ofRepresentatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (212 membersrepresenting districts plus 24 sectoral party-list members; memberselected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note - theConstitution prohibits the House of Representatives from having morethan 250 members)elections: Senate - last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May2007); House of Representatives - elections last held 10 May 2004(next to be held in May 2007)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - Lakas 30%, LP13%, KNP 13%, independents 17%, others 27%; seats by party - Lakas7, LP 3, KNP (coalition) 3, independents 4, others 6; note - thereare 23 rather than 24 sitting senators because one senator waselected vice president; House of Representatives - percent of voteby party - NA; seats by party - Lakas 93, NPC 53, LP 34, LDP 11,others 20; party-listers 24 (2004)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (15 justices are appointed by the president on therecommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council and serve until 70years of age); Court of Appeals; Sandigan-bayan (special court forhearing corruption cases of government officials)
Political parties and leaders:Kabalikat Ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) [Ronaldo PUNO]; Laban NgDemokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP[Edgardo ANGARA]; Lakas Ng Edsa (National Union of ChristianDemocrats) or Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA]; Liberal Party or LP [FranklinDRILON/Eli QUINTO]; Nacionalista [Manuel VILLAR]; National People'sCoalition or NPC [Frisco SAN JUAN]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL];People's Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO]; PROMDI [EmilioOSMENA]; Pwersa Ng Masang Pilipino (Party of the Philippine Masses)or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA]; Reporma [Renato DE VILLA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:AKBAYAN [Reps. Etta ROSALES, Mario AGUJA, and RisaHONTIVEROS-BARAQUIEL]; ALAGAD [Rep. Rodante MARROLITA]; ALIF [Rep.Acmad TOMAWIS]; An Waray [Rep. Horencio NOEL]; Anak Mindanao [MujivHATAMIN]; ANAKPAWIS [Reps. Crispin BELTRAN and Rafael MARIANO]; APEC[Reps. Ernesto PABLO, Edgar VALDEZ]; Association of PhilippineElectric Cooperatives (APEC) [Reps. Edgar VALDEZ, Ernesto PABLO, andSunny Rose MADAMBA]; AVE [Rep. Eulogio MAGSAYSAY]; Bayan Muna [Reps.Satur OCAMPO, Joel VIRADOR, and Teodoro CASINO, Jr.]; BUHAY [Reps.Rene VELARDE and Hans Christian SENERES]; BUTIL [Rep. BenjaminCRUZ]; CIBAC [Rep. Emmanuel Joel VILLANUEVA]; COOP-NATCO [Rep.Guillermo CUA]; GABRIELA [Rep. Liza MAZA]; Partido Ng Manggagawa[Rep. Renato MAGTUBO]; Veterans Federation of the Philippines [Rep.Ernesto GIDAYA] (2006)
International organization participation:APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA,MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, PIF (partner), UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Willy C. GAAchancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300FAX: [1] (202) 328-7614consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, SanFrancisco, San Jose (Northern Mariana Islands), Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000, Manila mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000 telephone: [63] (2) 528-6300 FAX: [63] (2) 522-4361