Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June
1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June
1998); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June
1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June
1998); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the
Commission of Appointments
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 11 May 1998
(next to be held 11 May 2004)
election results: Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA elected president; percent
of vote—NA%; Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected vice president; percent
of vote—NA%
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of
the Senate or Senado (24 seats—one-half elected every three years;
members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the
House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (221 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note—an
additional 50 members may be appointed by the president)
elections: Senate—last held 11 May 1998 (next to be held 11 May
2001); House of Representatives—elections last held 11 May 1998
(next to be held 11 May 2001)
election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
party—LAMP 12, Lakas 5, PRP 2, LP 1, other 3; note—the Senate now
has only 23 members with one seat vacated when Gloria
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO became vice president; the seat can only be filled
by election and is likely to remain open until the next regular
election in 2001; House of Representatives—percent of vote by
party—NA; seats by party—LAMP 135, Lakas 37, LP 13, Aksyon
Demokratiko 1, other 35
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed for
four-year terms by the president on the recommendation of the
Judicial and Bar Council
Political parties and leaders: Laban Ng Masang Pilipino or LAMP
Eduardo "Danding" COJUANGO, chairman, Edgardo ANGARA, party
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, secretary general, Jose DE VENECIA, party
SALONGA, chairman, Florencio ABAD, secretary general]; People's
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, 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