Philippines Travel Safety

Road safety

Avoid travel outside urban areas and tourist centres after dark. Driving conditions are poor: roads are crowded and many drivers do not follow safe driving practices. Stay on national highways and paved roads.

Identification

Foreigners are required to carry identification at all times. A clean photocopy of the identification page of your passport is acceptable.

Scuba diving

Diving schools and rescue services may not adhere to top class standards. Use only reputable dive companies. Verify with your dive company the location of the closest decompression chamber.

Swimming

Strong currents and undertow are common. Take posted warnings about swimming conditions seriously and familiarize yourself with the beach flagging system. Many beaches do not offer warnings of dangerous conditions or are not sufficiently supervised by lifeguards.

Ferries

Ferry accidents occur due to the overloading and poor maintenance of some vessels. Do not board vessels that appear overloaded or unseaworthy.

Public transportation

Exercise caution if using public transportation, including jeepneys, buses and the light rail system, as pickpocketing and armed robberies are frequent. Provincial buses are often overcrowded and poorly maintained and have been involved in fatal accidents. Ferry accidents occur due to the overloading and poor maintenance of some vessels. Do not board vessels that appear overloaded or unseaworthy.

Taxis

Commercial taxis are the most-used form of public transportation by foreigners within cities. Never share taxis with strangers. Arrange to be met at airports, use hotel transportation or use official metered airport taxis.

Women's safety

Although Philippines is safe, women travelling alone may be subject to certain forms of harassment and verbal abuse. Be vigilant if approached by strangers seeking assistance and exercise common precautions throughout your travel.

Scams

Be wary of a variety of scams involving, for example, money counting (exchange), taxi meters, online romances and email requests for funds. Credit card and bank card fraud is common. Pay careful attention when your cards are being handled by others during payment processing. Locals with children may befriend single, male tourists and then accuse them of child abuse in order to extort money from them. Before travelling to the Philippines to visit someone with whom you have developed a romantic relationship, especially on the Internet, inform yourself about the country's customs and laws on conjugal relations and marriage. Once in the country, ensure that you retain possession of your return plane ticket, money and passport. Report any incident of crime or scams to local police in the jurisdiction where the incident occurred, before you leave the country.

Crime

The possession of guns or other weapons is common and poorly regulated. Violent crime such as armed robbery, sexual assault and murder occur, and foreigners are occasionally targeted. Petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag snatching occurs, especially in urban areas. Avoid showing signs of affluence and carrying large sums of money, and keep valuables in safekeeping facilities. Keep backpacks and bags away from traffic, as there have been instances of motorcyclists grabbing bags from pedestrians, sometimes causing injury. Beware of friendly strangers offering to take you around town or on an excursion. Never leave your food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers. Be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum or cigarettes from new acquaintances, as the items may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

Kidnapping

Be alert to the danger of kidnap-for-ransom. Victims have been subjected to extremely harsh treatment for prolonged periods, and there has been an increase in the number of foreigners executed by their captors. The threat is particularly high in the Mindanao Region and surrounding areas, but could also occur in locations outside the region, especially in coastal areas. Boaters in waters around Mindanao and in the Sulu Sea, as well as visitors to southern Palawan Island, southern Negros Island or Siquijor Island, may also face an elevated threat of kidnapping. If you are travelling to these areas, maintain a high level of vigilance and personal security awareness at all times, report any suspicious behaviour to security forces, follow the instructions of local authorities and ensure that your hotel or resort has adequate security measures in place.

Terrorism

There is a threat of terrorism. Several terrorist groups are currently active in the Philippines, and have carried out attacks throughout the country, including in major cities. Terrorist attacks are far more frequent in the Mindanao Region, where government forces and militant groups are currently in open conflict. Be extremely vigilant if attending public celebrations such as festivals and parades, sporting events and during religious holidays and other public celebrations, as terrorists have used such occasions to mount attacks. Comply with all security procedures and remain aware of your surroundings at all times.

LGBT

The Philippines is generally a tolerant and progressive place for LGBT travellers, although some stigma exists outside urban centres. Current legislation does not recognise same-sex unions. Same-sex relationships are not criminalised by law in the Philippines, but overt public displays of affection may be considered a "grave scandal" under the Revised Penal Code, and can result in imprisonment for up to 6 months.

Illegal or restricted activities

A conviction for rape can often result in a life imprisonment sentence. Attending any protest, demonstration or political rally may lead to detention and deportation. Conviction for "swindling" or "bad debts" can result in prison sentences of up to 20 years. Photography of official buildings intended for publication is prohibited. If you plan to get married in the Philippines, ensure that you are well informed regarding Philippine requirements.

Illegal drugs

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect life imprisonment. There in armed confrontations between authorities and suspected drug dealers and users, as well as numerous extrajudicial killings. There is a risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and getting caught in the crossfire. Stay away from drugs scene while you are there.

Driving

An International Driving Permit is recommended. If you are planning to stay more than 90 days then you must a get local permit.