Tour Division - Technical Nitrox Division

THE PHILIPPINES

Information for travellers

Time Zone

GMT plus 8 hours. 

Getting There

Manila and Cebu are international gateway cities. Manila is served by more than 30 airlines which fly to different cities throughout the world Philippine Airlines, the country's flag carrier, links Manila to 26 cities in 19 countries and plies the air routes of principal cities and towns all over the country. Manila's air and sea ports bustle with the comings and goings of major international carriers and cruise liners. Cebu City handles regular flights from Japan, Singapore and Australia, as well as charter flights from Hong Kong, the United States and other major travel markets. 

Drug Abuse

Possession or use of prohibited drugs carries a maximum penalty of death.

Currency Regulations

Visitors carrying more than $3,000 are requested to declare the amount at the Central Bank of the Philippines counter situated at the customs area. Foreign currency taken out upon departure must not exceed the amount brought in. Keep all exchange receipts for record purposes. Departing passengers may not bring out more than P 1,000 in local currency.

Duty-free shopping

Duty-Free shops are located at the departure and transit areas of NAIA (Manila international airport) and MIA (Cebu international airport). There are also Duty-Free outlets at the Manila Hotel, the Hotel Nikko Manila Garden, and the Century Park Sheraton Hotel. The Duty-Free Fiesta Shopping Center near the NAIA is the country's largets duty-free outlet. Overseas Filipinos returning to the Philippines under the "Balikbayan Plus" program of the Department of Tourism have special duty-free shopping privileges.

Climate

March to May is hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from 22-32 degrees celsius. June to October is rainy. November to February is cool; temperatures range from 22-28 degrees celsius. Average humidity year-round is 77%. 

What to wear

Light casual clothes are recommended. Warmer garments are needed for mountain regions. 

Currency

Unit of currency:Peso(P) = 100 centavos. Bank notes: P5, P10, P20, P50, P100, P500, P1000. Coins: 1c, 5c, 10c, 25c, 50c, P1, P2, P5.

Tipping

Tipping is expected for many services. The standard practice is 10% of the total bill. Most hotels and restaurants include a 10% service charge, so tipping is optional.

Language

Pilipino is the national language. English is widely spoken and is extensively used in business and government.

Business & Banking Hours

Private and government offices are open either from 8 am to 5 pm, or from 9 am to 6 pm, Mondays to Fridays. Some private companies hold office on Saturday from 10 am to 12 noon (Dive Philippines is open Saturdays 9 am to 3 pm). Most shopping centers, department stores and supermarkets open from 10 am to 8 pm daily. Banks are open from 9 am to 3 pm, Mondays to Fridays. 

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