Asia

Philippines

Location

South-eastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam.

We advise against all travel to central, southern and western Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago including Basilan, Tawi-Twai and Jolo. There are ongoing military and police operations. There is a high threat of terrorism and kidnap. Boat travel to and from offshore islands are a particular target. Stick in the main tourist areas. Personal security, general travel, navigation, building / office security, hot weather injuries, personal hygiene, sanitation / sterilisation, clothing & equipment, emergency first aid, helicopter safety, cultures / customs, communications, emergency shelters.

Use bottled water.

Mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands.

Tropical marine; north-east monsoon (November to April); south-west monsoon (May to October).

Astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis.

Avian influenza, bacterial diarrhoea, cholera, dengue fever, hepatitis A, malaria, rabies, typhoid fever, yellow fever.
Hospital: St Luke's Medical Center, 279 E Rodriquez Senior Blvd, Manilla. Tel: 2-799661

Uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centres; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds.

Avoid travel off the beaten track, always leave travel plans with colleagues. Safety standard on buses can be low.

Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid Training (HEFAT®) (5 days)
Centurion's flagship Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid Training (HEFAT®) course is for people who operate world wide, particularly in areas where there may be personal health or safety concerns. It is extremely effective for "frontline" organisations.

For more in-depth general information please download our Preparation and Training document.