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Asia and Oceania
Philippines |
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Last reviewed: 12 October 2009 |
Country information
International relations
Relations with the United States remain of major importance to the Philippines. The US is the largest trading partner and biggest source of foreign investment. Although the US no longer has a permanent military presence in the Philippines, there are annual joint exercises and the US has provided advice and training to support Philippine counter-terrorism efforts.
China is also increasingly important as both a trading partner and a source of development assistance. There is an established Chinese-Filipino community in the Philippines and Chinese interest is welcomed as a counterbalance to US influence. Tensions remain however over the Spratly Islands, where the two countries have competing territorial claims.
The Philippines was a founder member of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967. It remains actively engaged with this and other international organisations such as the UN, where it is a member of the G77 group of developing nations. Current international negotiations of particular concern include the WTO Doha Development round and the UNFCCC climate change negotiations.
Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) is a key foreign policy concern. Over 1 million Filipinos leave the country each year for short-term contracts abroad, primarily in the Middle East.
Philippine relations with the UK
The UK and the Philippines enjoy a close and substantive bilateral relationship. Areas of common concern include climate change, human rights, economic reform, good governance, counter terrorism, conflict prevention and peace building. Trade and investment links are strong.
The UK does not have a development assistance programme in the Philippines, but the country is a priority for the Foreign Office’s Strategic Programme Fund for Low Carbon High Growth. Projects funded under this programme include support for transparency and accountability in local government and improved private sector participation in trade policy negotiations. Other Foreign Office funding programmes are supporting projects in the areas of counter-terrorism, conflict resolution, climate change, human rights and democracy, including a voter education project ahead of General and Presidential elections in 2010.
The British Council has an office in Manila. They run an extensive programme of English language examinations. They also work with the Philippine government and others on projects in areas such as education, governance and inter-faith dialogue. Together with the British Embassy they select Filipino candidates for the Foreign Office funded Chevening scholarship schemes.
There is a small British community in the Philippines of around 15,000. About 70,000 British nationals visit the Philippines annually. The Filipino community in the UK is currently estimated at around 250,000. It is growing rapidly. Many Filipinos work in the health and care-giving sectors but they are also employed in sectors such as finance, law and technology. Filipino students increasingly see the UK as an alternative to the US for higher and further education.
Diplomatic links
The first British Consul arrived in the Philippines in 1844. In July 1946 the UK was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations following Philippine independence. A new purpose-built Embassy building in Manila was opened in 2008. There are also Honorary Consulates in Cebu, Olongapo and Angeles. The current Ambassador, Stephen Lillie, took up his post in August 2009.
President Arroyo met Her Majesty the Queen when she visited the UK in December 2007. The most recent UK ministerial visit to the Philippines was by former FCO Minister Meg Munn in May 2008.
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Contacts
Address:
Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines
8 Suffolk Street
London SW1Y 4HH
Consular
6 Suffolk Street
London SW1Y 4HH
Commercial
1A Cumberland House
Kensington Court
London W8
Defence and Armed Forces
8 Suffolk Street
London SW1Y 4HH
Culture and Tourism
146 Cromwell Road
London SW7 4EF
Labour
8 Suffolk Street
London SW1Y 4HH
Telephone:
(020) 7937 1600
(020) 7361 4641
(020) 7361 4627 (Administration)
(020) 7361 4642 (Legalisation)
(020) 7361 4637 (Passports)
(020) 7361 4642 (Visas)
(020) 7361 4625 (Economic)
(020) 7361 4629 (Political)
(020) 7361 4633 (Defence and Armed Forces)
(020) 7937 1898/7988 Commercial Counsellor
(020) 7835 1100/7361 4626 (Culture and Tourism)
(020) 7361 4643 (Labour)
(020) 7361 4628 (IMO)
Fax:
(020) 7937 2925
(020) 7835 1926 (Culture and Tourism)
(020) 7937 2747 (Commercial)
(020) 7938 4250 (Labour)
(020) 7937 0091 (Defence)
Email:
embassy@philemb.co.uk
Email:
infotourism@wowphilippines.co.uk (Culture and Tourism)
Email:
visaofficer@philemb.co.uk (Consular)
Email:
dtilondon1@aol.com (Commercial)
Email:
defence@philemb.co.uk (Defence)
Email:
jrasuljr_uk@yahoo.com (Labour)
Website:
http://www.philemb.org.uk
Office hours:
Mon–Fri: 0900-1700