Practical Information

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I.   Meeting Information

Venue and general information
  1. The Eighth Meeting of the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG) will be held in Manila, Philippines at the Garden Ballroom of the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel (http://www.shangri-la.com) on Wednesday 29th – Friday 31st  October 2008.
  2. The web sites for the meeting can be found at the following addresses:
    For the agenda and meeting content:          http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/citygroup.htm
    For logistics arrangements:                        http://www.nscb.gov.ph/events/disability
  3. On Tuesday, 28th October 2008, the Washington Group Secretariat and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) will meet for a final briefing on the agenda and mechanics of the Eighth Meeting. The briefing is scheduled at 7:00 p.m. at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel.
  4. A possible back-to-back meeting of the ESCAP Project Task Team on Regional Census Program – Improvement of Disability Statistics in Support of the Biwako Millennium Framework Regional Census Program with the 8th Meeting of the WG is being worked out to provide an opportunity to exchange ideas as well as share the progress and activities of the Project.
Registration
  1. The opening session of the Eighth Meeting of the Washington Group on Disability will commence at 09:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 29th October 2008.  Participants are requested to register between 08:15 and 08:45 a.m. on the same day. Participants who will not be able to register on the opening day are requested to do so as soon as possible, to ensure that their names will appear on the list of participants.
Working language of the workshop
  1. The workshop will be conducted in English.
Internet and e-mail services
  1. There will be Internet-connected computers available to participants at the meeting.
  2. Internet, e-mail and telefax services are available at the Conference venue at cost to users. Internet cafés and computer shops offering Internet, e-mail and web-based services are common.
Meals
  1. Meals will be provided throughout the meeting as follows:
a. Coffee breaks
b. Lunch
  1. Welcome and closing dinners are also being arranged for the participants.
Social activities
  1. The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) and the National Statistics Office (NSO) are arranging a city tour for the participants, tentatively scheduled at the end of the meeting. Information on this activity will be provided to the participants upon registration.
Meeting contacts
  1. Arrangements for the Eighth Meeting of the Washington Group on Disability Statistics are being handled jointly by the WG Secretariat, NSCB, and NSO, in collaboration with the LOC.
Contact information:

For the agenda and meeting content:

Mr. Cordell Golden
National Center for Health Statistics
(Secretariat for the WG)
3311 Toledo Road, Room 6428
Hyattsville, MD 20782
Telephone:  +1 301 458 4237
Fax:            +1 301 458 4038
Email:          CGolden@cdc.gov

For local arrangements:


Ms. Teresita M. Almarines   
National Statistical Coordination Board
(Secretariat for the LOC)
2nd Floor, Midland Buendia Bldg., 403 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue
Makati City, Philippines
Telephone/ Fax:  +632 896 7981
E-mail: tm.almarines@nscb.gov.ph

and/or

Ms. Emalyn P. Pineda
National Statistical Coordination Board
(Secretariat for the LOC)
Telephone:  +632 890 9404          
Fax:   +632 895 2436
E-mail: ep.pineda@nscb.gov.ph

II. Travel Information

Visa requirements
  1. Nationals from ASEAN member countries are allowed to enter the Philippines without visas for a stay not exceeding 21 days, provided that they hold valid tickets for their return journey to port of origin or next port of destination (Please see the list of countries at this link: http://www.aseansec.org/74.htm). Philippine regulations require that passports are valid for a period of not less than six (6) months beyond the contemplated period of stay. For details, please see the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs website at http://www.dfa.gov.ph or contact your local consular office.
Transport from and to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)
  1. The airport is located 7 km (4 miles) south of Manila. Participants can travel to the city center by car, bus, jeepney, and taxi.
  2. Taxi service is available from NAIA to all points of  Metro Manila.  Designated airport taxis (i.e., taxis marked with “Bayan Ko, Sagot Ko”) are stationed at the lower level of the arrival area of the airport. A taxi desk is also available at the same area in the airport. Some members of the local Secretariat will be stationed at this area to guide/assist participants in getting taxis.  Taxi services may also be arranged with respective hotels of participants.
Airport facilities
  1. Airport information desks are open for all flights.
  2. The international airport has adequate traveler facilities: tourist information and assistance counters, hotel and travel agency representatives, banks and ATMs, postal service, telephone booths, and medical clinics, among others. Baggage carts and porter services are available for free.
Passengers requiring any special assistance should inform their airline prior to travel. There is a contact number for airport assistance (telephone number: +632 877 1109).
Airport fees
  1. Passengers departing for international destinations are charged an airport fee of PhP 750.
Hotel accommodation
  1. It is advisable for participants to book their hotel accommodation as early as possible. An Attendance and Hotel Reservation Form is available from the NSCB website: www.nscb.gov.ph/events/disability for submission to the local Secretariat on or before 15 September 2008.  In the said form, participants have the option to make their own reservations or the Secretariat will do it on their behalf. The list of hotels  located near the meeting venue is provided below:
Name of Hotel
Address/Tel.No/URL
Room Rates
(as of Nov. 2007)
Distance from
Meeting Venue
Hotel
Rating
Disabled Friendly
EDSA Shangri-la Hotel 1 Garden Way, Ortigas Center,
Mandaluyong City
(+632) 633-8888
http://www.shangri-la.com		 Tower Wing:
   Superior Room: USD 110++
   Premiere Room: USD 130++
Garden Wing:
   Single:
     Deluxe Garden: USD 145++
     Deluxe: USD 135++
     Superior: USD 125++ Double/Twin:
     Deluxe Garden: USD 175++
     Deluxe: USD 165++
     Superior: USD 155++ 		   5 -Star Yes
Holiday Inn Galleria Manila 1 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center,
Pasig City
(+632) 633-7111
http://www.holidayinn.com		 Deluxe Rooms
   Single: USD 110+
   Double: USD 115+		 5 minutes cab ride 10-15 minutes walk 5 -Star  
Crowne Plaza Ortigas Avenue, Ortigas Center,
Pasig City
(+632) 633-7222
http://crowneplaza.com		 Deluxe Rooms
   Single: USD 110+
   Double: USD 115+		 5 minutes cab ride 10-15 minutes walk 5 -Star  
The Linden Suites 37 San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center,
Pasig City
(+632) 638-7878
http://www.lindensuites.com		 Executive Room:
  USD 85 (single)
  USD 95 (double)
Studio Suite:
  USD 90 (single)
  USD 100 (double)		 5 minutes cab ride 10-15 minutes walk 4 -Star  
Astoria Plaza  J. Escriva Drive, Ortigas Center,
Pasig City
(+632) 687-1111
http://www.astoriaplaza.com		 Deluxe Room: USD 82 One-Bedroom Suite: USD 96 5 minutes cab ride 10-15 minutes walk Fully Residential Suites  
Discovery Suites 25 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center,
Pasig City
(+632) 683-8222
(+632) 683-8111
http://discoverysuites.com		 Junior Suite: USD 97+ One Bedroom Suite: USD 105+ Two Bedroom Suite: USD 165+ 5 minutes cab ride 10-15 minutes walk Service Apartment  
New Horizon Hotel 778 Boni Avenue,
Mandaluyong City
(+632) 532-3021
(+632) 532-3026
http://newhorizonhotel-manila.com		 Superior Room: USD 43
Junior Suite: USD 50
Deluxe Room: USD 58		 10 minutes cab ride 3 minutes train ride 3-star  
The Legend Villas 60 Pioneer cor. Madison Sts.,
Mandaluyong City
(+632) 633-1501
(+632) 632-0845
http://www.legendvillas.com.ph		 Superior Room: USD 45-48 Premiere Room: USD 52-54 10 minutes cab ride 15 minutes bus ride 3-star  
Richville Hotel 286 EDSA Crossing,
Mandaluyong City
(+632) 533-7080
(+632) 533-1608
http://www.richvillehotel.net		 Standard Room: USD 46
Premiere Room: USD 53		 5-10 minutes walk 3-star  

III. Other information

Weather
  1. October in Manila is wet or monsoonal, with temperatures ranging from 84 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit (28 to 31 degrees Celsius). An umbrella is a necessity. The conference room where the meeting is to be held is air-conditioned with temperature maintained in the range of 70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 26 degrees Celsius).
Foreign exchange
  1. The currency of the Philippines is the Peso (PHP). US dollars are widely accepted in Manila and other tourist areas and are the easiest currency to exchange. Current exhange rates range from PhP 41-42 to 1 US Dollar. Euros and Pounds Sterling can also be exchanged in banks and hotels.
Major credit cards are widely accepted in the cities and tourist destinations. Most of the hotels identified in item number 20 are accepting/exchanging traveller’s cheques. However, leading department stores and establishments do not accept travellers cheques. ATMs are available in the major cities.

Banks are open from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, but their ATMs are open 24 hours. Exchange facilities are also available at the airport, hotels, and malls, normally between 8:30am to 7:00pm, Mondays thru Sundays It is best to carry pesos when travelling outside of major centres.

View latest exchange rate on the website of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(http://www.bsp.gov.ph/statistics/keystat/day99.htm)

Language
  1. Filipino is the national language. English is the business language and is spoken widely.
Timezone
  1. GMT plus 8 hours.
Transport within Manila
  1. Metered and fixed rate taxis are widely available in key cities nationwide. Jeepneys and buses are inexpensive ways of getting around most places.
  2. In Metro Manila, the fastest way of commuting is via the railway system, but this is limited to three routes only: 1) the Light Rail Transit 1 (LRT 1), which connects Caloocan City (i.e., Monumento station) on the north to Parañaque City (i.e., Baclaran station) on the south; 2) the Light Rail Transit 2 (LRT 2), which connects Pasig City (i.e., Santolan station) on the east to Manila (i.e., Recto station) on the west; and 3) the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), which connects Quezon City (i.e. North EDSA station) on the north to Pasay City (i.e., Taft Avenue station) on the south.

Electrical system in Manila
  1. The standard voltage in Manila is 220 VAC at 50Hz. 110-volt outlets are also available in most hotels. Plugs are Type A (flat blade attachment plug) and some establishments also provide Type C (round pin attachment plug).
Postal services
  1. Postal/courier services are available at the Business Center located inside EDSA Shangri-la Hotel. It offers state-of-the-art equipment and around-the-clock services. Other services available at the meeting venue are facsimile transmissions, scanning, and other business amenities.
Medical services
  1. First aid and medical services are available at the Medical Centre, 4th Floor, Service Building, EDSA Shangri-la Hotel during weekdays.
NSCB, NSO, and NCDA websites
  1. The NSCB (http://www.nscb.gov.ph) serves as the coordinator and secretariat for the inter-agency Technical Working Group on Disability Statistics.
  2. The NSO (http://www.census.gov.ph) conducts the Census of Population and Housing (CPH), which is the main source of the country’s disability statistics.
  3. The National Commission on Disability Affairs (NCDA), formerly National Commission on the Welfare of Disabled Persons or NCWDP (http://www.ncwdp.gov.ph), is the national government agency mandated to formulate policies and coordinate the activities of all agencies, whether public or private, concerning disability issues and concerns. As such, the NCDA is the lead agency tasked to steer the course of program development for persons with disabilities and the delivery of services to the sector.
Tour information
  1. Tour information may be obtained from the following addresses:
    http://www.tourism.gov.ph and http://www.dotpcvc.gov.ph .
Contact numbers
Pre and post meeting (office hours only)
  1. National Statistical Coordination Board:
    2. Social Sectors B Division                                   +632-8967981
    Programs, Policies and Advocacy Division             +632-8952436/+632-8909404
    National Statistics Office:                                                
    Census Planning and Operations Division             +632-7137072/ +632-7169426
During the meeting
  1. A mobile phone number for emergencies will also be provided at the meeting upon registration.
24-hours/7- days emergency assistance
  1. In case of any emergency (police) assistance, the participant may dial 117 in any landline phone, payphone, or mobile phone.