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21st National Statistics Month
October 1-31, 2010

National Convention on Statistics
October 4-5, 2010
EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, Ortigas Center
Mandaluyong City

World Statistics Day
October 20, 2010

PRACTICAL INFORMATION TO PARTICIPANTS

General Information:

1) The Global Forum on Gender Statistics is scheduled to be held in Manila, Philippines on Monday 11th – Wednesday 13th October 2010.

2) The Interagency Experts Group on Gender Statistics Meeting is scheduled to be held in Manila, Philippines on Thursday 14th October 2010.

3) Participation in the Global Forum on Gender Statistics is by invitation only.

4) The Forum will be conducted in English and no translation facilities will be provided.

Venue of the forum

4) The Global Forum on Gender Statistics conference venue is the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel (http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/manila/edsashangrila) , One Garden Way, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. It is approximately 12 kilometers or 30-45 minutes away from the airport and has easy access to the financial centers, main shopping area, cafés and restaurants.

Registration

5) The opening session of the Global Forum on Gender Statistics will commence at 09:00 a.m. on Monday, 11th October 2010. Participants are requested to register between 08:00 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.

Welcome Desk at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport

6) A welcome desk is located at the arrival lounge of the airport with the members of the Local Secretariat to welcome and assist delegates upon arrival in the Philippines

Concerned contacts

7) The following persons may be contacted:

Internet and e-mail services

8) There will be free Internet and e-mail services available to participants at the Conference venue.

9) Internet cafés and computer shops offer Internet, e-mail and web-based services near the venue.

Travel Information
Visa requirements

10) Nationals from countries listed below who are traveling to the Philippines for business or tourism purposes 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 below).
Philippine regulations require that passports are valid for a period of not less than six (6) months beyond the contemplated period of stay. However, Immigration Officers at ports of entry may exercise their discretion to admit holders of passports valid for at least sixty (60) days beyond the intended 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.

Note: *The following nationals are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay not exceeding fifty-nine (59) days: holders of Brazil and Israel passports

The following nationals are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay not exceeding seven (7) days: Holders of Hong Kong Special Administrative (SAR) passports; Holders of British National Overseas (BNO) passports; Holders of Portuguese Passports issued in Macao; and Holders of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports

Transport from and to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)

11) The airport is located 7 km (4 miles) south of Manila. Participants can travel to the city center by car, bus, jeepney, and taxi.

12) Taxi service is available from NAIA to all points of Metro Manila.

12.1) 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 for fixed rate airport taxi is available at the same area in the airport. Airport taxis fixed rate is P 700.00 from the airport to the venue.

12.2) There are also metered taxis (i.e. yellow taxis marked with “Airport Taxi”) available around the area with Php 70.00 flag down rate and counter raises by PhP 4.00 for every 300 meters. The estimated fare from the airport to the venue ranges from Php 300 - PhP 400. A taxi desk for metered airport taxi is also available at the lower level of the arrival area of the airport.

Airport Facilities

13) Airport information desks are open for all flights

14) The international airport has adequate traveler facilities: tourist information and assistance counters, hotels and travel agency representative, banks and ATMs, postal service, telephone booths, and medical clinics, among others. Baggage carts and porter services are available for free.

15) The airport wheelchairs, which are available upon request from the airline ground staff. It also has ramps, lifts and toilets for the disabled; passenger requiring any special assistance should inform their airline prior to travel. Call telephone number: +632 877 1111 for assistance.

Airport Fees

16) Passengers departing for international destinations are charged an airport terminal fee of PhP 750.

Social activities

17) There will be a welcome dinner for the participants scheduled on the first day of the forum. Information on this activity will be provided to the participants upon registration.

Hotel Accommodation

18) Listed below are some hotels situated close to the venue.

*Notes:
1) Rates provided by hotels are in Philippine Peso, and were just converted by the Local Secretariat to USD following Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) exchange rate of US $ 1 = Php 46.7 as of June 11, 2010. http://www.bsp.gov.ph/statistics/keystat/day99.htm.
2) It may be expected that the existing exchange rates from BSP have higher Philippine peso value than the exchange rates of the hotels.
3) Rates are applicable only for the participants of the 3rd Global Forum on Gender Statistics (October 10-15, 2010) during the period of the Forum.

Restaurants

(19) Listed below are restaurants near the venue.

Shopping Centers

(20) The shopping centers within Metro Manila are the following:

Other Useful Information
Climate

(21) October in Manila is wet or monsoonal, with temperatures in Fahrenheit range from 84° Fahrenheit to 87° Fahrenheit or 28.8° to 30.5° 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 21-26 degrees Celsius (70-78 degrees Fahrenheit).

Currency

(22) The transportation of foreign currency or monetary instruments is legal.  However, the carrying of foreign currency in excess of US$10,000.00 or its equivalent in other foreign currencies must be declared in the Customs Declaration Form upon arrival at the airport.

(23) It is illegal for any incoming or outgoing passenger to bring in or out Philippine Pesos in excess of PhP10,000.00 or  without prior authority from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in accordance with BSP Circular 98-1995.

(24) Exchange facilities are available at the airport, hotels, and malls near the venue (Shangrila Mall, SM Megamall and The Podium), normally between 8:30am to 7:00pm, Mondays thru Sundays. Most banks are open between 9:00am to 3:00pm, Mondays thru Fridays except for selected Banco de Oro branches (e.g., those located in EDSA Shangri-la Plaza Mall, SM Megamall and SM Makati), which are open from 10:00 am to 7:00pm from Mondays thru Sundays.

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

Language

(25) Filipino is the national language. English is the business language and is spoken widely.

Capital City

(26) Manila is the capital city.

Business Hours

(27) Business hours are generally from 8:00am-12 NN and 1:00pm to 5:00 pm.

Local Time

(28) GMT plus 8 hours.

Local transportation

(29) Metered and fixed rate taxis are widely available in key cities nationwide. Jeepneys and buses are inexpensive ways of getting around most places. For the common white taxis the flag down rate is PhP 30.00, each 300 meters or for every two minutes the taxi stands motionless costs PhP 2.50. On the other hand, the yellow airport taxis flag down rate is PhP 70.00 then counter raises by PhP 4.00 for every 300 meters. Below is the list of some of the Metro Manila Taxi Operators.

(30) In Metro Manila, the fastest way of commuting is via the light railway system. The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) station can be a way to the venue. The Shaw Boulevard Station is connected by pedestrian walkways to the venue. This station is considered as the “central terminal” of the MRT, as it is the seventh station for trains headed to Taft Avenue and the seventh station headed to North Avenue. The station is located in Mandaluyong City. There are also other railway systems like Light Rail Transit 1 (LRT 1) connecting Caloocan City and Parañaque City and the Light Rail Transit 2 (LRT 2) connecting Pasig City and Manila.

Electricity

(31) 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).

Postal services

(32) 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.

Credit Card and currency exchange

(33) The most widely accepted credit cards are MasterCard and Visa, which can be used at leading hotels, banks, airlines and supermarkets. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at forex bureaus and banks.

Medical Services

(34) First aid and medical services are available at the Medical Center, 4th Floor, Service Building, EDSA Shangri-la Hotel during weekdays.

Tour Information

(35) Tour information can be obtained from the following addresses:  http://www.tourism.gov.ph and http://www.dotpcvc.gov.ph.

Telecommunication Facilities

(36) Telecommunication services are available at the Forum venue at cost to the users.

Country Dialling Code

(37) The country dialing code is +(632)

Emergency Numbers

(38) National Statistical Coordination Board:

Social Sectors B Division                        Telefax No: +632-8967981
                                                                        (during office hours)
Ms. Bernadette Balamban                      Mobile No: +639198281910
Ms. Teresita Almarines                           Mobile No: +639196542483

In case of any emergency (police) assistance, the participant may dial 117 in any landline phone, payphone, or mobile phone.