General Information

A. Visa Information

Guidelines on Entry Visas of Temporary Visitors to the Philippines

A.1 Nationals from countries listed below are allowed to enter the Philippines without visas for a stay not exceeding twenty-one (21) days, provided they hold valid tickets for their return journey to port of origin or next port of destination. Department 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.

A.2 Nationals from the following countries are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa:

1. Andorra 2. Angola 3. Antigua and Barbuda 4. Argentina 5. Australia 6. Austria 7. Bahamas 8. Bahrain 9. Barbados 10. Belgium 11. Benin 12. Bhutan 13. Bolivia 14. Botswana 15. Brazil 16. Brunei Darussalam 17. Bulgaria 18. Burkina Faso 19. Cambodia 20. Cameroon 21. Canada 22. Cape Verde 23. Central African Republic 24. Chad 25. Chile 26. Colombia 27. Comoros 28. Congo 29. Costa Rica 30. Cote d’Ivoire 31. Cyprus 32. Czech Republic 33. Democratic Republic of the Congo 34. Denmark 35. Djibouti 36. Dominica 37. Dominican Republic 38. Ecuador 39. El Salvador 40. Equatorial Guinea 41. Eritrea 42. Ethiopia 43. Fiji 44. Finland 45. France 46. Gabon 47. Germany

48. Ghana 49. Gibraltar 50. Greece 51. Grenada 52. Guatemala 53. Guinea 54. Guinea Bissau 55. Guyana 56. Haiti 57. Honduras 58. Hungary 59. Iceland 60. Indonesia 61. Ireland 62. Israel 63. Italy 64. Jamaica 65. Japan 66. Kenya 67. Kuwait 68. Lao People’s Democratic Republic 69. Lesotho 70. Liberia 71. Liechtenstein 72. Luxembourg 73. Madagascar 74. Malawi 75. Malaysia 76. Maldives 77. Mali 78. Malta 79. Marshall Islands 80. Mauritania 81. Mauritius 82. Mexico 83. Micronesia 84. Monaco 85. Mongolia 86. Morocco 87. Mozambique 88. Myanmar 89. Namibia 90. Nepal 91. Netherlands 92. New Zealand 93. Nicaragua 94. Niger

95. Norway 96. Oman 97. Palau 98. Panama 99. Papua New Guinea 100. Paraguay 101. Peru 102. Poland 103. Portugal 104. Qatar 105. Republic of Korea 106. Romania 107. Rwanda 108. Saint Kitts and Nevis 109. Saint Lucia 110. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 111. San Marino 112. Sao Tome and Principe 113. Saudi Arabia 114. Senegal 115. Seychelles 116. Singapore 117. Slovakia 118. Solomon Islands 119. Somalia 120. South Africa 121. Spain 122. Suriname 123. Swaziland 124. Sweden 125. Switzerland 126. Thailand 127. Togo 128. Trinidad and Tobago 129. Tunisia 130. Tur k ey 131. Tuvalu 132. Uganda 133. United Arab Emirates 134. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 135. United Republic of Tanzania 136. United States of America 137. Uruguay 138. Venezuela 139. Vietnam 140. Zambia 141. Zimbabwe

A.3 The following nationals are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay not exceeding seven (7) days.

1. Holders of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports.
2. Holders of British National Overseas (BNO) passports.
3. Holders of Macau-Portuguese passports.
4. Holders of Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Nationals who are subjects of deportation/blacklist orders of the Department and the Bureau of Immigration shall not be admitted to the Philippines.

Further inquiries may be addressed to the nearest Philippine Embassy/Consular Office. Please visit http://www.dfa.gov.ph/posts/pemb.htm or http://www.dfa.gov.ph/posts/philcon.htm.

or you may direct your inquiries to the Department of Foreign Affairs,
Visa Division
2330 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Philippines

Telephone numbers:

(+632) 834 4854
(+632) 834-4853
(+632) 834-4961

URL: http://www.dfa.gov.ph/consular/visa.htm

B. Accommodation

Accommodation can be reserved by the secretariat at the request of the participants.

To facilitate hotel reservation, participants are requested to fill in and return the attached Registration/Hotel Registration Form on or before 15 September 2004 to Regina S. Reyes or Ivo S. Bacani at e-mail addresses: rs.reyes@nscb.gov.ph and cis.bacani@nscb.gov.ph. You may also fax the form to (+632) 896 53 90.

EDSA Shangri-La Hotel
1 Garden Way, Ortigas Center,
Mandaluyong City

Tel: (632) 633 8888
Fax: (632) 631 1067

URL: http://www.shangri-la.com/eng/hotel/index.asp?h_location=philippines

HOTELS CLOSE TO THE CONFERENCE VENUE

The Richmonde Hotel
21 San Miguel Avenue,
Ortigas Center, Pasig City

Tel: (632) 638 7777
Fax: (632) 638 8567

URL: http://www.richmondehotel.com/

Approx. distance from conference venue: 10 minute walk to conference venue.

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Richville Hotel
286 Edsa Crossing,
Mandaluyong City

Tel: (632) 533 7080
Fax: (632) 533 1608

URL: http://www.richvillehotel.com

Approx. distance from conference venue: 10 minute walk to conference venue.

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Holiday Inn
One Asean Development Bank Avenue,
Ortigas Center, Pasig City

Tel: (632) 633 7111
Fax: (632) 633 2824

URL: http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/1/en/hotelsearchresults

Approx. distance from conference venue: 10-15 minutes walk to conference venue.

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Astoria Plaza
15J Escriva Drive
Ortigas Center, Pasig City

Tel: (632) 687 7111
Fax: (632) 910 0370

URL: http://www.astoriaplaza.com

Approx. distance from conference venue: 10-15 minutes walk to conference venue.

OTHER ACCESSIBLE HOTELS

Horizon Edsa Hotel
778 Boni Avenue
Mandaluyong City

Tel 532 3021
Fax 532 4794

URL: http://www.horizonedsahotel.com

Approx. distance from conference venue: 2 minutes train ride to conference venue.

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Dusit Hotel Nikko
Ayala Center Makati
1223 Makati City

Tel:. (632) 867 3333
Fax: (632) 867 3888

URL: http://www.dusit.com

Approx. distance from conference venue: 8 minutes train ride to conference venue.

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List of Hotels as of 28 July 2004.

C. Transport Arrangements

Participants are advised to coordinate with the Secretariat if they wish to avail of the Conference transport arrangements from the airport to the hotel, and vice versa. Otherwise, taxis are available at the Arrival Area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Taxi fares from the Airport to the Conference venue and its vicinity range from PhP300 to PhP500 (approx. US$ 6 to US$ 10).

 

D. Weather

October in Manila is warm and humid, with temperature averaging 30 degrees Celsius. Occasional rain is likely. Light tropical clothing will be appropriate outdoors. 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).

 

E. Foreign exchange

Participants may bring with them into the Philippines unrestricted sums of foreign currency in the form of travellers’ cheques, drafts, letters of credit or other banking instruments, which may be exchanged for Philippine Peso. Current exchange rates range from Philippine Peso 55 - 56 to 1 US Dollar.

Participants may be required to declare the amount of travellers’ cheques or currency in their possession on arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport .

Exchange facilities are available at the airport, hotels, and malls, normally between 8:30am to 7:00pm , Mondays thru Sundays. Banks are open between 9:00am to 3:00pm.

 

F. Internet and e-mail services

Internet, e-mail and telefax services are available at the Conference venue at cost to users. Internet cafés and computer shops offering Internet, email and web-based services can be found in practically every mall and business establishment in the metropolis.

 

G. Postal services

Postal services are available at the Post and Telegraphic Office, Makati City . It is open from 0800 to 1600 hours, without lunch break, Monday to Friday, except for official holidays. Overseas telephone calls and fax transmissions can also be made from the Post and Telegraphic Office at government regulated charge rates.

 

H. Medical services

First aid and medical services are available at the Medical Centre, fourth floor, Service Building, during weekdays.

 

I. Electrical Systems in Manila

The standard voltage in Manila is 220 VAC at 50Hz. Plugs are Type A (flat blade attachment plug) and Type C (round pin attachment plug).

 

J. Return bookings

Participants are advised to ensure that their return bookings are confirmed soon after their arrival in Manila . The Conference Secretariat shall provide assistance on this matter.

Participants are required to pay an airport tax of Ph P 550 on departure at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

 

K. Financial and administrative arrangements

The National Statistical Coordination Board and the UNSD/UNESCAP/WB/ASEAN/ADB will not assume responsibility for the following:

• Salary and related allowances for the participants during the period of the ICOPS 2004 and the 3rd UNSD Regional Workshop on the handbookon poverty statistics;

• Costs incurred by participants with respect to travel insurance, accident insurance, medical or dental bills or hospitalization fees in connection with their attending the ICOPS 2004 and the 3rd UNSD Regional Workshop;

• Compensation in the event of death or disability of participants in connection with their attending the ICOPS 2004 and the 3rd UNSD Regional Workshop;

• Any loss or damage to personal property of participants while attending the ICOPS 2004 and the 3rd UNSD Regional Workshop or losses or damages claimed by third parties as a result of negligence on the part of the participants;

• Any other expenses of a personal nature, not directly related to the purpose of the ICOPS 2004 and the 3rd UNSD Regional Workshop.

 

Last updated: Aug 18, 2004