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Staying safe

• •Since the transition to democracy, the Philippines suffers from crime, corruption, and ongoing insurgencies.
• •The Philippines has among the highest death tolls from natural disasters such as earthquakes, tropical cyclones (typhoons) and floods, as well as tropical diseases.
• •The Philippines is quite low-income: unskilled jobs generally pay US$100-200 a month and even many good jobs are under US$500.
• •Law enforcement:
• •Police: The Philippine National Police (PNP) is responsible for law enforcement for the country, and their officers are easily identifiable through their dark blue uniforms.
• •All police officers have nationwide authority. Many can speak English, but this depends on where you are in. Many are easily approachable, but some are not well-paid and therefore corrupt.

Staying healthy

• •Food and drink: Drink the readily available bottled water.
• •If you must drink tap water (it is usually served/contained in a small to medium plastic bag), water in Manila, Cebu City and other major cities is usually OK, but it is recommended that you boil tap water for at least 5 minutes just to be safe.
• •Bottled water is best purchased from within stores and sheltered eateries.
• •Street food isn't so safe to consume in the Philippines, and hygienic standards are poorly enforced.
• •Diseases: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that a risk of malaria exists only in non-urban areas below 600 meters on the islands of Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro and Palawa…
• •Dengue fever is common in the Philippines and cases increase every year, so it is advisable to apply mosquito repellants and wear long-sleeved clothes whenever possible.…