Philippines security

Are the Philippines dangerous??

In order to spend an unforgettable holiday in the island realm of the Philippines one should first inform oneself about the security in the Philippines. We have lived in the Philippines for several years and can therefore quite well judge whether the Philippines are dangerous. In the following article all about the Philippines security, how we have experienced the country over the years.

natural disasters

1st earthquake

The Philippines is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where 90% of earthquakes occur worldwide. The heaviest quakes of the last hundred years in the Philippines occurred in Mindanao in 1973, followed by Luzon in 1990.

In 2013 there was also an earthquake, which also affected the holiday island Bohol.

The earth often trembles there, quakes of small strength are often not perceived by humans.

Earthquakes are the only natural disasters in the Philippines that are still difficult to predict today and therefore pose a security risk. But this is not just true for the Philippines.

Destroyed old church at earthquake 2013. Bohol

Philippines security

2. Typhoons

During the typhoon season (typhoon season) between June and December, the Philippines receives an average of around 20 typhoons per year.

It is usually the same regions, Samar, Leyte and Luzon, on the Pacific coast that are exposed to the “landfall”, ie the strongest wind speeds.

For Filipinos, these tropical cyclones, which often bring heavy rain, are a normal phenomenon. Raging outside a typhoon one does not leave his simply house.

Exceptions are announced super typhoons where certain areas need to be evacuated. Such a super typhoon or even century typhoon in 2013 was Haiyan or Filipino: Yolanda. With peak wind speeds of 230 km / h, Yolanda was one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded on Earth, claimed fatalities and caused great damage.

Typhoons can be said several days before today. For corresponding messages, e.g. should approach a super typhoon, measures for departure can be taken.

3. Volcanoes

There are 18 active and 19 dormant volcanoes in the Philippines. The activities of the volcanoes are strictly observed and measured. At the first sign of a dangerous increase in activity, the volcano is closed off and residents can be evacuated. The last volcanic eruption, the eruption of Mt. Pinatobu, occurred in 1991.

The volcanoes as well as the typhoons pose a low threat to safety in the Philippines, as these natural disasters do not happen unexpectedly and suddenly.

Crater Lake of Mt. Pinatobu

Philippines security

Road and sea transport

The largest Everyday danger in safety poses in the Philippines The traffic is. Vehicles are now and then in poor condition and traffic rules are ignored or not even exist. Therefore, pay attention to which vehicle you are entering. This particularly concerns tricycle, motorbikes and ferries.

Usual vehicles in the Philippines:

Van: is used for trips or longer trips

Jeepney: A kind of public bus in cities like Manila. (The Jeepneys are former military vehicles of the Americans.)

Classic Jeepney Igor Plotnikov / Shutterstock

Taxi: in cities

Tricycle: Motorcycle with covered sidecar, a kind of Tut-Tuk.

Tricycle saiko3p / Shutterstock

Motorbike: Sitting behind the driver on a motorcycle to get somewhere is common in the Philippines. Filipinos call this type of locomotion Habal-Habal.

Ferries: Special caution is advised. It is advisable only renowned ferries with approximately European standards such. Oceanjet or To Go.

If you travel with us you do not expose yourself to any major Philippines security risk due to our local knowledge and verified partners.

No-go areas

The only really dangerous areas in the Philippines

There is an area in the Philippines that one absolutely avoid should, since here Islamist terrorists in the otherwise peaceful and almost exclusively Catholic country are active. The recent fighting in Marawi City and kidnappings, e.g. The abduction of the German sailor couple last year, are just a few reasons why one should not enter these regions if a body and life are nice. The terrorist groups are particularly keen to take hostages in the area.

The following regions are affected:

West – Mindanao
The Zamboanga Peninsula
The Sulu Archipelago bordering Malaysia and the surrounding Sulu Sea

South Palawan

You can summarize the area: The western half of the southernmost Philippines Mindanao Island, especially on the border with Malaysia, South Palawan and the Sulu Sea between South Palawan and Mindanao.

Outside the island of Mindanao and adjacent Sulu Sea, there has been only one abduction case of foreigners in the Philippines over the last 20 years.

This occurred in 2001 in the Honda Bay on Palawan.

In the entire Visayas, there has never been a kidnapping of Western tourists.

Due to the size of the island state you have to look at the security here very differentiated. Outside the no-go areas, terrorists in the Philippines can not gain a foothold. This is partly because of the rigorous rejection of the population as well as the hard-line measures of the Philippine police and the military, as the incident on Bohol in April 2017 shows.

Terrorists have no chance to operate in much of the Philippines, their strength is too low (estimated at a few hundred) and their means too limited (their only option is the sea route, which would be too long for small speed boats to more distant islands)

Finally, to the Philippines security is to say:

The Philippines is a 3rd world country where things are different than in Germany and you should not be careless in general.
BUT: Filipinos are open and friendly to almost all visitors!
Abductions are no real danger outside the no-go areas, especially not on the visayas!
Millions of tourists visit the Philippines each year, most of whom feel extremely well!
Eyes on it means when using public transport!
Warnings and instructions in the event of an approaching typhoon must be obeyed!

General rules of conduct

Do not enter slums in big cities like Manila

Slum in Manila shadow216 / Shutterstock

Wear mosquito repellent – Dengue fever occasionally occurs in the Philippines and is transmitted by diurnal mosquitoes

Watch out for sunscreen, headgear – you’re under the tropical sun

If you buy on the street, primarily in more untouristic areas, shakes, drinks with ice cubes or open drinks with water like iced tea, ask if the water is “purified”. Europeans can not stand Filipino tap water.

The Filipinos are a nation that is basically very open and friendly towards foreigners. Not infrequently visitors are surprised how helpful Filipinos really are. Nevertheless, you negotiate especially with taxi and tricycle rides, because there are everywhere people who want to take advantage of the inexperience of strangers.

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