PHILIPPINES
Society

Cities in PHILIPPINES

Manila

Society

State structure

Parliament Philippines_{Photo: Robert Viñas in the public domain}

The 1935 Constitution was amended in 1946 and suspended again in 1972. The current constitution dates from 1987 and is constructed after the American example; the separation of powers is enshrined in this constitution.

The constitution also stipulates that the president, who is elected by direct election, cannot be re-elected after a term of office of six years. The president, who is also head of government and military commander in chief, has no right to send parliament home.

The Congress, the legislative branch, consists of two Houses: a Senate with 24 members with a term of six years (half is elected every three years), and a House of Representatives of which 204 members are elected by direct elections and 50 members, representing social groups are appointed.

The president appoints members of the cabinet, who are not allowed to be members of Congress. For the current political situation see chapter history.

Administrative division

Administrative division of the Philippines_{Photo: Josh Lim CC 4.0 International no changes made}

The country is administratively divided into 79 provinces, headed by a directly elected governor. There is also a National Capital Region (Manila) and a Cordilleras Autonomous Region, an autonomous region for the Muslims of Mindanao. There are also some cities that are administratively outside the provinces and are called 'highly urbanized cities'.

Finally, there are a number of 'chartered cities', which fall directly under the authority of the central government.

There are approximately 1,500 municipalities, which in turn consist of more than 40,000 villages or "barangays".

LUZON
Regions	8
Provinces	38
Cities	55
Municipalities	716
Barangays	20.476
VISAYA’S
Regions	3
Provinces	16
Cities	32
Municipalities	376
Barangays	11.443
MINDANAO
Regions	6
Provinces	25
Cities	27
Municipalities	404
Barangays	10.026
TOTAAL
Regions	17
Provinces	79
Cities	113
Municipalities	1.496
Barangays	41.945

Education

University of the Philippines_{Photo: Patrick Roque CC 4.0 International no changes made}

For children between the ages of seven and twelve, education is compulsory, but free. While some families send their children to private schools, most children attend public schools. The Philippine education system is very similar to the American system, only it starts in June and ends in March.

Schools generally teach in English, although Filipino and local dialects, especially in the lower classes, are also used. Approx. 90% of adults can read and write.

In the mid-1990s, more than eleven million children were in primary schools and approximately five million children in secondary education. Nearly two million students populated the universities and colleges. The oldest university is in Cebu City; the University of San Carlos from 1595.

The largest Muslim group in the Philippines are the Maranao, who mainly live in Mindanao. The city of Marawi is home to the Islamic Mindanao State University, founded by wealthy Muslims.

Dumaguete, provincial capital of Negros Oriental, is home to Silliman University, the only Protestant university in the Philippines.

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Sources

Filippijnen
Het Spectrum

Philippines
Lonely Planet

Poppe, D. / Reishandboek Filippijnen
Elmar

Rodell, P.A. / Culture and customs of the Philippines
Greenwood Press

Wee, J. / Philippines
Chelsea House

CIA - World Factbook

BBC - Country Profiles

Last updated March 2024
Copyright: Team The World of Info