TELEPHONE

To dial home from the Philippines, use the international access code 00, followed by the destination country code, area code and number you wish to dial.

For calls to the Philippines, the international dial code prefix may vary depending upon the country from which the call is made, but will be followed by The Philippines’ international number +63, followed by the Filipino area code and local number.

The main emergency number is 117 which is free to call, and is suitable for use in all types of emergency.

When travelling with Haivenu, you will also always be provided with an emergency contact number to access our help and assistance.

For mobile handsets, consult your service provider in advance of departure to activate your handset for use in the Philippines and seek advice concerning roaming charges, which are, however, likely to be expensive.

If your phone is unlocked, another option is to buy a SIM card locally, from one of the Philippines’ main providers, Globe Telecom and Smart Communications, who provide the most comprehensive coverage respectively.

Smartphones are widely used by the Filipinos, and the country has extensive 3G and 4G coverage throughout the country. Given the vast array of Filipino islands and its mountainous topography, it is unsurprising that there are many areas in which you will be unable to find a signal, but almost all tourist locations are well served.

You can also purchase contract free handsets locally, though you will also need to purchase a SIM card.

INTERNET

Most hotels provide Wi-Fi, which is often free, as do many cafes and restaurants, though overall speeds are slow. In addition the Filipino government has embarked on the ambitious rollout of free Wi-Fi in public spaces across the country, even in remote areas, which is still underway, though speeds are fairly slow and a fair usage policy applies.

The 3G and 4G network is well developed, and for mobile internet, buying a sim locally provides a relatively cheap and reliable solution, with the added advantage of access to useful navigation and sightseeing apps.

ELECTRICITY

The electricity supply in the Philippines is 220 Volts, at 60 HZ.

A useful visual reference guide to the full range of international plug and socket varieties can be found at http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/, which describes the type system in use on this website.

As yet, there is no standardised socket system for the Philippines, and you will likely encounter different socket systems in hotels all over the country. The majority of connections are variants of two-pin outlets, both round-pin (type C) and flat blade types (type A). Some sockets are of a three pin type suited to type B plugs, but which can also accommodate types A without using the ground/earth pin.

For this reason it is best either to carry a range of suitable adapters or invest in one of the new universal adapters with retractable pins which are adaptable to differing formats, particularly if you are travelling to more than one country. Usefully, some models also provide additional USB connections.

It is helpful to consider your likely needs in advance. If you will need to charge several items such as mobile phones, tablet computers, cameras etc, it may be worth bringing a multiple, preferably surge protected, outlet from your own country to avoid having to purchase several adapters, or to deal with a limited availability of wall sockets.

In most cases, if your equipment normally runs on a 110 volt, 60 HZ supply, you will additionally need a portable transformer.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

The Philippines uses the international metric system based on the metre, litre and gram.

POSTAL SERVICES

Postal services are run by the state-operated PHLPost, who operate a wide range of postal products, with post offices being widespread throughout the country. Opening hours fluctuate, but services are generally available from 08:00 – 17:00 on weekdays, with a lunch break between 12:00-13:00.

Filipino post services are widely considered reliable, but if you are sending particularly valuable goods it may be more prudent to use one of several international operators, such as TNT, DHL, UPS and Federal Express, who also operate in the Philippines.

TIME ZONE

The Philippines’ time zone is GMT/UTC+8, though it should be noted for calculation purposes that the country does not operate a daylight saving mechanism.