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Do not fill this in! == Economy == {{Main|Economy of the Philippines}} The Philippine economy is the world's [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|34th largest]], with an estimated {{as of|2023|bare=yes}} nominal [[gross domestic product]] of {{currency|435.7 billion|USD|linked=no|passthrough=yes}}.<ref name="IMFWEO.PH"/> As a [[newly industrialized country]],<ref name="FederalRegister-Vol78" /><ref>{{cite book|editor-last1=Yu Chang |editor-first1=Albert Vincent Y. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N9Ii3nTZ37AC |title=A Legal Guide to Doing Business in the Asia-Pacific |editor-last2=Thorson |editor-first2=Andrew |date=2010 |publisher=[[American Bar Association]] |location=Chicago, Ill. |isbn=978-1-60442-843-8 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=N9Ii3nTZ37AC&pg=PA288 288]}}</ref> the Philippine economy has been transitioning from an agricultural base to one with more emphasis on services and manufacturing.<ref name="FederalRegister-Vol78">{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EIG4iINKSOgC |journal=Federal Register |title=Commercial Setting: The Philippines |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=[[Office of the Federal Register]], National Archives and Records Service, [[General Services Administration]] |volume=78 |issue=51 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=EIG4iINKSOgC&pg=PA16468 16468]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |date=January 26, 2023 |title=GDP Expands by 7.2 Percent in the Fourth Quarter of 2022, and by 7.6 Percent in Full-year 2022 |url=https://psa.gov.ph/national-accounts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130010406/https://psa.gov.ph/national-accounts |archive-date=January 30, 2023 |access-date=March 13, 2023 |publisher=[[Philippine Statistics Authority]]}}</ref> The country's labor force was around 50 million {{as of|2023|lc=y}}, and its [[List of sovereign states by unemployment rate|unemployment rate]] was 3.1 percent.<ref name="PSAGovPH-UnemploymentDec2023">{{Cite press release |last=Mapa |first=Dennis S. |title=Unemployment Rate in December 2023 was Estimated at 3.1 Percent |url=https://psa.gov.ph/content/unemployment-rate-december-2023-was-estimated-31-percent |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207091631/https://psa.gov.ph/content/unemployment-rate-december-2023-was-estimated-31-percent |archive-date=February 7, 2024 |publisher=[[Philippine Statistics Authority]] |url-status=live}}</ref> Gross international reserves totaled {{currency|103.406 billion|USD|linked=no|passthrough=yes}} {{as of|2024|January|lc=y}}.<ref>{{#invoke:cite web||title=Gross International Reserves |url=https://www.bsp.gov.ph/Statistics/sdds/table12_data.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215120950/https://www.bsp.gov.ph/Statistics/sdds/table12_data.aspx |archive-date=February 15, 2024 |publisher=[[Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas]] |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Debt-to-GDP ratio]] decreased to 60.2 percent at the end of 2023 from a 17-year high 63.7 percent at the end of the third quarter of that year, and indicated resiliency during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Gonzalez |first=Anna Leah |title=PH debt-to-GDP improves in 2023 |work=[[Philippine News Agency]] |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1217973 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131074513/https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1217973 |archive-date=January 31, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> The country's unit of [[currency]] is the [[Philippine peso]] (₱<ref>{{#invoke:cite book||section=Executive Order No. 66 |title=Executive Orders and Proclamations Issued by the Governor-General [1903] |date=August 3, 1903 |url=https://quod.lib.umich.edu/p/philamer/ACD6603.1903.001/91 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817095343/https://quod.lib.umich.edu/p/philamer/ACD6603.1903.001/91 |archive-date=August 17, 2020 |access-date=August 17, 2020 |page=89}}</ref> or PHP<ref>{{#invoke:cite web||date=August 29, 2018 |title=List one: Currency, fund and precious metal codes |url=https://www.currency-iso.org/dam/downloads/lists/list_one.xls |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511031332/https://www.currency-iso.org/dam/downloads/lists/list_one.xls |archive-date=May 11, 2020 |access-date=August 17, 2020 |publisher=[[International Organization for Standardization|ISO 4217 Maintenance Agency]] |format=XLS}}</ref>).<ref>{{cite report|last=International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department |url=https://www.elibrary.imf.org/downloadpdf/book/9781451942804/9781451942804.pdf |title=Annual Report on Exchange Arrangements and Exchange Restrictions 1999 |date=September 17, 1999 |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=978-1-4519-4280-4 |page=683 |access-date=April 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409193323/https://www.elibrary.imf.org/downloadpdf/book/9781451942804/9781451942804.pdf |archive-date=April 9, 2023}}</ref> The Philippines is a net importer,<ref name="ILOOrg-2019" />{{rp|pages=55–56,61–65,77,83,111}}<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Gadon |first1=Bernadette Therese M. |title=2021 trade deficit widest in 3 years |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2022/04/22/443881/2021-trade-deficit-widest-in-3-years/ |access-date=April 22, 2023 |work=[[BusinessWorld]] |date=April 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421200131/https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2022/04/22/443881/2021-trade-deficit-widest-in-3-years/ |archive-date=April 21, 2022}}</ref> and a [[Net international investment position|debtor nation]].<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||year=2022|title=Philippines Net International Investment Position |publisher=CEIC |url=https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/philippines/net-international-investment-position |access-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311060132/https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/philippines/net-international-investment-position |archive-date=March 11, 2023}}</ref> {{as of|2020}}, the country's main export markets were China, the United States, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore;<ref name="OECWorld-PH">{{#invoke:cite web||title=Philippines (PHL) Exports, Imports, and Trade Partners |url=https://oec.world/en/profile/country/phl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205044653/https://oec.world/en/profile/country/phl |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |access-date=February 26, 2023 |publisher=[[Observatory of Economic Complexity]] |language=en}}</ref> primary exports included [[integrated circuit]]s, office machinery and parts, electrical transformers, insulated wiring, and [[semiconductor]]s.<ref name="OECWorld-PH" /> Its primary import markets that year were China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, and Indonesia.<ref name="OECWorld-PH" /> Major export crops include [[Coconut production in the Philippines|coconuts]], [[Banana industry#Production and export|bananas]], and [[List of countries by pineapple production|pineapples]]; it is the world's largest producer of [[abaca]],<ref name="Boquet-2017" />{{rp|pages={{plain link|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=90C4DgAAQBAJ&pg=PA226|name=226–242}}}} and was the world's second biggest exporter of [[nickel|nickel ore]] in 2022,<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-30/philippines-may-tax-nickel-exports-to-follow-indonesia-s-success#xj4y7vzkg |url-access=subscription |title=Nickel Gets Fresh Supply Risk as Philippines Mulls Export Tax |last1=Serapio |first1=Manolo Jr. |last2=Calonzo |first2=Andreo |date=January 30, 2023 |work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] |language=en |access-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230131145135/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-30/philippines-may-tax-nickel-exports-to-follow-indonesia-s-success |archive-date=January 31, 2023}}</ref> as well as the biggest exporter of gold-clad metals and the biggest importer of [[copra]] in 2020.<ref name="OECWorld-PH" /> [[File:0123jfCalipahan Sicsican Rice Fields San Pascual Talavera Ecijafvf 04.JPG|thumb|alt=Two people planting rice plants in water|Filipinos planting rice. [[Agriculture in the Philippines|Agriculture employed 24 percent of the Filipino workforce]] {{As of|2022|lc=y}}.<ref name="PSAGovPH-UnemploymentDec2022">{{Cite press release |last=Mapa |first=Dennis S. |title=Employment situation as of December 2022 |url=https://psa.gov.ph/content/unemployment-rate-december-2022-estimated-43-percent |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208062354/https://psa.gov.ph/content/unemployment-rate-december-2022-estimated-43-percent |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |access-date=February 8, 2023 |publisher=[[Philippine Statistics Authority]]}}</ref>]] With an average annual growth rate of six to seven percent since around 2010, the Philippines has emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing economies,<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Biswas |first1=Rajiv |title=Philippines amongst world's fastest growing emerging markets |url=https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/mi/research-analysis/philippines-amongst-worlds-fastest-growing-emerging-markets-Mar23.html |access-date=April 2, 2023 |work=[[IHS Markit]] |date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311221015/https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/mi/research-analysis/philippines-amongst-worlds-fastest-growing-emerging-markets-Mar23.html |archive-date=March 11, 2023}}</ref> driven primarily by its increasing reliance on the service sector.<ref name=OECD-SMEPolicyIndex2018>{{cite book|title=SME Policy Index: ASEAN 2018: Boosting Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth |date=September 21, 2018 |chapter=The Philippines |pages=371–373 |publisher=[[OECD Publishing]]; [[Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia]] |location=Paris, France; Jakarta, Indonesia |isbn=978-92-64-30531-1 |url=https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/development/sme-policy-index-asean-2018_9789264305328-en |chapter-url=https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/9789264305328-22-en.pdf |access-date=May 12, 2023 |language=en |doi=10.1787/9789264305328-22-en |doi-access=free}}</ref> Regional development is uneven, however, with Manila (in particular) gaining most of the new economic growth.<ref>{{cite journal|type=Conference proceeding |date=2018 |title=Critical Perspectives on Federalism for Regional Development (Proceedings of the Third Annual Public Policy Conference 2017) |url=https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidsbk2018-appc2017.pdf |journal=Appc 2017 |location=Quezon City, Philippines |publisher=[[Philippine Institute for Development Studies]] |page=xvii |issn=2546-1761 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208162326/https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidsbk2018-appc2017.pdf |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |access-date=February 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Fajardo |first=Fernando |date=March 5, 2014 |title=Poverty and regional development imbalance |newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]] |url=http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/22630/poverty-and-regional-development-imbalance |access-date=July 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222102526/http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/22630/poverty-and-regional-development-imbalance |archive-date=February 22, 2015}}</ref> [[Remittance]]s from [[overseas Filipinos]] contribute significantly to the country's economy;<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Seriño |first1=Moises Neil V. |title=Effects of International Remittances on the Philippine Economy: A Cointegration Analysis |journal=DLSU Business & Economics Review |date=2012 |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=47–48 |url=https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/EffectsofInternationalRemittancesonthePhilippineEconomy_ACointegrationAnalysis.pdf |access-date=April 30, 2023 |publisher=[[De La Salle University]] |oclc=855102346 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430132943/https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/EffectsofInternationalRemittancesonthePhilippineEconomy_ACointegrationAnalysis.pdf |archive-date=April 30, 2023}}</ref><ref name=OECD-SMEPolicyIndex2018 /> they reached a record {{currency|37.20 billion|USD|linked=no|passthrough=yes}} in 2023, accounting for 8.5 percent of GDP.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Gonzalez |first=Anna Leah |title=OFW remittances hit all-time high in 2023 |work=[[Philippine News Agency]] |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1218913 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215073743/https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1218913 |archive-date=February 15, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Philippines is the world's primary [[Business process outsourcing in the Philippines|business process outsourcing]] (BPO) center.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||date=December 2, 2010 |title=Phl overtakes India as world's BPO leader |work=[[The Philippine Star]] |url=https://www.philstar.com/business/2010/12/02/634901/phl-overtakes-india-worlds-bpo-leader |access-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901193030/https://www.philstar.com/business/2010/12/02/634901/phl-overtakes-india-worlds-bpo-leader |archive-date=September 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Stevens |first=Andrew J. R. |series=Routledge Advances in Sociology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CZ0sAwAAQBAJ |title=Call Centers and the Global Division of Labor: A Political Economy of Post-Industrial Employment and Union Organizing |date=2014 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |location=New York, N.Y. |isbn=978-1-135-11868-6 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=CZ0sAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1 1]}}</ref> About 1.3 million Filipinos work in the BPO sector, primarily in [[customer service]].<ref>{{cite book|editor-last1=Arenas |editor-first1=Guillermo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dFWYEAAAQBAJ |title=A New Dawn for Global Value Chain Participation in the Philippines |series=International Development in Focus |editor-last2=Coulibaly |editor-first2=Souleymane |date= 2022 |publisher=[[World Bank Publications]] |location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=978-1-4648-1848-6 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=dFWYEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA28 28–29] |language=en}}</ref> === Science and technology === {{Main|Science and technology in the Philippines|Philippine space program}} [[File:Head Quarters of the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños - panoramio.jpg|thumb|alt=Modern, landscaped office building|Headquarters of the [[International Rice Research Institute]] in [[Los Baños, Laguna]]]] The Philippines has one of the largest agricultural-research systems in Asia, despite relatively low spending on agricultural research and development.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Baconguis |first=Rowena T. |date=February 14, 2022 |title=Agricultural Technology: Why Does the Level of Agricultural Production Remain Low Despite Increased Investments in Research and Extension? |url=https://think-asia.org/bitstream/handle/11540/14877/pidsdps2206.pdf?sequence=1 |journal=PIDS Discussion Paper Series |publisher=[[Philippine Institute for Development Studies]] |location=Quezon City, Philippines |oclc=1302730898 |page=6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224005936/https://think-asia.org/bitstream/handle/11540/14877/pidsdps2206.pdf?sequence=1 |archive-date=February 24, 2023 |access-date=February 24, 2023 |via=Think Asia}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|last1=Stads |first1=Gert-Jan |last2=Faylon |first2=Patricio S. |last3=Buendia |first3=Leah J. |title=Key trends in agricultural R&D investments in the Philippines |url=https://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll2/id/32328 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230224011436/https://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll2/id/32328 |date=March 2007 |archive-date=February 24, 2023 |access-date=February 24, 2023 |publisher=[[International Food Policy Research Institute]], [[Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development|Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development]]}}</ref> The country has developed new varieties of crops, including [[Rice production in the Philippines|rice]],<ref>{{cite book|type=Conference proceeding |editor-last1=Virmani |editor-first1=S. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xA1jRdqJJzcC |title=Advances in Hybrid Rice Technology: Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on Hybrid Rice, 14–16 November 1996, Hyderabad, India |editor-last2=Siddiq |editor-first2=E. A. |editor-last3=Muralidharan |editor-first3=K. |date=1998 |publisher=[[International Rice Research Institute]] |location=Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines |isbn=978-971-22-0115-8 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=xA1jRdqJJzcC&pg=PA341 341] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor-last1=Ricroch |editor-first1=Agnès |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VzkqBAAAQBAJ |title=Plant Biotechnology: Experience and Future Prospects |editor-last2=Chopra |editor-first2=Surinder |editor-last3=Fleischer |editor-first3=Shelby J. |date=July 11, 2014 |publisher=[[Springer Science+Business Media|Springer]] |location=Cham, Switzerland|isbn=978-3-319-06892-3 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=VzkqBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA256 256] |language=en}}</ref> coconuts,<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |editor-last1=Cumo |editor-first1=Christopher |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ja7WAQAAQBAJ |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Cultivated Plants: From Acacia to Zinnia |volume=I: A–F |title=Coconut |date=April 25, 2013 |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |location=Santa Barbara, Calif. |isbn=978-1-59884-775-8 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Ja7WAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA298 298] |language=en}}</ref> and bananas.<ref>{{cite book|type=Conference proceeding |editor-last1=Molina |editor-first1=A. B. |editor-last2=Roa |editor-first2=V. N. |editor-last3=Maghuyop |editor-first3=M. A. G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xnY61doEaJUC |title=Advancing banana and plantain R & D in Asia and the Pacific Vol. 10: Proceedings of the 10th INIBAP-ASPNET Regional Advisory Committee meeting held at Bangkok, Thailand, 10–11 November 2000 |date=2001 |publisher=[[International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain]] |location=Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines |isbn=978-971-91751-5-5 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=xnY61doEaJUC&pg=PA53 53] |language=en}}</ref> Research organizations include the [[Philippine Rice Research Institute]]<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||date=June 1, 2022 |title=Philippine Rice Research and Technological Advancements |work=[[BusinessMirror]] |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/06/01/nsic-okays-14-rice-varieties-developed-by-irri-philrice/ |access-date=February 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601083727/https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/06/01/nsic-okays-14-rice-varieties-developed-by-irri-philrice/ |archive-date=June 1, 2022}}</ref> and the [[International Rice Research Institute]].<ref>{{#invoke:cite web||title=Philippines |url=https://www.irri.org/where-we-work/countries/philippines |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714103217/https://www.irri.org/where-we-work/countries/philippines |archive-date=July 14, 2019 |access-date=February 9, 2023 |publisher=[[International Rice Research Institute]] |language=en}}</ref> The [[Philippine Space Agency]] maintains the [[Philippine space program|country's space program]],<ref>{{cite book|editor-last1=Verspieren |editor-first1=Quentin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OQdZEAAAQBAJ |title=ASEAN Space Programs: History and Way Forward |editor-last2=Berthet |editor-first2=Maximilien |editor-last3=Coral |editor-first3=Giulio |editor-last4=Nakasuka |editor-first4=Shinichi |editor-last5=Shiroyama |editor-first5=Hideaki |date=January 12, 2022 |publisher=[[Springer Nature]] |location=Singapore |isbn=978-981-16-7326-9 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=OQdZEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA57 57–58] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Kim |first=Doo Hwan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KUIoEAAAQBAJ |title=Global Issues Surrounding Outer Space Law and Policy |series=Advances in Public Policy and Administration (APPA) Book Series |date=2021 |publisher=IGI Global |location=Hershey, Pa. |isbn=978-1-7998-7409-6 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KUIoEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA69 69] |language=en}}</ref> and the country bought its first [[List of Philippine satellites|satellite]] in 1996.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||date=July 25, 1996 |title=Mabuhay acquires Indon satellite; sets new orbit |page=9 |work=[[Manila Standard]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1370&dat=19960725&id=9mUVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6158,3894648 |access-date=July 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728061150/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1370&dat=19960725&id=9mUVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6158,3894648 |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |via=[[Google News]]}}</ref> [[Diwata-1]], its first [[Small satellite#Microsatellites|micro-satellite]], was launched on the United States' [[Cygnus (spacecraft)|Cygnus]] spacecraft in 2016.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Ronda |first=Rainier Allan |date=March 24, 2016 |title=US aircraft with Philippines's first microsatellite launched into space |work=[[The Philippine Star]] |url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/03/24/1566175/us-aircraft-philippiness-first-microsatellite-launched-space |access-date=March 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327120259/http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/03/24/1566175/us-aircraft-philippiness-first-microsatellite-launched-space |archive-date=March 27, 2016}}</ref> The Philippines has a [[List of countries by smartphone penetration|high concentration]] of [[Mobile phone|cellular-phone]] users,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pertierra |first1=Raul |title=We Reveal Ourselves to Ourselves: The New Communication Media in the Philippines |journal=Social Science Diliman |date=June 2013 |volume=9 |issue=1 |page=25 |url=https://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/socialsciencediliman/article/view/3920/3573 |access-date=July 1, 2023 |publisher=[[University of the Philippines]] |issn=1655-1524 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225214150/https://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/socialsciencediliman/article/view/3920/3573 |archive-date=February 25, 2017}}</ref> and a high level of [[mobile commerce]].<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Teves |first=Oliver |date=September 29, 2007 |title=Cell phones double as electronic wallets in Philippines |work=[[USA Today]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/phones/2007-09-29-philippines-cell-phones_N.htm |access-date=February 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025035722/https://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/phones/2007-09-29-philippines-cell-phones_N.htm |archive-date=October 25, 2007}}</ref> [[Text messaging]] is a popular form of communication, and the nation sent an average of one billion [[SMS]] messages per day in 2007.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Francisco |first=Rosemarie |date=March 4, 2008 |title=Filipinos sent 1 billion text messages daily in 2007 |language=en |newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]] |agency=[[Reuters]] |url=http://technology.inquirer.net/infotech/infotech/view/20080304-122775/Filipinos-sent-1-billion-text-messages-daily-in-2007 |access-date=February 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308115828/http://technology.inquirer.net/infotech/infotech/view/20080304-122775/Filipinos-sent-1-billion-text-messages-daily-in-2007 |archive-date=March 8, 2008}}</ref> The [[Telecommunications in the Philippines|Philippine telecommunications industry]] had been dominated by the [[PLDT]]-[[Globe Telecom]] duopoly for more than two decades,<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Elliott |first1=Vittoria |last2=Deck |first2=Andrew |date=November 2, 2020 |title=Duterte, Dito, and the Duopoly |work=Rest of World |url=https://restofworld.org/2020/duterte-dito-and-the-duopoly/ |access-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102142904/https://restofworld.org/2020/duterte-dito-and-the-duopoly/ |archive-date=November 2, 2020}}</ref> and the 2021 entry of [[Dito Telecommunity]] improved the country's telecommunications service.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Cuyco |first=Jan |date=July 1, 2022 |title=No longer a duopoly, Philippines' mobile market sees improved 4G, 5G availability – Ookla |work=[[The Philippine Star]] |url=https://www.philstar.com/business/2022/07/01/2192313/no-longer-duopoly-philippines-mobile-market-sees-improved-4g-5g-availability-ookla |access-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701073711/https://www.philstar.com/business/2022/07/01/2192313/no-longer-duopoly-philippines-mobile-market-sees-improved-4g-5g-availability-ookla |archive-date=July 1, 2022}}</ref> === Tourism === {{Main|Tourism in the Philippines}} [[File:Chocolate Hills and tourists.jpg|thumb|alt=People on an observation deck overlooking hills|Tourists at [[Chocolate Hills]], conical [[karst]] hills in [[Bohol]]]] The Philippines is a popular retirement destination for foreigners because of its climate and low cost of living;<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Frost |first=Charles |date=May 31, 2015 |title=Best Place to Retire |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/best-places-to-retire-abroad-the-philippines-1432827258 |access-date=July 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601033128/https://www.wsj.com/articles/best-places-to-retire-abroad-the-philippines-1432827258 |archive-date=June 1, 2015}}</ref> the country is also a top destination for diving enthusiasts.<ref>{{cite book|editor-last1=Nordquist |editor-first1=Myron H. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gny9DwAAQBAJ |title=Cooperation and Engagement in the Asia-Pacific Region |editor-last2=Moore |editor-first2=John Norton |editor-last3=Long |editor-first3=Ronán |date=November 11, 2019 |publisher=[[Brill Publishers|Brill]] |location=Leiden, Netherlands |isbn=978-90-04-41202-6 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Gny9DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA72 72] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Rocamora |first=Joyce Ann L. |date=December 16, 2021 |title=PH still world's leading dive destination in 2021: WTA |language=en |work=[[Philippine News Agency]] |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1162963 |access-date=February 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216093702/https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1162963 |archive-date=December 16, 2021}}</ref> [[List of tourist attractions in the Philippines|Tourist spots]] include [[Boracay]], called the best island in the world by ''[[Travel + Leisure]]'' in 2012;<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Malig |first=Jojo |date=July 9, 2012 |title=Boracay named 2012 world's best island |work=[[ABS-CBN News]] |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/07/06/12/boracay-named-2012-worlds-best-island |access-date=February 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218054435/https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/07/06/12/boracay-named-2012-worlds-best-island |archive-date=February 18, 2016}}</ref> [[Coron, Palawan|Coron]] and [[El Nido, Palawan|El Nido]] in Palawan; [[Cebu]]; [[Siargao]], and [[Bohol]].<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Zubiri |first=Stephanie |date=November 18, 2022 |title=Beyond the beaches: five adventure experiences in the Philippines |language=en-gb |work=[[National Geographic]] |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel/bc/2022/11/beyond-the-beaches-five-unusual-experiences-in-the-philippines |access-date=February 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128091050/https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel/bc/2022/11/beyond-the-beaches-five-unusual-experiences-in-the-philippines |archive-date=November 28, 2022}}</ref> Tourism contributed 5.2 percent to the Philippine GDP in 2021 (lower than 12.7 percent in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic),<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Ochave |first=Revin Mikhael D. |date=June 21, 2022 |title=Philippine tourism industry seen to reach pre-pandemic levels by 2024 |work=[[BusinessWorld]] |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2022/06/22/456578/philippine-tourism-industry-seen-to-reach-pre-pandemic-levels-by-2024/ |access-date=November 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621174641/https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2022/06/22/456578/philippine-tourism-industry-seen-to-reach-pre-pandemic-levels-by-2024/ |archive-date=June 21, 2022}}</ref> and provided 5.7 million jobs in 2019.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||date=October 21, 2020 |title=Inbound int'l tourism may pick up starting late 2021 |work=[[BusinessWorld]] |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/editors-picks/2020/10/22/324125/inbound-intl-tourism-may-pick-up-starting-late-2021/ |access-date=November 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111072858/https://www.bworldonline.com/editors-picks/2020/10/22/324125/inbound-intl-tourism-may-pick-up-starting-late-2021/ |archive-date=November 11, 2022}}</ref> The Philippines attracted 5.45 million international visitors in 2023, 30 percent lower than the 8.26 million record in pre-pandemic 2019; most tourists came from South Korea (26.4 percent), United States (16.5 percent), Japan (5.6 percent), Australia (4.89 percent), and China (4.84 percent).<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Arnaldo |first1=Ma. Stella F. |title=International tourists spent $8.69 billion in PHL in 2023–DOT |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/01/03/international-tourists-spent-8-69-billion-in-phl-in-2023-dot/ |access-date=January 3, 2024 |work=[[BusinessMirror]] |date=January 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102185145/https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/01/03/international-tourists-spent-8-69-billion-in-phl-in-2023-dot/ |archive-date=January 2, 2024}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page