Philippines

From CruisersWiki

Revision as of 03:50, 7 October 2010

PHILIPPINES CRUISING GUIDE

An online cruising guide for yachts sailing around the Philippines.

Philippines
Philippines
Flag
Capital:	Manila
Language:	English, Filipino
Currency:	Philippine Peso
Time Zone	UTC +8
More notes about the country

North of Mindoro. Photo by Magalhães, 2003

Background

The Philippines comprises over 7,000 islands. A volcanic mountain range runs north - south, 50% forested; largest islands Luzon and Mindanao. Coastal scenery is stunning, most people know some English, one of the cheapest places to cruise in the World. Bonbonon,(see chart below) South Negros is where the largest number of cruisers (about 40) hang out. Other cruiser haunts are Subic Bay, Puerto Galera and Cebu. Generally the Philippines is safe from piracy except for Mindanao which should be avoided.

The Philippines has been a very popular cruising region, for many reasons, for many years.

Philippines Climate & Weather

The Philippines experiences two "seasons".
1) The North East monsoon, from November to April
2) The South West monsoon from May to October.
Tropical storms and Typhoons can strike the Philippines at any time of the year but are most frequently experienced between April to November.

Sources for weather forecasts:

Philippines Navigation Charts

• National Mapping Resource Information Agency
  • Click here for List of Available Nautical Charts - Philippine Charts
• ENC for Southern China Sea (SCS)
  • East Asia Hydrographic Commission (EAHC) - Free charts

Navigation Issues

Submit details of special navigational hazards

Arrival in the Philippines

• Yachts arriving in the Philippines must report to the Coast Guard initially. See their website for locations of Coast Guard Stations.
• Yachts MUST initially proceed to an official Port of Entry to check in - overnight stops en-route to a Port of Entry is tolerated but not encouraged.
• Yachts (especially those with animals aboard - to notify the quarantine officer) must try to give 24 hours advance notice of arrival at the Port of Entry'.

Departure from the Philippines

Details?

Philippines Immigration, Visas & Customs

Immigration
A visia is not required for stays of up to 21 days except for those citizens of Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Belize, Bosnia & Herzegovina, China, CIS, Croatia, Cuba, East Timor, Egypt, Estonia, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Yemen.

For stays longer than 21 days, you must get a visa in advance. The validity of the visa starts from the date one checks in at the first port of entry. It is advised that anyone planning to cruise in the Philippines should obtain a 60-day visa in advance and an extension of this visa for a further 60 days can be obtained from the Immigration office in either Cebu or Manila.

When applying for a visa from a Philippines consulate the requirements are;

• Passport (with 6 months validity)
• Application form and photograph (signed on the reverse)
• An itinerary and intended port of entry into the Philippines
• Full details of the vessel.

This site takes you to The Bureau of Immigration - constantly updated

Customs

• Firearms and ammunition MUST be declared on arrival. Prohibited items include pornographic material, narcotics and internationally prohibited drugs, unless accompanied by a medical prescription.
• PETS: - Yachts with animals on board are required to contact the Animal Quarantine office in Manila. Ph: (2) 992-836, for clearance documentation and a permit.
• Yachts may remain for 1 year in the Philippines - crew's visa extensions apply.

Fees and Charges

• Visa Fee =
  • Extensions =
• Entry Fee =
• Depature Fee (Port Clearance) =

Note: A deratting certificate is NOT necessary for small recreational vessels.

Health

• Malaria and schistosomiasis are two water-related parasitic diseases affecting millions of people worldwide particularly tropical and subtropical countries. In the Philippines, malaria is found in 72 out of 78 provinces while schistosomiasis is endemic in 24 provinces. The Anopheles mosquito and the Oncomelania snail involved in the transmission of these diseases depend on certain environmental determinants that support mosquito and snail populations, ie. water and nearby human activity and population.
  • Malaria Area of Risk:
    Rural only, except no risk in provinces of Bohol, Catanduanes, Cebu, and metropolitan Manila; however, Subic Bay is a risk area.
  • Malaria Chloroquine Resistance: Confirmed CDC Yellow Book Region Overview:
    Southeast Asia:- From the tropical rain and monsoon forests of the northwest, the area extends through the savannah and the dry tropical forests of the Indochina peninsula, returning to the tropical rain and monsoon forests of the islands bordering the South China Sea.
• Virus Dengue is an additional water related disease also carried by mosquitoes, represented by 4 different strains.
• Arthropod-borne diseases are an important cause of morbidity throughout the area. Malaria and filariasis are endemic in many parts of the rural areas of all the countries Japanese encephalitis, dengue, and dengue hemorrhagic fever can occur in epidemics in both urban and rural areas. Mite-borne typhus has been reported in deforested areas in most countries.
• Foodborne and waterborne diseases are common. Cholera and other watery diarrheas, amebic and bacillary dysentery, typhoid fever, and hepatitis A and E can occur in all countries in the area. Schistosomiasis is endemic in the southern Philippines. Among helminthic infections, fasciolopsiasis (giant intestinal fluke) can be acquired in most countries in the areas; opisthorchiasis (cat liver fluke) in the Philippines, and paragonimiasis in most countries. Melioidosis can occur sporadically throughout the area.
• Other hazards include snake bites and leeches.

Security

Details?

Philippines Islands, Ports and Popular Stops

The Philippine islands can be divided among three main groups and those islands/ports of particular interest to cruisers are listed under each group heading:

• Luzon – the northernmost island group, center of government, history and economy and home to the capital
• Visayas – the central island group, heart of the country’s antiquity, nature and biodiversity
• Mindanao – the southernmost island group, which showcases the Philippines’ indigenous and rich cultures
• Palawan -

Philippines Yacht Clubs & Marinas

YACHT CLUBS
Thanks to the Puerto Galera Yacht Club for the following information regarding Yacht Clubs in the Philippines (with minor modifications):-

Maya Maya Yacht Club
Click for larger view

Maya'Maya Yacht Club, Nasugbu, Batangas
Launching ramp, marina, moorings, travel hoist, accommodation, restaurant, fuel and Internet
Loc: 14°6'55.8"N E120°36.76'
Marine VHF: 68
Tel: +63 918 929 3972
Email
Website

Punto Fuego Yacht Club
Click for larger view

Punta Fuego Yacht Club, Nasugbu, Batangas
Launching ramp, marina, showers, restaurant and fuel
Loc:- N14°7.79' E120°35.39'
Marine VHF: 72
Tel: +63 43 729-0182
Email
Website

Taal Lake Yacht Club, Batangas (Note: not accessible from the sea)
Launching ramp, showers, restaurant, accommodation, Internet (coming soon)
Marine VHF: ?
Tel: +63 917 838 3726
Email
Website

Maricaban Bay Cruising Club, Busuanga
Beach launching, moorings, showers, accommodation and restaurant, fuel. (BIG discounts offered at parent resort for crew of visiting yachts; free transfer to Coron town & Busuanga airport)
Loc:- 12°11'27.6" N 120°5' 55.2" E
Marine VHF: 68 (not 24 hours)
Tel: +63 920 951 5009
Email
Website

File:Maricam Bay Cruising Club.jpg

Manila Yacht Club, Metro Manila
Launching ramp, marina, moorings, travel hoist, showers, restaurant, fuel and Internet
Loc:- 14°33' 39.6 N, 120°58' 57" E
Marine VHF: ?
Tel: +63 2 523 6926
Email
Website

File:MANILA YACHT CLUB.jpg

Subic Bay Yacht Club, Zambales
Marina, travel hoist, showers, accommodation, restaurant and fuel
Loc:- 14°49'16.8" N 120° 17' 24" E
Marine VHF: ?
Tel: +63 47 252-5211
Email
Website

File:Subic Bay Yacht Club.jpg

Cebu Yacht Club, Cebu
Marina, moorings, anchorage, restaurant, accommodation, fuel and Internet
Loc:- 10°19' 43.78" N 123°58' 34.06" E
Marine VHF: ?
Tel: +63 32 340 2939
Email
www: ?

File:Cebu.jpg

This picture (2007) shows sheltered anchorage off Abanico Yacht Club

Abanico Yacht Club, Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Moorings, restaurant, dinghy hire, water
Loc:- 09°45.91 N 118°43.81 E
Marine VHF: ?
Tel: +63 918 650 6879

Cruiser's Friends

Submit details/contacts of cruiser's "friends" that can be contacted in advance or on arrival - who can offer information and assistance to our cruising "family".

References & Publications

Books, Guides, etc.

Links to Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

• Philippines Entry/Exit discussion thread
• Philippines Sailing and Cruising Discussions on Cruisers Forum

External Links

• Puerto Galera Yacht Club - On this website you will find up-to-date information on Cruising and Sailing in the Philippines - produced by the members of the Puerto Galera Yacht Club. No doubt that this is one of the very best sources of information on Cruising the Philippines.
• Welcome to Samal Island in the Gulf of Davao - Here you will find cruising guidelines and information regarding life in Samal and Davao.

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

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