- Travel Advice
DFAT advice for Philippines
When travelling to Philippines, you should always get travel insurance in case the worst happens. To help you ensure you travel safely, we have included the travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for Philippines.
| Philippines overall | This Advice is current for Saturday, 06 December 2008. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
| Mindanao, including the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu Archipelago | ||||
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information under Safety and Security: Terrorism (explosion in Digos). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
[top]Summary
- We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in the Philippines because of the high threat of terrorist attack. We continue to receive credible reports indicating terrorists are planning attacks against a range of targets in a variety of locations, including places frequented by foreigners. If you do decide to travel to the Philippines, you should exercise extreme vigilance.
- Attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in the Philippines, including in Manila. You should read the Terrorism section and avoid places known to be terrorist targets.
- We strongly advise you not to travel to Mindanao, including mainland Mindanao, the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu Archipelago, due to the very high threat of terrorist attack, including kidnapping, and related counter-terrorism operations. Armed clashes between the Philippines Armed Forces and Moro Islamic Liberation Front are continuing after fighting broke out on 10 August 2008 in central Mindanao. If you are in these areas, you should consider leaving.
- There is a danger of kidnapping throughout the Philippines, particularly in the southern Philippines including coastal and island tourist resorts and dive sites. Terrorists have kidnapped tourists from these areas in the past. Kidnap for ransom gangs are active and have targeted foreigners.
- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has established permanent danger zones around the summits of three volcanoes.
- The typhoon season normally runs from late May to early December. This is also the rainy season when tropical storms, flooding and landslides may occur.
- Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
- organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
- register your travel and contact details, so we can contact you in an emergency
- subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.
