Travel Risk Report: Philippines
Travel risk in the Philippines varies according to the area and profile of the traveller. Crime, particularly of a petty nature, is a concern across most parts of the Philippines but remains more significant in urban areas such as the capital, Manila. The most common criminal tactics include express kidnapping (the short-term abduction of people with the objective of having them withdraw money from an ATM or taking their valuables) as well as bag-snatching and pick-pocketing. Demonstrations are more likely to occur in urban areas and can turn violent quickly. Due to an ongoing conflict in the rural areas of southern and western Mindanao Island between the Filipino military and a number of separatist and Islamist militant groups, martial law has been declared on the Island. This conflict is also present in the Sulu archipelago. In these regions, in addition to the wider island of Mindanao, there is also an elevated threat of terrorism and kidnapping. Terrorism and kidnapping are rarely reported outside of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago but the threat cannot entirely be discounted, particularly in Manila where low-level acts of terrorism have occurred in previous years.
The Philippines has a good standard of healthcare in major urban centres due to well-functioning private medical facilities. However, in rural areas, these standards are lower and less available. This is a brief overview and our advice would be to thoroughly research your destination prior to travel. Our travel risk department can provide country reports, risk summaries, advice and support to help mitigate risk further.