_@_Palmyra Atoll Geography Total area: 11.9 km2 Land area: 11.9 km2 Comparative area: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 14.5 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 12 nm Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: none Climate: equatorial, hot, and very rainy Terrain: low, with maximum elevations of about 2 meters Natural resources: none Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 100%; other 0% Environment: about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall Note: located 1,600 km south-southwest of Honolulu in the North Pacific Ocean, almost halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa :Palmyra Atoll People Population: uninhabited :Palmyra Atoll Government Long-form name: none Type: unincorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC :Palmyra Atoll Economy Overview: no economic activity :Palmyra Atoll Communications Ports: the main harbor is West Lagoon, which is entered by a channel on the southwest side of the atoll; both the channel and harbor will accommodate vessels drawing 4 meters of water; much of the road and many causeways built during the war are unserviceable and overgrown Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m :Palmyra Atoll Defense Forces Branches: Note: defense is the responsibility of the US _@_Panama Geography Total area: 78,200 km2 Land area: 75,990 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina Land boundaries: 555 km total; Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km Coastline: 2,490 km Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 200 nm Disputes: none Climate: tropical; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May) Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp Land use: arable land 6%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures 15%; forest and woodland 54%; other 23%; includes irrigated NEGL% Environment: dense tropical forest in east and northwest Note: strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean :Panama People Population: 2,529,902 (July 1992), growth rate 2.0% (1992) Birth rate: 25 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 77 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Panamanian(s); adjective - Panamanian Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 70%, West Indian 14%, white 10%, Indian 6% Religions: Roman Catholic over 93%, Protestant 6% Languages: Spanish (official); English as native tongue 14%; many Panamanians bilingual Literacy: 88% (male 88%, female 88%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) Labor force: 770,472 (1987); government and community services 27.9%; agriculture, hunting, and fishing 26.2%; commerce, restaurants, and hotels 16%; manufacturing and mining 10.5%; construction 5.3%; transportation and communications 5.3%; finance, insurance, and real estate 4.2%; Canal Zone 2.4%; shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor Organized labor: 17% of labor force (1986) :Panama Government Long-form name: Republic of Panama Type: centralized republic Capital: Panama Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, Veraguas Independence: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821) Constitution: 11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983 Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1903) Executive branch: president, two vice presidents, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa) Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) currently being reorganized Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Guillermo ENDARA (since 20 December 1989, elected 7 May 1989); First Vice President Ricardo ARIAS Calderon (since 20 December 1989, elected 7 May 1989); Second Vice President Guillermo FORD Boyd (since 20 December 1989, elected 7 May 1989) Political parties and leaders: government alliance: Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Alfredo RAMIREZ; Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCALONA; Arnulfista Party (PA), Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER; opposition parties: Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Ricardo ARIAS Calderon; Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD, ex-official government party), Gerardo GONZALEZ; Agrarian Labor Party (PALA), Carlos LOPEZ Guevara; Liberal Party (PL), Roderick ESQUIVEL; Popular Action Party (PAPO); Socialist Workers Party (PST, leftist), Jose CAMBRA; Revolutionary Workers Party (PRT, leftist), Graciela DIXON Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 Elections: President: last held on 7 May 1989, annulled but later upheld (next to be held NA May 1994); results - anti-NORIEGA coalition believed to have won about 75% of the total votes cast Legislative Assembly: last held on 27 January 1991 (next to be held NA May 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (67 total) progovernment parties: PDC 28, MOLIRENA 16, PA 7, PLA 4 :Panama Government opposition parties: PRD 10, PALA 1, PL 1; note - the PDC went into opposition after President Guillermo ENDARA ousted the PDC from the coalition government in April 1991 Communists: People's Party (PdP), mainline Communist party, did not obtain the necessary 3% of the total vote in the 1984 election to retain its legal status; about 3,000 members Other political or pressure groups: National Council of Organized Workers (CONATO); National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP); Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE); National Civic Crusade; National Committee for the Right to Life Member of: AG (associate), CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jaime FORD; Chancery at 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-1407; the status of the Consulates General and Consulates has not yet been determined US: Ambassador Deane R. HINTON; Embassy at Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5 (mailing address is Box E, APO AA 34002); telephone (507) 27-1777; FAX (507) 27-1964 Flag: divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white with a blue five-pointed star in the center (hoist side) and plain red, the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center :Panama Economy Overview: GDP expanded by roughly 9.3% in 1991, following growth of 4.6% in 1990 and a 0.4% contraction in 1989. Delay in coming to terms with the international financial institutions on policies to implement structural reform in Panama generated uncertainty in the private sector and tempered the pace of business expansion in 1991. Public investment was limited as the administration kept the fiscal deficit below 3% of GDP. Unemployment and economic reform are the two major issues the government must face in 1992-93. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $5.0 billion, per capita $2,040; real growth rate 9.3% (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.0% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: 17% (1991 est.) Budget: revenues $1.5 billion; expenditures $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $140 million (1991 est.) Exports: $380 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: bananas 28%, shrimp 14%, sugar 12%, clothing 5%, coffee 4% partners: US 44%, Central America and Caribbean, EC (1991 est.) Imports: $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: capital goods 13%, crude oil 12%, foodstuffs 10%, consumer goods, chemicals (1990) partners: US 37%, Japan, EC, Central America and Caribbean, Mexico, Venezuela (1989 est.) External debt: $5.4 billion (December 1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 7.2% (1991 est.); accounts for almost 9.4% of GDP Electricity: 1,135,000 kW capacity; 3,397 million kWh produced, 1,372 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: manufacturing and construction activities, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and other construction material, sugar mills Agriculture: accounts for 12% of GDP (1991 est.), 25% of labor force (1989); crops - bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane; livestock; fishing; importer of food grain, vegetables Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $516 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $582 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $4 million Currency: balboa (plural - balboas); 1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos Exchange rates: balboas (B) per US$1 - 1.000 (fixed rate) Fiscal year: calendar year :Panama Communications Railroads: 238 km total; 78 km 1.524-meter gauge, 160 km 0.914-meter gauge Highways: 8,530 km total; 2,745 km paved, 3,270 km gravel or crushed stone, 2,515 km improved and unimproved earth Inland waterways: 800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal Pipelines: crude oil 130 km Ports: Cristobal, Balboa, Puerto de La Bahia de Las Minas Merchant marine: 3,004 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 41,314,623 GRT/73,325,176 DWT; includes 20 passenger, 22 short-sea passenger, 3 passenger-cargo, 1,046 cargo, 205 refrigerated cargo, 175 container, 65 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 111 vehicle carrier, 9 livestock carrier, 4 multifunction large-load carrier, 340 petroleum tanker, 177 chemical tanker, 23 combination ore/oil, 101 liquefied gas, 8 specialized tanker, 659 bulk, 35 combination bulk, 1 barge carrier; note - all but 5 are foreign owned and operated; the top 4 foreign owners are Japan 36%, Greece 8%, Hong Kong 8%, and the US 7%; (China owns at least 128 ships, Vietnam 4, former Yugoslavia 4, Cuba 4, Cyprus 5, and the republics of the former USSR 12) Civil air: 5 major transport aircraft Airports: 112 total, 102 usable; 39 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 15 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: domestic and international facilities well developed; connection into Central American Microwave System; 220,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 91 AM, no FM, 23 TV; 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite ground stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT :Panama Defense Forces Branches: note - the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) ceased to exist as a military institution shortly after the United States invaded Panama on 20 December 1989; President ENDARA has restructured the forces into a civilian police service under the new name of Panamanian Public Forces (PPF); a Council of Public Security and National Defense under Menalco SOLIS in the office of the president coordinates the activities of the security forces; the Institutional Protection Service under Carlos BARES is attached to the presidency Manpower availability: males 15-49, 661,101; 455,412 fit for military service; no conscription Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $75.5 million, 1.5% of GDP (1990) _@_Papua New Guinea Geography Total area: 461,690 km2 Land area: 451,710 km2 Comparative area: slightly larger than California Land boundaries: 820 km; Indonesia 820 km Coastline: 5,152 km Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines) Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: none Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil potential Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures NEGL%; forest and woodland 71%; other 28% Environment: one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast; some active volcanos; frequent earthquakes Note: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia :Papua New Guinea People Population: 4,006,509 (July 1992), growth rate 2.3% (1992) Birth rate: 34 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 67 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 55 years male, 56 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Papua New Guinean(s); adjective - Papua New Guinean Ethnic divisions: predominantly Melanesian and Papuan; some Negrito, Micronesian, and Polynesian Religions: Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant sects 10%; indigenous beliefs 34% Languages: 715 indigenous languages; English spoken by 1-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu spoken in Papua region Literacy: 52% (male 65%, female 38%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) Labor force: NA Organized labor: more than 50 trade unions, some with fewer than 20 members :Papua New Guinea Government Long-form name: Independent State of Papua New Guinea Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Port Moresby Administrative divisions: 20 provinces; Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, North Solomons, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain Independence: 16 September 1975 (from UN trusteeship under Australian administration) Constitution: 16 September 1975 Legal system: based on English common law National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975) Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, National Executive Council (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament (sometimes referred to as the House of Assembly) Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Wiwa KOROWI (since NA November 1991) Head of Government: Prime Minister Paias WINGTI (since 17 July 1992) Political parties and leaders: Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu Party), Rabbie NAMALIU; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Paias WINGTI; People's Action Party (PAP), Akoka DOI; People's Progress Party (PPP), Sir Julius CHAN; United Party (UP), Paul TORATO; Papua Party (PP), Galeva KWARARA; National Party (NP), Paul PORA; Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: National Parliament: last held 13-26 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent by party NA; seats - (109 total) Pangu Party 24, PDM 17, PPP 10, PAP 10, independents 30, others 18 Member of: ACP, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (observer), SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Margaret TAYLOR; Chancery at 3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone (202) 745-3680 US: Ambassador Robert W. FARRAND; Embassy at Armit Street, Port Moresby (mailing address is P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby, or APO AE 96553); telephone [675] 211-455 or 594, 654; FAX [675] 213-423 :Papua New Guinea Government Flag: divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five white five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered :Papua New Guinea Economy Overview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and the high cost of developing an infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the population. Mining of numerous deposits, including copper and gold, accounts for about 60% of export earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid under World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy. Robust growth in 1991 was led by the mining sector; the opening of a large new gold mine featured in the advance. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $3.1 billion, per capita $800; real growth rate 9% (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.8% (first half 1991) Unemployment rate: 5% (1988) Budget: revenues $1.26 billion; expenditures $1.46 billion, including capital expenditures of $273 million (1992 est.) Exports: $1.14 billion (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: copper ore, gold, coffee, logs, palm oil, cocoa, lobster partners: FRG, Japan, Australia, UK, Spain, US Imports: $1.18 billion (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, food, fuels, chemicals, consumer goods partners: Australia, Singapore, Japan, US, New Zealand, UK External debt: $2.2 billion (April 1991) Industrial production: growth rate 2.4% (1990 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP Electricity: 397,000 kW capacity; 1,510 million kWh produced, 400 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: copra crushing, oil palm processing, plywood processing, wood chip production, gold, silver, copper, construction, tourism Agriculture: one-third of GDP; livelihood for 85% of population; fertile soils and favorable climate permits cultivating a wide variety of crops; cash crops - coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels; other products - tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, poultry, pork; net importer of food for urban centers Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $40.6 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $6.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $17 million Currency: kina (plural - kina); 1 kina (K) = 100 toea Exchange rates: kina (K) per US$1 - 1.0413 (March 1992), 1.0508 (1991), 1.0467 (1990), 1.1685 (1989), 1.1538 (1988), 1.1012 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year :Papua New Guinea Communications Railroads: none Highways: 19,200 km total; 640 km paved, 10,960 km gravel, crushed stone, or stabilized-soil surface, 7,600 km unimproved earth Inland waterways: 10,940 km Ports: Anewa Bay, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul Merchant marine: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,102 GRT/16,016 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 combination ore/oil, 1 bulk, 1 container Civil air: about 15 major transport aircraft Airports: 503 total, 460 usable; 18 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 39 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: services are adequate and being improved; facilities provide radiobroadcast, radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radiocommunication services; submarine cables extend to Australia and Guam; 51,700 telephones (1985); broadcast stations - 31 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV (1987); 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station :Papua New Guinea Defense Forces Branches: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (including Army, Navy, Air Force) Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,013,812; 564,081 fit for military service Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $42 million, 1.3% of GDP (1989 est.) _@_Paracel Islands Geography Total area: NA Land area: undetermined Comparative area: undetermined Land boundaries: none Coastline: 518 km Maritime claims: undetermined Disputes: occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam Climate: tropical Terrain: undetermined Natural resources: none Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100% Environment: subject to typhoons Note: located 400 km east of Vietnam in the South China Sea about one-third of the way between Vietnam and the Philippines :Paracel Islands People Population: no permanent inhabitants :Paracel Islands Government Long-form name: none :Paracel Islands Economy Overview: no economic activity :Paracel Islands Communications Ports: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island currently under expansion Airports: 1 on Woody Island :Paracel Islands Defense Forces Note: occupied by China _@_Paraguay Geography Total area: 406,750 km2 Land area: 397,300 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than California Land boundaries: 3,920 km total; Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km Coastline: none - landlocked Maritime claims: none - landlocked Disputes: short section of the boundary with Brazil (just west of Guaira Falls on the Rio Parana) has not been determined Climate: varies from temperate in east to semiarid in far west Terrain: grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere Natural resources: iron ore, manganese, limestone, hydropower, timber Land use: arable land 20%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 39%; forest and woodland 35%; other 5%; includes irrigated NEGL% Environment: local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June) Note: landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil :Paraguay People Population: 4,929,446 (July 1992), growth rate 2.9% (1992) Birth rate: 33 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 28 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 74 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 4.4 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Paraguayan(s); adjective - Paraguayan Ethnic divisions: mestizo (Spanish and Indian) 95%, white and Indian 5% Religions: Roman Catholic 90%; Mennonite and other Protestant denominations Languages: Spanish (official) and Guarani Literacy: 90% (male 92%, female 88%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) Labor force: 1,418,000 (1991 est.); agriculture, industry and commerce, services, government (1986) Organized labor: about 2% of labor force :Paraguay Government Long-form name: Republic of Paraguay Type: republic Capital: Asuncion Administrative divisions: 19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Chaco, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Nueva Asuncion, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain) Constitution: 25 August 1967; Constituent Assembly rewrote the Constitution that was promulgated on 20 June 1992 Legal system: based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811) Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Council of State Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso) consists of an upper chamber or Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Gen. Andres RODRIGUEZ Pedotti (since 15 May 1989) Political parties and leaders: Colorado Party, Luis Maria ARGANA, acting president; Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Juan Manuel BENITEZ Florentin; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jose Angel BURRO; Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Victor BAREIRO; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 and up to age 60 Elections: President: last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held NA February 1993); results - Gen. RODRIGUEZ 75.8%, Domingo LAINO 19.4% Chamber of Senators: last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held by NA May 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (36 total) Colorado Party 24, PLRA 10, PLR 1, PRF 1 Chamber of Deputies: last held on 1 May 1989 (next to be held by NA May 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) Colorado Party 48, PLRA 19, PRF 2, PDC 1, other 2 Communists: Oscar CREYDT faction and Miguel Angel SOLER faction (both illegal); 3,000 to 4,000 (est.) party members and sympathizers in Paraguay, very few are hard core; party beginning to return from exile is small and deeply divided Other political or pressure groups: Confederation of Workers (CUT); Roman Catholic Church :Paraguay Government Member of: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Juan Esteban Aguirre MARTINEZ; Chancery at 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-6960 through 6962; there are Paraguayan Consulates General in New Orleans and New York, and a Consulate in Houston US: Ambassador Jon D. GLASSMAN; Embassy at 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Asuncion (mailing address is C. P. 402, Asuncion, or APO AA 34036-0001); telephone [595] (21) 213-715; FAX [595] (21) 213-728 Flag: three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles) :Paraguay Economy Overview: Agriculture, including forestry, accounts for about 25% of GDP, employs about 45% of the labor force, and provides the bulk of exports. Paraguay has no known significant mineral or petroleum resources but does have a large hydropower potential. Since 1981 economic performance has declined compared with the boom period of 1976-81, when real GDP grew at an average annual rate of nearly 11%. During the period 1982-86 real GDP fell in three of five years, inflation jumped to an annual rate of 32%, and foreign debt rose. Factors responsible for the erratic behavior of the economy were the completion of the Itaipu hydroelectric dam, bad weather for crops, and weak international commodity prices for agricultural exports. In 1987 the economy experienced a minor recovery because of improved weather conditions and stronger international prices for key agricultural exports. The recovery continued through 1990, on the strength of bumper crops in 1988-89. In a major step to increase its economic activity in the region, Paraguay in March 1991 joined the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR), which includes Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. During 1991 the government began to more seriously address its arrearages with international creditors and its domestic fiscal problems. Inflation was cut in third, but the foreign trade deficit widened to more than $1 billion. For the long run, the government must press forward with general market-oriented economic reforms. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $7.0 billion, per capita $1,460; real growth rate 3.0% (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: 14% (1991 est.) Budget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $487 million (1991) Exports: $642 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: cotton, soybean, timber, vegetable oils, coffee, tung oil, meat products partners: EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6% Imports: $1.85 billion (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: capital goods 35%, consumer goods 20%, fuels and lubricants 19%, raw materials 16%, foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco 10% partners: Brazil 30%, EC 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7% External debt: $1.7 billion (1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 5.9% (1989 est.); accounts for 16% of GDP Electricity: 5,578,000 kW capacity; 15,447 million kWh produced, 3,219 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction Agriculture: accounts for 25% of GDP and 44% of labor force; cash crops - cotton, sugarcane; other crops - corn, wheat, tobacco, soybeans, cassava, fruits, and vegetables; animal products - beef, pork, eggs, milk; surplus producer of timber; self-sufficient in most foods :Paraguay Economy Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; important transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed for the US and Europe Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $172 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1 billion Currency: guarani (plural - guaranies); 1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos Exchange rates: guaranies (G) per US$ - 1,447.5 (March 1992), 1,325.2 (1991), 1,229.8 (1990), 1,056.2 (1989), 550.00 (fixed rate 1986-February 1989), Fiscal year: calendar year :Paraguay Communications Railroads: 970 km total; 440 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 60 km 1.000-meter gauge, 470 km various narrow gauge (privately owned) Highways: 21,960 km total; 1,788 km paved, 474 km gravel, and 19,698 km earth Inland waterways: 3,100 km Ports: Asuncion Merchant marine: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,747 GRT/19,865 DWT; includes 11 cargo, 2 petroleum tanker; note - 1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used commercially Civil air: 9 major transport aircraft Airports: 845 total, 716 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways; 0 with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 66 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: principal center in Asuncion; fair intercity microwave net; 78,300 telephones; broadcast stations - 40 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 7 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station :Paraguay Defense Forces Branches: Army, Navy (including Naval Air and Marines), Air Force Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,172,813; 853,129 fit for military service; 49,917 reach military age (17) annually Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $84 million, 1.4% of GDP (1988 est.) _@_Peru Geography Total area: 1,285,220 km2 Land area: 1,280,000 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than Alaska Land boundaries: 6,940 km total; Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km, Colombia 2,900 km, Ecuador 1,420 km Coastline: 2,414 km Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 200 nm Disputes: three sections of the boundary with Ecuador are in dispute Climate: varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west Terrain: western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva) Natural resources: copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 21%; forest and woodland 55%; other 21%; includes irrigated 1% Environment: subject to earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, mild volcanic activity; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima Note: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia :Peru People Population: 22,767,543 (July 1992), growth rate 2.0% (1992) Birth rate: 27 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 59 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 63 years male, 67 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 3.3 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Peruvian(s); adjective - Peruvian Ethnic divisions: Indian 45%; mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 37%; white 15%; black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3% Religions: predominantly Roman Catholic Languages: Spanish and Quechua (both official), Aymara Literacy: 85% (male 92%, female 29%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) Labor force: 6,800,000 (1986); government and other services 44%, agriculture 37%, industry 19% (1988 est.) Organized labor: about 40% of salaried workers (1983 est.) :Peru Government Long-form name: Republic of Peru Type: in transition, President FUJIMORI on 5 April 1992 suspended the constitution and dissolved the legislative and judicial branches Capital: Lima Administrative divisions: 24 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 constitutional province* (provincia constitucional); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao*, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali; note - the 1979 Constitution and legislation enacted from 1987 to 1990 mandate the creation of regions (regiones, singular - region) intended to function eventually as autonomous economic and administrative entities; so far, 12 regions have been constituted from 23 existing departments - Amazonas (from Loreto), Andres Avelino Caceres (from Huanuco, Pasco, Junin), Arequipa (from Arequipa), Chavin (from Ancash), Grau (from Tumbes, Piura), Inca (from Cusco, Madre de Dios, Apurimac), La Libertad (from La Libertad), Los Libertadores-Huari (from Ica, Ayacucho, Huancavelica), Mariategui (from Moquegua, Tacna, Puno), Nor Oriental del Maranon (from Lambayeque, Cajamarca, Amazonas), San Martin (from San Martin), Ucayali (from Ucayali); formation of another region has been delayed by the reluctance of the constitutional province of Callao to merge with the department of Lima; because of inadequate funding from the central government, the regions have yet to assume their responsibilities and at the moment coexist with the departmental structure Independence: 28 July 1821 (from Spain) Constitution: 28 July 1980 (often referred to as the 1979 Constitution because the Constituent Assembly met in 1979, but the Constitution actually took effect the following year); suspended 5 April 1992 Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Independence Day, 28 July (1821) Executive branch: president, two vice presidents (vacant as of 19 May 1992), prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso) consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados); note - dissolved on 5 April 1992; being reconstituted Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) Leaders: Chief of State: President Alberto FUJIMORI (since 28 July 1990); note - slots for first and second Vice Presidents vacant as of 19 May 1992 Head of Government: Prime Minister Oscar DE LA PUENTE Raygada (since 6 April 1992) :Peru Government Political parties and leaders: Change 90 (Cambio 90), Alberto FUJIMORI; Popular Christian Party (PPC), Luis BEDOYA Reyes; Popular Action Party (AP), Eduardo CALMELL del Solar; Liberty Movement (ML), Luis BUSTAMANTE; American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA), Luis ALVA Castro, Alan GARCIA; National Front of Workers and Peasants (FNTC), Roger CACERES; United Left (IU), leader NA; Independent Moralizing Front (FIM), Fernando OLIVERA Vega; Socialist Left (IS), leader NA; note - Democratic Front (FREDEMO) was a loosely organized coalition of the PPC, AP, and ML during the 8 April 1990 elections, but the parties no longer maintain a formal alliance Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: President: last held on 10 June 1990 (next to be held NA April 1995); results - Alberto FUJIMORI 56.53%, Mario VARGAS Llosa 33.92%, other 9.55% Senate: last held on 8 April 1990; dissolved on 5 April 1992; because of suspension of constitutional role, next election not yet scheduled; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (62 total; 60 elected, 2 ex-presidents who are senators for life) FREDEMO 20, APRA 16, Change 90 14, IU 6, IS 3, FNTC 1; note - as a result of the dissolution of FREDEMO and defections and expulsions from the various parties, the seats have been reallocated: APRA 17, Change 90 13, AP 8, IU 6, PPC 5, ML 4, IS 3, FNTC 1, independents 4, other 1 (January 1992) Chamber of Deputies: last held 8 April 1990 dissolved on 5 April 1992; because of suspension of constitutional role, next election not yet scheduled; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (180 total) FREDEMO 62, APRA 53, Change 90 32, IU 16, IS 4, FNTC 3, other 10; note - as a result of the dissolution of FREDEMO and defections and expulsions from the various parties, the seats have been reallocated: APRA 53, AP 25, Change 90 25, PPC 23, IU 16, ML 7, FIM 3, IS 4, FNTC 3, independents 15, other 4, and 2 currently nonvoting deputies Communists: Peruvian Communist Party-Unity (PCP-U), 2,000; other minor Communist parties Other political or pressure groups: leftist guerrilla groups: Shining Path, Abimael GUZMAN; Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, Nestor SERPA and Victor POLAY Member of: AG, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador vacant; Chancery at 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036; telephone (202) 833-9860 through 9869); Peruvian Consulates General are located in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) US: Ambassador Anthony C. E. QUAINTON; Embassy at the corner of Avenida Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Avenida Espana, Lima (mailing address is P. O. Box 1991, Lima 1, or APO AA 34031); telephone [51] (14) 33-8000; FAX [51] (14) 316682 Flag: three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a shield bearing a llama, cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green wreath :Peru Economy Overview: The Peruvian economy is becoming increasingly market oriented, with a large dose of government ownership remaining in mining, energy, and banking. In the 1980s the economy suffered from hyperinflation, declining per capita output, and mounting external debt. Peru was shut off from IMF and World Bank support in the mid-1980s because of its huge debt arrears. An austerity program implemented shortly after the FUJIMORI government took office in July 1990 contributed to a third consecutive yearly contraction of economic activity, but the slide halted late in the year, and output rose 2.4% in 1991. After a burst of inflation as the austerity program eliminated government price subsidies, monthly price increases eased to the single-digit level and by December 1991 dropped to the lowest increase since mid-1987. Lima obtained a financial rescue package from multilateral lenders in September 1991, and, although it faces $14 billion in arrears on its external debt, is working to pay some $1.8 billion of these to the IMF and World Bank by 1993. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $20.6 billion, per capita $920; real growth rate 2.4% (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 139% (1991) Unemployment rate: 15.0%; underemployment 65% (1991 est.) Budget: revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $250 million (1991 est.) Exports: $3.3 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: copper, fishmeal, zinc, crude petroleum and byproducts, lead, refined silver, coffee, cotton partners: EC 28%, US 22%, Japan 13%, Latin America 12%, former USSR 2% Imports: $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, machinery, transport equipment, iron and steel semimanufactures, chemicals, pharmaceuticals partners: US 32%, Latin America 22%, EC 17%, Switzerland 6%, Japan 3% External debt: $19.4 billion (December 1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 1.0% (1991 est.); accounts for almost 24% of GDP Electricity: 4,896,000 kW capacity; 15,851 million kWh produced, 709 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing, food processing, cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal fabrication Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP, about 35% of labor force; commercial crops - coffee, cotton, sugarcane; other crops - rice, wheat, potatoes, plantains, coca; animal products - poultry, red meats, dairy, wool; not self-sufficient in grain or vegetable oil; fish catch of 6.9 million metric tons (1990) :Peru Economy Illicit drugs: world's largest coca leaf producer with about 121,000 hectares under cultivation; source of supply for most of the world's coca paste and cocaine base; at least 85% of coca cultivation is for illicit production; most of cocaine base is shipped to Colombian drug dealers for processing into cocaine for the international drug market Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.7 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.3 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $577 million Currency: (S/.) nuevo sol (plural - nuevos soles); 1 nuevo sol (S/.) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: nuevo sol (S/. per US$1 - 0.960 (March 1992), 0.772 (1991), 0.187 (1990), 2.666 (1989), 0.129 (1988), 0.017 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year :Peru Communications Railroads: 1,801 km total; 1,501 km 1.435-meter gauge, 300 km 0.914-meter gauge Highways: 69,942 km total; 7,459 km paved, 13,538 km improved, 48,945 km unimproved earth Inland waterways: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km Lago Titicaca Pipelines: crude oil 800 km, natural gas and natural gas liquids 64 km Ports: Callao, Ilo, Iquitos, Matarani, Talara Merchant marine: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 286,313 GRT/461,233 DWT; includes 14 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 petroleum tanker, 7 bulk; note - in addition, 8 naval tankers and 1 naval cargo are sometimes used commercially Civil air: 44 major transport aircraft Airports: 221 total, 201 usable; 36 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 23 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 43 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: fairly adequate for most requirements; nationwide microwave system; 544,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 273 AM, no FM, 140 TV, 144 shortwave; satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 12 domestic :Peru Defense Forces Branches: Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru), National Police Manpower availability: males 15-49, 5,863,227; 3,964,930 fit for military service; 236,484 reach military age (20) annually Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $430 million, 2.4% of GDP (1991) _@_Philippines Geography Total area: 300,000 km2 Land area: 298,170 km2 Comparative area: slightly larger than Arizona Land boundaries: none Coastline: 36,289 km Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines) Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in breadth Disputes: involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; claims Malaysian state of Sabah Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October) Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands Natural resources: timber, crude oil, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper Land use: arable land 26%; permanent crops 11%; meadows and pastures 4%; forest and woodland 40%; other 19%; includes irrigated 5% Environment: astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; subject to landslides, active volcanoes, destructive earthquakes, tsunami; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution :Philippines People Population: 67,114,060 (July 1992), growth rate 2.0% (1992) Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: -1 migrant/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 53 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 68 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 3.5 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Filipino(s); adjective - Philippine Ethnic divisions: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3% Religions: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3% Languages: Pilipino (based on Tagalog) and English; both official Literacy: 90% (male 90%, female 90%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) Labor force: 24,120,000; agriculture 46%, industry and commerce 16%, services 18.5%, government 10%, other 9.5% (1989) Organized labor: 3,945 registered unions; total membership 5.7 million (includes 2.8 million members of the National Congress of Farmers Organizations) :Philippines Government Long-form name: Republic of the Philippines Type: republic Capital: Manila Administrative divisions: 72 provinces and 61 chartered cities*; Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*, Antique, Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan City*, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Batangas City*, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Butuan*, Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro*, Calbayog*, Caloocan*, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Canlaon*, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu, Cebu City*, Cotabato*, Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City* Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar, General Santos*, Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao, La Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*, Lapu-Lapu*, La Union, Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao, Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*, Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Roxas*, Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*, Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur Independence: 4 July 1946 (from US) Constitution: 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987 Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Independence Day (from Spain), 12 June (1898) Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Kongreso) consists of an upper house or Senate (Senado) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan) Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Corazon C. AQUINO (since 25 February 1986); Vice President Salvador H. LAUREL (since 25 February 1986) Political parties and leaders: Alliance of Philippine Democrats (LDP), Neptali GONZALES and Jose (Peping) COJUANGCO; Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), Fidel Valdes RAMOS; Liberal Party, Jovito SALONGA; New Society Movement (KBL), Amelda MARCOS Suffrage: universal at age 15 Elections: President: last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May 1998);results - Fidel Valdes RAMOS won 23.6% of votes, a narrow plurality :Philippines Government Senate: last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May 1998); results - LDP 66%, NPC 20%, Lakas-NUCD 8%, Liberal 6%; seats - (24 total) LDP 24, NPC 5, Lakas-NUCD 2, Liberal 1 Elections: House of Representatives: last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May 1998); results - LDP 43.5%; Lakas-NUCD 25%, NPC 23.5%, Liberal 5%, KBL 3%;seats - (200 total) LDP 87, Lakas-NUCD 51, NPC 47, Liberal 10, KBL 5 Communists: the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) controls about 15,500-16,500 full-time insurgents and is not recognized as a legal party; a second Communist party, Philippine Communist Party (PKP), has quasi-legal status Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Emmanuel PELAEZ; Chancery at 1617 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036; telephone (202) 483-1414; there are Philippine Consulates General in Agana (Guam), Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle US: Ambassador Frank G. WISNER II; Embassy at 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila (mailing address is APO AP 96440); telephone [63] (2) 521-7116; FAX [63] (2) 522-4361; there is a US Consulate in Cebu Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays (each containing three individual rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star :Philippines Economy Overview: Following the recession of 1984-85, the Philippine economy grew on the average of 5.0% per year during 1986-89. It slowed again during the period 1990-91. The agricultural sector together with forestry and fishing, plays an important role in the economy, employing about 45% of the work force and providing almost 30% of GDP. The Philippines is the world's largest exporter of coconuts and coconut products. Manufacturing contributes about 35% of GDP. Major industries include food processing, chemicals, and textiles. GNP: exchange rate conversion - $47 billion, per capita $720; real growth rate 0.1% (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 17.6% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: 10.0% (1991 est.) Budget: $8.4 billion; expenditures $9.36 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8 billion (1991 est.) Exports: $8.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: electrical equipment 19%, textiles 16%, minerals and ores 11%, farm products 10%, coconut 10%, chemicals 5%, fish 5%, forest products 4% partners: US 36%, EC 19%, Japan 18%, ESCAP 9%, ASEAN 7% Imports: $12.3 billion (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: raw materials 53%, capital goods 17%, petroleum products 17% partners: US 25%, Japan 17%, ESCAP 13%, EC 11%, ASEAN 10%, Middle East 10% External debt: $28.9 billion (1991) Industrial production: growth rate - 5% (1991 est.); accounts for 35% of GNP Electricity: 7,500,000 kW capacity; 31,000 million kWh produced, 470 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing Agriculture: accounts for about one-third of GNP and 45% of labor force; major crops - rice, coconut, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapple, mango; animal products - pork, eggs, beef; net exporter of farm products; fish catch of 2 million metric tons annually Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; growers are producing more and better quality cannabis despite government eradication efforts Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.6 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $7.9 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $5 million; Communist countries (1975-89), $123 million Currency: Philippine peso (plural - pesos); 1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos :Philippines Economy Exchange rates: Philippine pesos (P) per US$1 - 25.810 (March 1992), 27.479 (1991), 24.311 (1990), 21.737 (1989), 21.095 (1988), 20.568 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year :Philippines Communications Railroads: 378 km operable on Luzon, 34% government owned (1982) Highways: 156,000 km total (1984); 29,000 km paved; 77,000 km gravel, crushed-stone, or stabilized-soil surface; 50,000 km unimproved earth Inland waterways: 3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels Pipelines: petroleum products 357 km Ports: Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras, Iloilo, Legaspi, Manila, Subic Bay Merchant marine: 552 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,150,425 GRT/13,624,527 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 11 short-sea passenger, 13 passenger-cargo, 155 cargo, 22 refrigerated cargo, 23 vehicle carrier, 8 livestock carrier, 13 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 8 container, 35 petroleum tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 6 liquefied gas, 2 combination ore/oil, 247 bulk, 7 combination bulk; note - many Philippine flag ships are foreign owned and are on the register for the purpose of long-term bare-boat charter back to their original owners who are principally in Japan and Germany Civil air: 53 major transport aircraft Airports: 278 total, 244 usable; 72 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 9 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 53 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: good international radio and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate; 872,900 telephones; broadcast stations - 267 AM (including 6 US), 55 FM, 33 TV (including 4 US); submarine cables extended to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT, and 11 domestic :Philippines Defense Forces Branches: Army, Navy (including Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air Force Manpower availability: males 15-49, 16,719,421; 11,816,366 fit for military service; 698,683 reach military age (20) annually Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $915 million, 1.9% of GNP (1991)