Safety in the Philippines

The Philippines is a dreamy destination with picturesque beaches and clear waters, but safety in the Philippines is a valid concern. Internally it’s reputation as a tropical paradise is slightly hampered due to a number of factors that pose a threat to personal safety. As much as we’d all like to visit the perfect country, sadly, no country in the world is completely safe, is it? The same applies to the Philippines and there are a number of safety concerns that you ought to accept and beware of before you travel to the country. Read through the listed concerns when it comes to safety in the Philippines for a worry-free trip.

The Philippines is thankfully devoid of notorious crimes, so you can easily enjoy such beaches with ease.

Crime

If at all you encounter any crime during your trip, it will most likely be petty theft. Violent crimes against tourists are a rare occurrence. Due to the steep gap between the rich and poor, the likelihood of crime is slightly higher than that of western nations. You can avoid putting yourself at risk by staying clear of dark alleys or certain troubled neighbourhoods near the big cities. Try to keep your belongings close to you and also try to wear minimal jewellery, if at all. These are basic ways to ensure your own safety in the Philippines, and any other destination.

A backpack securely fastened around your shoulders decreases the chances of you being a victim of petty theft.

Terrorism

In this day and age, every country on the planet is at risk of a terrorist attack. Such is the harsh reality of the world we live in. Certain regions of the Philippines like western Mindanao and the Sulu islands are facing the brunt of Islamic insurgency. As a countermeasure, the government has put the army and coast guard on high alert near these regions. 

If you are traveling to the Philippines, we recommend simply avoiding Western Mindanao and Sulu. After all, these regions are but a small fraction of all that the nation has to offer. The US and UK have released travel advisories that request all of their citizens to refrain from visiting these locations. Hopefully with time, peace will prevail in the region. But as of now, stick to the travel advisories of your respective nations to stay safe in the Philippines.

While travelling to the Philippines, avoid certain areas as suggested by your country’s travel advisories.

Weather

The weather in the Philippines gets particularly choppy between June and October. An average of about 20 typhoons strike the nation per year. But these only occur between the aforementioned time frame. Plan your trip such that you visit the country between January and May. This also happens to be the best time to experience the Philippines. The winter month of January, spring months of February and March and the lazy summer months of April and May offer some of the best sights and activities that you can experience in the Philippines.

If you visit the Philippines during the wet season, then keep an eye out for the weather forecast in your area and typhoon warnings that may be sounded. Tropical storms in the Philippines are no joke and travellers must take them seriously. It is an important point when it comes to your safety in the Philippines.

Knowing when to travel and heeding weather warnings are imperative for a Philippines holiday.

Travel

Since the Philippines is an archipelago of over 7000 islands, you will be traveling by ferry quite a lot if you plan on island hopping. The Philippines has a chequered past with travel safety standards. The bangkas that are commonly used while traveling between islands or to dive sites are prone to be overloaded. Make sure that you avoid getting into bangkas that are overloaded with people. You should also ensure that the bangkas have the necessary safety equipment on board before you get in. If there are no lifejackets, you should probably avoid traveling in them.

Finally, refrain from any type of water transport if there is a typhoon. Nothing is scarier than getting caught up in a tropical storm on a wooden catamaran.

Ferries are safe and convenient, as long as they’re not overcrowded.

Health

Being a tropical nation, the Philippines is home to a number of exotic diseases. As there is no dearth of water and humidity, mosquitoes are commonplace throughout all parts of the Philippines. Recently there have been several Dengue outbreaks in the country. We highly recommend that you carry an insect repellent along with you at all times. You should also use mosquito nets when in rural regions of the country, as it is an easy way to stay safe in the Philippines.

We would also like to draw your attention to the lack of clean drinking water in the country. If the water you are drinking is not bottled water or from a filtration system then more often than not it is not safe for drinking. Contaminated water puts you at risk of Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Just make sure that you consume clean food and water, use insect repellent judiciously and stay away from stray animals on your trip to make sure you are at zero risks of falling ill. Additionally, make sure you get all the recommended vaccinations for the Philippines.

Consume fresh and clean food and use filtered bottled water to make sure your health is not affected in any way.

Make sure that you also check the travel advisory released by your country while planning your trip to the Philippines. Or simply get in touch with us and we’ll help Plan Your Trip. Most likely, you will not have to worry about any of the aforementioned hazards that may spoil your vacation. However, it is always safer to err on the side of caution. We don’t want to scare you out of traveling to a country so breathtakingly beautiful. Of the 6.5 million people who visited the Philippines in 2018, an overwhelming majority would testify that they took back nothing but fond memories from their trip. Just a little caution on your part and you’ll have the perfect Filipino travel experience.