Hospitals In Philippines

If you need to get to a hospital emergency room fast take a taxi, tricycle or hire an empty jeepney if you cannot find an ambulance.

Hospitals in the Philippines

Most jeepney drivers will let you pay a flat fare and then take you as a private passenger as if it were a taxi. 200 or 300 pesos would be a fair price to go about 3 to 5 miles (in my experience). However, if they know you need to go to a hospital they may charge more. 

Filipinos should be able to get free medical care at their local Barangay clinics (Barangay = Village, District or Ward).

There are many hospitals in the Philippines and many medical centers and clinics in the Philippines.
And, there are some differences between medical care in the Philippines and in the USA.
Hospitals and ambulance services are similar but with many differences.

The easiest doctors to find are those who maintain clinics in medical centers or hospitals.

It may be difficult to find local doctors via the internet. If one does not subscribe to a home phone line one does not receive a phone book. And, I have never seen a phone book in a hotel room.

Compare Medical Costs in Philippines

A hospital will usually require an initial deposit, from foreigners,  before they will admit a person. In 2008 Makati Medical Center (MMC) required a deposit of 15,000 pesos from us ($361 US as of current exchange rate Oct. 16, 2012). Some refer to this saying that hospitals and doctors require payment in advance of treatment.

And, after treatment, if a person does not pay the bill in full the hospital may refuse to discharge the patient until payment has been made. The bill continues to get larger each day. I've been told "That's just the way it is in the Philippines".

A deposit is not needed to visit the 24 hour emergency room at MMC. They accept major credit cards.

For those who cannot afford private hospitals there are government hospitals. Those provide free medical care. However, a patient must pay for necessary items like needles, medicines, etc. If a patient cannot afford those the patient will be discharged, so I have been told. So, free is not totally free.

For poor Filipinos getting treated at a hospital may be impossible. 

I read the case of a family who returned from Hong Kong to visit family in a remote village in the Philippines. Read about the gross negligence they encountered when they took their two sick young children to the nearest emergency room which was about an hour away from their relatives village. The article at EthicsInAction.asia depicted the poor who could not get medical care at a hospital.

Ambulance Service in the Philippines

As for ambulances with paramedics, there basically are not any in most cities of the Philippines.
Hospitals usually have one or two ambulances parked in front. But getting one when you need one would require  you to have already written down some ambulance and hospital phone numbers and calling them. As for response time, where we lived in a rural town it would have taken an ambulance about 40 minutes to come and pick us up and then return to the hospital.
As far as I know there are no paramedics in the ambulances. The small town of about 98,000 residents has a government hospital but there I was given a number of a private citizen who drives an "ambulance" van to take people to and from the hospital.

Lifeline Rescue ambulances serving Metro Manila

There is an ambulance company named Lifeline Rescue serving Metro Manila. They say they have fully equipped ambulances with paramedics. They even offer in-home doctor visits. You must pay a membership fee to join to avail of their services.

In Metro Manila there are other ambulance services also. I have not researched that yet. In Manila and in other crowded locales do not expect a fast trip to the hospital even if you are able to summon an ambulance. The traffic is terribly heavy and yields very slowly, if at all, to ambulances.

Sun Valley Ambulance in Paranaque City, Metro Manila

In Barangay Merville in Paranaque I have seen what serve for ambulances for many people.
If they are fortunate their Barangay may have a van which will be driven by a volunteer. In the Barangay of Merville I had the opportunity to ride in one while it was transporting my wife to a hospital. She was laying down on a foam mattress which was on a wooden table fastened to the inside wall if the van. The ride was not smooth, new shock absorbers were sorely needed. When the van hit bumps she bounced up off the mattress and down again, over and over. No strap to keep her on the mattress. At least we got to the hospital. If we had a car or had taken a taxi it would have been a smoother ride with no bouncing.

Ambulance & fire department rescue vehicle in Florida, USA.

This is in stark contrast to ambulance service in the US. In the Tampa Bay area of Florida ambulances are stationed at many locations around the entire area and respond to 911 emergency calls. Each has 2 paramedics. They are equipped with a lot of medical equipment and with radio equipment which can connect them to a doctor en route. They sit with their engines running and wait to be dispatched. Call and they will be at your door within about 4 minutes. This is true 24 hours a day. Equipped with good shock absorbers and suspension they provide a smooth ride.

I recently read online that the city of Davao, on Mindanao, has a 911 service and ambulances for the public. You will need to inquire as to whether there is a 911 system in Manila or other cities in the Philippines.

If you are going to be living in a city or rural area in the Philippines it would be a really good idea to locate a nearby ambulance service, get the phone number and inquire about arrangements in case you should be in need of an ambulance at a later date.

Check out Air Ambulance service in the Philippines. Get information and see membership plans. Here is another air ambulance service.

Doctors' Fees in the Philippines

As far as I can see, most doctors do not maintain private offices, they have clinics in hospitals or medical centers. Many have clinics in several different hospitals or medical centers. Some also see patients at clinics in shopping malls.

A typical visit to a doctor (MD) at a clinic cost about 500 pesos or about $12 US. (as of exchange rate on July 1, 2012).

An office visit at a clinic to see a specialists cost from about 800 pesos to 1,000 pesos ($19 to $24 US).

It is common practice in the Philippines to go directly to a specialist for any particular ailment.
In the USA it is common if not required to visit a general practitioner first. Then the general practitioner will refer one to a specialist.

Medical centers or facilities in the Philippines

I have been in hospitals which were not air conditioned, the windows were open and mosquitoes were flying in the halls. Considering that Dengue and Malaria are endemic in the Philippines open windows are probably unacceptable to most foreigners.

If you have any kind of medical condition I advise you to stay in hotels which are near hospitals.
If you will be staying for an extended time it would be best to get an apartment or home near a hospital.

Possibly the best care is to be found at the major medical centers in Manila, on the island of Luzon.

Some of the top medical centers are listed below. Click on their links to visit their web sites to learn more.

St. Luke's Medical Center

St. Luke's Medical Center, in Quezon City, near Manila. Supposed to be one of the best. We have never been there.

Makati Medical Center (MMC)

Makati Medical Center (MMC), in Manila.

Requires a deposit before admittance.

This medical center required a deposit of 15,000 pesos before they would admit a patient in 2008.
For comparison, Paranaque Doctor's Hospital in Paranaque City, Metro Manila required a deposit of 5,000 pesos in 2008. So, it is best to always carry your credit card when going to a hospital.

Birthing at Makati Medical Center in Manila, other hospitals and birthing centers.

Room Rates at Makati Medical Center in Manila compared to rates in USA

Small private rooms at MMC cost about $80 US per day. Compare that to a private room at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, Florida. In 2008, when my wife was expecting, I asked someone in the US to check the rate there. She was told that a private room would cost over $800 US per day.

At Makati Medical Center we have utilized several types of rooms, from a bed in a ward to semi-private room to a small private room. The semi-private rooms are a very good deal; in fact they are small private rooms. The difference is that they share a bathroom with several other rooms. This was never a problem. And, they are maintained spotlessly.

Emergency Room Cost at Makati Medical Center compared to USA

On occasion I have had need of the 24 hour emergency room at MMC. Can you believe that the total cost of an emergency room visit there is about $40 US. Compare that to an emergency room visit in Florida, USA where one can easily spend $900 - $3,000 US or much more for each visit. It is imperative that one have health insurance in the US. Only 8 hospitals had an average charge under $1,000 US in years 2010 and 2011. South Miami Hospital (Baptist Health) had the highest average charge in Florida at $7,874 per ER visit (re: Consumer Health Ratings). This is probably one reason why many younger American retirees, who don't have health insurance or Medicare, retire to the Philippines.

In 2009, just out of curiosity, I called a helicopter service and inquired "How much would it cost to be taken by helicopter from Cavite to Makati Medical Center?" (a distance of about 25 miles or 40 km). The answer was "50,000 pesos. (or about $1,128.83 US)" So, air ambulance service is probably not an option for most people.

Hot water for hand washing at Makati Medical Center?
The MMC services and doctor's are among the best in the Philippines, but, do not expect to find hot water in the public bathrooms on the floors. When we were there, in 2008, hot water was only provided in the more expensive private rooms. I was always taught that it is best to wash one's hands with soap and hot water to kill germs. Possibly they now provide hot water for all hand washing. Why not call them before deciding which medical center to visit. I hear that MMC has undergone a major make over since we were there, there have been many improvements.

Compare cost of birthing at MMC to costs in Texas, USA

One day I was inside the US Embassy in Manila and chatted with an American who was there with his wife, their toddler and a newborn baby. He was from Texas. They had flown back to the Philippines for the birth of the baby. The first had been born in the Philippines while they were living there. But they flew back to save money on this delivery. He said that it saved them about $20,000 US.

Eateries near Makati Medical Center (MMC)

Across the street from the front entrance to MMC are McDonald's, KFC and Starbucks. At the cafeteria on the first floor of MMC you will find mostly Filipino foods. At certain hours delicious pasta is prepared to order for a very low cost, just ask when. I understand that there are more eateries in MMC now. Other restaurants can be found across from the rear entrance to the hospital and down the street.

Manila Doctors Hospital, in Manila.

We have never visited there but it has a very good reputation. 

Angeles University Foundation Medical Center

Angeles University Foundation Medical Center (AUF)

In Angeles City we have visited several doctors at AUF.

24 Hour Emergency Room services at AUF

No deposit is required to visit the emergency room. The staff is very helpful and are the nurses and doctors are among the best. Fees are very low compared to US. An emergency room visit may cost from about 800 pesos to maybe 1,500 pesos. They have always diagnosed us correctly, which led to prompt recovery.

A private doctor's office or medical clinic in Angeles City, Philippines

While in Angeles City we also visited Doctor Manalo, at her private clinic, the Merly M. Manalo Clinic, several times. It is a very small clinic located on Narsico Street about 50 feet from Fields Avenue in the Balibago section of Angeles City (not far from SM City Clark). She is what we call in the USA a General Practitioner. She has treated me, my wife, and our child. She is a very personable doctor and we never felt rushed. She prescribed the right medicines and our health improved quickly each time. Call the clinic at +63456256514 or +639178111089.

The clinic is easily accessible from most hotels in this main tourist section of Angeles City. Get there by jeepney or tricycle. Ask the driver if he knows where the clinic is. If he doesn't know then find one who does.

We were referred by her to a laboratory called Compuserve, on Don Juico Ave. for blood test. They can do all types of blood tests. We had asked at AUF and were told that they do many but not all tests.

Asian Hospital and Medical Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Visit Asian Hospital's web site. I have heard several Filipinos say that Asian Hospital is the newest and probably the best hospital in Metro Manila. We have never been there. However, several of the doctors we visited at Makati Medical Center also have clinics at Asian Hospital and other hospitals.
We have never visited there.

Medical City, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City, Metro Manila

Visit Medical City's web site.
We have never visited there. But, I hear it is a very good center. 

See 2013 Maternity Packages at hospitals in Manila area. Costs of normal delivery and Cesarean delivery.

Comparing health care in other countries to that in the Philippines

Read what an American, who has lived in the Netherlands, has to say about health care in other countries.
In the Netherlands he was handed needles and vaccines and told to inoculate his children himself.
In the Philippines the doctors or nurses administer the vaccines as they do in the USA.

One of the biggest scams in the Philippines is asking someone to help with medical or hospital bills. The best advice I have seen is, never send money to someone you have not met in person. Read about this and scammers and dating scams.

Please share your personal experiences with medical care in the Philippines with other readers by making comments below.

Be sure to read "10 ways to save on hospital bills" in the Philippines.

Find out about Health Insurance In The Philippines, International Health Insurance and Medical Evacuation Insurance.

If you do not pay your hospital bill in full you may be prevented from leaving the hospital.

I have heard of this happening to some Filipinos. If you get in that situation it will probably be a good idea to get in touch with an attorney.

You may get to a hospital by taxi, jeepney, train or tricycle. Or use a combination of these forms of transportation. Don't hesitate to ask the drivers or passengers for directions or where to meet connecting transportation. Most people speak English.

Will Medicare cover me in the Philippines? If you are a US citizen it will probably not cover you in the Philippines. Ask your insurance agent. It may cover you for emergencies while you are traveling. You may be covered in hospital in Guam or you may need to fly to hospital in Hawaii.

American doctors and hospitals scream and yell that Medicare reimbursement is not sufficient. For Philippine doctors and hospitals, the amount is like manna from heaven. Medical City, which includes over 1,000 physicians, decided to construct a $200 million hospital in Guam. By special arrangement, it will be staffed by Filipino doctors and nurses. Once construction is complete in about another year, you can fly to Guam for Medicare reimbursed hospitalization by doctors and nurses who could have attended to your needs in the Philippines. (confirm this before going there.)

Most medical treatment cost about 10% of what it cost in the USA.
Asia Bill writes in his blog about health care in the Philippines.
He has chosen to self-insure:
"HEALTH  INSURANCE  OPTIONS in the PHILIPPINES - When considering the monthly payments versus coverage included please be reminded that most health care in the Philippines is approximately only 10% to 20% the cost of any medical treatment in the USA.We have never had health insurance choosing to have enough cash savings for any family health emergency. My wife Lorna had two minor surgeries during her 40s and with her stay in a private room with Manila Bay view for several days each time in the nearby San Juan De Dios Hospital and additional blood and other tests, the first time it cost us only P10,000 ( at the time about U$350 ) and the second time several years later P20,000 ( at that time less than U$500 ). When we go to a specialist whther it be a urologist or an eye doctor or dermatogist the basic cost of the visit is only P400 to P500 ( basically U$10!!!! )"

Hospitals that provide Hemodialysis Blood Treatment in the Philippines.

Check out this list of hospitals that provide Hemodialysis treatment.

Medical Tourism in the Philippines

Many people travel to the Philippines to take advantage of lower medical costs of providers who provide Medical Tourism services.

Philippines Health Care System (PDF)

If you have had experiences at Philippine hospitals, clinics or Doctors, good or bad, please share with us by making comments below.

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This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about doctors, hospitals, clinics, air ambulances, medicare and medical care in the Philippines. Last updated June 18, 2022.

Flying To USA From Philippines

 

Flying To The USA

                  Flying to USA from Manila

This is the 5th time I have flown from Manila, in the Philippine Islands to Tampa, Florida USA. The first time was in 2008 after I had spent a year there. I had flown there to meet some chat mates. One of those is now my wife. We married and are now the parents of a little princess.

We first met via a website called FilipinaHeart.com which is now FilipinoCupid. I consider it the best site for meeting people. The search parameters incorporated are probably the best in the online meeting industry. It is easy to find many people who meet your search criteria and see their pictures all at once.

Visit my dating page for advice and warnings about dating Filipinos and other foreigners.

Me and my 3 year old daughter were flying to her grandma's house in the USA.

I have booked several previous trips on Cheapoair.com and have always experienced good service and low fares so I booked this trip at Cheapoair.com also.

In 2011 I had flown over to the Philippines after purchasing round trip tickets on United Airlines. Included in the round trip fare was $900 for the return portion. Well I did not fly back on the scheduled date. So, I called and was told that I could change the return date for a "change fee" of $250 and that there would be an additional charge of $650 because the fare had increased. What a way to treat a longtime customer! So, I decided to book on Japan Airlines and American Airlines to save money. Even though I lost the $900 I had paid for the United Airlines return ticket the trip cost me $500 less than it would have cost if I had gone along with the United Airlines ripoff. What a way to treat a longtime customer! I flew back to the US via Narita Airport on Japan Airlines and American Airlines. Needless to say I shall avoid United Airlines as much as possible in the future.

Japan Air Lines 777

Our flight on Japan Airlines (JAL) was scheduled to depart Manila at 9 a.m. on the 11th of June, 2012.

The JAL counter opens at 7 a.m. We arrived at the airport in Manila at 6 a.m. from our hotel near the US Embassy in Manila. This trip from Manila to Florida, USA would take about 23 hours.

We said our goodbyes on the sidewalk outside the terminal. Friends and family are not permitted inside the terminal. Only travelers with tickets are permitted inside. There is a small restaurant attached to the terminal, with an outside entrance, where friends and relatives can wait if they want to be there when your plane takes off. Cell phone use is permitted inside the terminal, restaurant and inside the planes until the cabin doors are closed.

We paid an airport departure fee of 550 pesos each (about $12.80 US as of June 2012). Always be sure to bring extra pesos or dollars to the airport. There are exit fees and if you are new to traveling in the Philippines you may encounter some other unexpected fees. If you don't want to carry a lot of pesos into the terminal you could call your friend who is waiting at the restaurant outside to bring some to the passenger entrance. Or, just bring a few thousand pesos and visit the money changer in the terminal to convert it back to your home country's currency if you don't need it.

Our daughter was born in the Philippines and just recently received her U.S. passport.

Wanting to be sure there would be no problems leaving the Philippines or entering the USA we asked an attorney to prepare a "Consent to Travel" letter which her mother signed and we had notarized by the attorney. We had done our research on the Internet and discovered that only if a child travels with a guardian do they need a "Consent To Travel" letter. But, now we had the letter just in case some immigration employee might ask for it. After all the trip cost over $1,600 US. Can you imagine being prevented from leaving because you needed some paperwork or did not have enough money with you and did not have a credit card to pay unexpected fees?

A couple of weeks before booking our one way trip to the USA I had asked an immigration officer at Diosado Macapagal International Airport near Angeles City if there would be extra fees for my daughter. He told me that there would be a fee of 8,000 pesos if she flew out on her new U.S. passport ("if she is using it for the first time" he said) Then he made a disclaimer, "It would be best if you will go to the main immigration office in Manila to ask about it."

Well, we did not do that. We felt comfortable about our plan after having studied the subject online.

Boarding time was 8:30 a.m. and our plane departed at 9 a.m.
The JAL flight from Manila to Narita Airport (NRT) took 4 hours. I told our daughter that pretty soon you will be in America! I really enjoy flying on JAL. This was my second flight on JAL. The flight crews and ground crews are very pleasant and helpful. We were served lunch en route. A fine meal served with shiny stainless steel knife, fork and spoon (I have only seen plastic utensils on American planes). Funny, where is all the fear of terrorism? I was surprised at how they serve hot green tea; the stewardess holds a tray in one hand. On the tray is a tall clear Japanese pitcher (about 6" diameter and about 14" tall). She holds the tray with one hand and pours the tea with the other. When we pressed the service button the stewards responded quickly.

As we approached Narita my daughter asked "Is this were Grandma is?" and I replied, "No, we have farther to go, we need to fly half way around the world." As the plane turned onto final approach it banked steeply to the right. My daughter exclaimed loudly "the plane is turning over." I corrected her by saying "no, it is not turning over, it is just turning toward the airport." I said it fairly loud in case some other inexperienced passenger might get worried. We arrived in Japan at 2:30 p.m. local time.

There was a 4 hour layover at Narita before our American Airlines flight was to depart. At the gate area of American Airlines (AA) there are 2 fast food shops where one may purchase reasonably priced food and drinks.

We boarded our AA flight and it departed at 6:20 p.m. It was a Boeing 777 passenger jet.

Note: I recommend that you do not fly into or out of airports in Japan. 

After studying the ongoing Fukushima nuclear disaster I will not be flying into or out of Japan again. In fact there are people recommending not flying across the Pacific Ocean due to radiation being released by the Fukushima nuclear reactors. Radiation is even found in the drinking water in Tokyo. (Update: in September 2014 a Japanese doctor recommended that Tokyo be evacuated!)

American Airlines Boeing 777

At one point I glanced at the flight information screen and noticed that we were flying at a speed of 637 miles per hour. I was amazed at the speed. We must have been in a jet stream. Usually the fastest I have seen planes fly was around 500 mph.

This flight to Dallas, Texas would be an 11 hour and 35 minute flight. We were served meals on the flight. Good food. But poor call button service. After we had pressed the service button 3 or 4 times a steward finally responded. Each time we had waited about 10 minutes before pressing it again.

As we were flying over Texas and approaching the airport I told my daughter that "We are in America now." She wanted to look out the window and said "I want to see America." We saw a patchwork of farmland. I said, "that is America down there!" She asked, "Daddy, can I get one of those boxes to put on my back so I can jump out of the plane and go down to the ground with one of those things over my head?" I told her they don't have one of those on this plane.

We arrived at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas, USA at 3:55 p.m. When we touched down I told her "Welcome to America!" hugged and kissed her. An excited little girl...and an excited and very happy Daddy.

American Airlines MD 83

After traveling for about 24 hours I guess I was too tired and too excited. Leaving our seats I failed to check around my neck for the passport and ticket holder I had worn all they way. Somehow I dropped it on the floor near my seat. It contained her new US Passport and my passport also, along with our connecting flight tickets.

I did not miss it until I was asked for our passports when we were almost at the Immigration Desk. Reached inside my sweater to get the holder and discovered it was not there! Talk about worried. I asked an American Airlines service person if he could assist us. He offered to go back and look for it on the plane. Whew, in about 10 minutes he reappeared with the packet, passports and tickets. I thanked him profusely and gave him a $10 tip.

After about a 1 and 1/2 hour layover we departed on another AA flight, a McDonnell Douglas MD 83.

This plane seemed to be brand new. With it's rear mounted engines it was the quietest flight of the 3. It was a short 2 hour flight from Dallas to Tampa, Florida.

Approaching Tampa International Airport we flew over our county and I was able point out approximately where Grandma's house was, to my daughter. It was after 9 p.m. The lights of the city and causeways below were beautiful, not a cloud in the sky over Tampa but there was some lightening off to the Southeast of Tampa.

After 24 hours of travel we were finally in Tampa. The plane touched down and taxied to the gate. We were the last to leave the plane. I asked a stewardess I had flown with before to snap a photo of us near our seats. She was happy to oblige. Another memorable moment and photo to share with my wife and family.

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According to the World Health Organization, before flying to the Philippines it may be necessary to get a Yellow Fever shot if you will be arriving from certain countries (verify this with your doctor or local health department).

Here is a page about this shot:

National Travel Health Network and Centre

Philippines:

"YELLOW FEVER

Yellow fever is a systemic viral disease.

Risk assessment

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country, however, there is a certificate requirement.

Certificate requirements

• Under International Health Regulations (2005), a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and from travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
• For this country, the yellow fever vaccination certificate is assumed to be valid for 10 years until further notice.
• View the WHO list of countries with risk of yellow fever transmission."

Safest seats are the seats in the rear of a plane.

See Foods Not To Eat Before Flying.

Read about flying in the Philippines.

Read about flying to Singapore.

If you are flying to meet ladies of the Philippines consider that you may have jet leg when you arrive. The farther you must travel the more you will affected by jet lag. When you arrive in the Philippines from the U.S.A. expect to want to sleep days and stay up nights for 1 or 2 weeks!

The CDC provides a list of items to pack for your trip to the Philippines in it's Healthy Travel Packing List.

There are many American fast food restaurants all over the Philippines.

If you are considering buying real estate in the Philippines.

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This article will be expanded. Please check back for more information about flying to and from Manila, Philippines and USA. This page last updated June 6, 2022.

Flying in the Philippines

Flying in the Philippines - From Island to Island

Traveling by air in the Philippines has been a pleasure. The flight crews are smartly dressed and very friendly. The planes are clean and appear very well maintained. We have flown on Cebu Pacific Airlines and on Philippines Airlines. The first trip on, Philippines Airlines, in 2007, was from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila to the airport at General Santos City on the island of Mindanao.

Everyone has deplaned at General Santos City and we lingered behind to snap this photo.

At General Santos City we were greeted by the Police Band and two official greeters. A very warm welcome to their fine city.

The second trip was on Cebu Pacific Airlines when we flew from General Santos City to Cebu. In Cebu City we stayed at the Golden Valley Hotel. Not far from the heart of the city. We stayed for one night and then flew back the next day to the city of Cagayan de Oro (CDO) on the North shore if Mindanao.

We were warned that it might not be safe for an American to travel by bus from General Santos City to Cagayan de Oro. The US Department of State has a Travel Advisory telling Americans to exercise extreme caution when visiting the island Mindanao. Some have been stopped by rebel groups while traveling across the island. There are several rebel groups there that have 'targeted' Americans. There were no flights between General Santos and CDO. Therefore, to travel safely from General Santos City on the South shore of Mindanao to CDO on the North shore, we flew to Cebu Island and then back to CDO.

This is the plane we flew on from Cebu to Cagayan de Oro.

After a total of about 45 pleasurable days on Mindanao we flew back to Manila.

The third trip was when we flew from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (in Manila) to Mactan Cebu International Airport on Mactan Island (or otherwise known as Lapu Lapu). This is the airport that also serves the adjacent island of Cebu. The two cities are connected by bridges.

Mactan Cebu International Airport

This second time in Cebu we stayed again at the Golden Valley Hotel. A reasonably priced hotel. And the only hotel we have ever stayed at that has a water softener which treats the shower water. Talk about a clean feeling after showering.

The airports we have traveled to and from in the Philippines are efficient and clean. There are some differences from US Airports. In the Philippines friends or relatives who are accompanying passengers to or from the airport are not permitted inside the terminals. For comparison, at Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Florida, USA, friends, relatives and associates are permitted inside the terminals but are not permitted to enter the air sides (or passenger areas) where the passengers wait before they depart and where they arrive. People who come to meet people who are arriving may wait inside the air conditioned terminal. In the Philippines one must sit outside in an open air seating area covered by a roof (sometimes canvas). Or, on benches in front of the terminal, like at the Mactan Cebu airport.

Airport staff in the Philippines are friendly and helpful and make travelers feel welcome indeed. They appear genuinely happy to be serving visitors.

Our last trip was on Seair (a partner airline of Tiger Air of Singapore). We flew from the airport at Angeles City, Clark International airport to Changi International Airport in Singapore.

Read about our trip to Singapore.

See Foods Not To Eat Before Flying.

Read about flying from Manila to the USA via Japan.

Safest seats are in the rear of the plane.

If you are considering buying real estate in the Philippines.

Considering Buying or Selling real estate in the USA or Internationally?

Meet Filipinas

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This article will be expanded. Please check back for more information about flying in the Philippines. Last updated June 4, 2022.

Air Pollution Philippines

Air Pollution in the Philippines

If you have an asthma attack or a COPD flare-up in the Philippines you can get a ride to a hospital and visit the emergency room. You might ask a tricycle driver to take you to the nearest taxi or jeepney. Then ride to a hospital. 

Visit my hospital page to find hospitals.
Read tips about riding in taxis.

If you need an inhaler use the following links to find a drugstore near you.
Mercury Drug stores, Watson's drug stores, Generics Pharmacy (scroll down the Generics page).  If you don't have a prescription just tell them you need it now! P.S. carry a prescription with you always.

Asthma Inhaler prescribed as a result of
 air pollution in Metro Manila, Philippines.

Air pollution will probably not be a problem for short term visitors or tourists who do not already have asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). I had no problems with it until I had lived there for two years.

If you have asthma or COPD and are planning to travel in the Philippines I can pass along some advice. Doctor Sadili, a pulmonologist at Makati Medical Center in Manila advised us to live on or near a beach to avail of the fresh air breezes from the sea. Most of the cities in the Philippines have heavy pollution from vehicular exhaust. Angeles City and Metro Manila are heavily polluted. In addition to vehicular exhaust, many people cook outdoors with wood stoves. Farmers burn fields. And in rural areas homeowners burn household trash on an almost daily basis (including plastic packaging). The smoke and hazardous fumes drift to neighboring homes and apartments. Having lived in a rural area I have experienced this.

I have read that the number one cause of death in the Philippines is lung disease.

"LONDON: Air pollution has emerged as the world's single largest environmental health risk, having caused seven million deaths in 2012 — 80% of which were from heart attacks and stroke."
From an article by By Kounteya Sinha, TNN | 26 Mar, 2014, 05.31AM IST

Air pollution in the Philippines. Can you imagine riding behind one of the many smoke belching buses in the Philippines?
I have been behind buses, jeepneys and tricycles that pollute like this.

I had never had problems when I was in the USA, before living in Metro Manila; however, after living in the Philippines for almost 4 years I was diagnosed as having COPD.

(Note: after returning to Florida, USA and staying there for 2 years I visited a doctor and mentioned that I had been diagnosed with COPD in the Philippines. She checked me out and said "your breathing sounds fine. You don't have COPD." So, it appears that my breathing problem in the Philippines was directly related to air pollution.

Air Pollution in Angeles City and Metro Manila

We lived in Metro Manila for 2 years and near the end of the two years I had difficulty breathing several times. We moved out to a province, Pampanga, North of Metro Manila, to get away from the heavy air pollution. Moved into an apartment in a rural area. It is about 500 meters (or 1,640 feet) from the two lane road that is fairly heavily trafficked. The air is so much cleaner. No smell of vehicle exhaust here. My Filipina wife, who has asthma, had no problems or attacks while living in this rural area.

However, whenever we need to go to the mall or to town it is necessary to travel in traffic. Many jeepneys, tricycles and trucks are "smoke belchers."

We have traveled by jeepney and tricycle in several cities in the Philippines and have found pollution in almost every city. Some cities we have visited are: Angeles City, Argao, Cagayan de Oro, Cavite, Cebu City, Bataan, Batangas, General Santos City, Lapu Lapu, Magalang, Manila, Olongapo, Paranaque, Quezon City, San Fernando, Subic City and more. The two cities that had the least pollution, in my opinion, were Cagayan de Oro and General Santos City; both on the island of Mindanao. The third city with cleaner air would be Cebu City on the island of Cebu.

One of the many "smoke belching" jeepneys.

See this video about the forthcoming "Comet" electric jeepneys that are coming to Metro Manila.

An annual registration and an emissions test are required for all vehicles. I asked someone why there are still "smoke belchers" and was told that it is because "those people just do not register their vehicles."

Here in the Angeles City area the pollution is not as heavy as in Makati or Metro Manila, but it still exists.

Cloth motorcycle mask sold at SM Department Stores in Philippines. Like the one I wear.

In Manila I had purchased a cloth motorcycle or motorbike mask to wear when riding in public transportation and I have been wearing one almost every time I am traveling. On occasion I have forgotten to take the mask along. Inevitably, by the time I arrive back home I am coughing. Warning, with this type of mask you can still smell the odor of exhaust so you are probably still being subjected to a lot of pollutants reaching your lungs. I do not wear it when riding in air conditioned cars, taxis or buses. My breathing is okay then.

Usually one must travel into the heavier polluted downtown areas to go to a hospital to visit a doctor. Many malls in the Philippines have medical clinics serving the public. But, to reach a specialist I have found it always necessary to go to a larger hospital or Medical center in a polluted area.

In Manila we visited doctors who have clinics in Makati Medical Center. It was there that I was, for the first time in my life, prescribed an asthma inhaler. When I fly back to the USA, from the time I board the plane, I no longer need an inhaler or a mask.

Most jeepneys are open-air and the pollution enters freely into the jeepney and into your lungs. I thought of wearing a gas mask, but I could not find where to buy one anyplace. And, I would have felt quite self conscious wearing one seeing as no one else did. Filipinos just live with this on a daily basis. Some will, very ineffectively cover their mouth and nose with their hand. Some hold a handkerchief over their nose when the smoke is extra heavy. I did find a motorcycle type cloth mask that has velcro on straps which fasten behind ones head. It seems to help a little. When I wash it with soap in a clear glass jar, about every 3 weeks, the water turns dark gray after I let it stand for a few hours.

Can you believe, there is a law against smoking cigarettes in jeepneys and in some public places? How insignificant cigarette smoke is compared to pollution caused by the MANY smoke belching buses,  jeepneys and tricycles.

In Metro Manila there have been days when, from a distance, I could barely see the outlines of the skyscrapers because the pollution was so thick. In a city of almost 18 million people I am sure enforcement of anti-pollution laws is a daunting task.

If you have asthma, I advise you to bring your inhaler, do not stay too long in the big cities, visit beach areas, and travel only in air conditioned taxis and buses. True, the air outside is polluted but at least the heaviest black exhaust won't enter your taxi or bus as it would enter a jeepney, tricycle or open car.

We were advised, by a Filipino pulmonologist, to go live in a place by the sea to get away from air pollution. So, if you are planning to live in the Philippines I suggest you take that advice. Visit the big cities but live elsewhere.

"Breathing Metro Manila air now risky - DOH"

I read once that just breathing the air in Mexico City is equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day! Would it be one, two or three packs a day in Metro Manila?

Read how one Filipino cured himself of asthma by moving to Canada.

Motorcycle Masks, Motorbike Masks

In my opinion the only logical solution would be to wear an actual gas mask whenever riding in any form of transportation. However, if I had worn one I would have been the only one in the country wearing one! The desire to "conform" affects everyone! Well I did, at least, purchase cloth "motorcycle" type masks for myself, my wife and daughter. They trap a lot of the oil and other pollutants. We would wash them every two weeks or so, with laundry detergent, in a clear glass bottle. You should see how dark gray the water would be after each washing. At least the masks stopped some of the pollutants from reaching our lungs. These masks are available in the Auto Supply areas of SM Department Stores. SM Malls can be found in most major cities in the Philippines.

Today, I just found a web site where they sell a mask which is probably much better than the ones we used. I suggest you search for masks online and order one or more before you travel. See users' comments about these charcoal filter masks, at the site. If you are planning an extended stay inquire of them as to how long a mask can be used and still remain effective. Then you will know how many masks you may need during your stay.

Honeycomb ACF Pollution Mask

I recommend that you check out this mask and order one or a few before traveling to the Philippines.

If you are planning an extended stay in the Philippines you might want to be sure you are in an area serviced by air conditioned taxicabs and buses. Many cities, like Angeles City, have very few or no taxis. The only place in Angeles City where I have seen a taxi stand is at the large SM Clark City Mall in the Balibago area. There you should be able to find 4 or 5 taxis in a row during mall hours (10 a.m. til 9 p.m.).

It is not easy to pick up a phone and call a taxi in the Philippines. Taxis usually are found only in the largest cities like Manila, Quezon City, Cebu, etc.

We visited the city of Batangas, about a one hour ride from Manila. Batangas is a fairly large city. Saw no taxis there. Only jeepneys and tricycles.

Cebu City and Lapu Lapu on the island of Cebu and Cagayan de Oro, on the island of Mindanao have taxis.

In Metro Manila there are taxis everywhere. One may hail a cab there fairly easily, 24 hours a day. Compared to the USA Philippine taxi and bus fares are LOW and thus very affordable for the average foreign tourist. A five or ten mile ride will set you back about $3.75 US. But, near the city center malls, like SM Mall and Glorietta Mall,  you must wait in line at taxi stands, without exception, and in the evening when many are leaving the malls you may wait for up to 45 minutes for your turn to get in a cab. These taxi stands are monitored by mall security guards, they will note the ID number of the taxi on a slip of paper and hand it to you. This is for your security, you can call a trusted friend and notify them of which cab you are in so in the event you are hijacked they can report it to the authorities. And it probably discourages drivers from trying anything funny.

The way to avoid standing in line is to arrange for a car and driver. The driver will stay with the car and pick you up when you call him on his cell phone.

As far as I can see smoke belching is a nationwide problem; a hazard to health and a major hindrance to tourism, commerce and development.

I have read that Puerto Princessa has very little air pollution because it has a very progressive mayor.

A Solution to Pollution in the Philippines?

100,000 Electric Tricycles are planned for the Philippines.

My  personal thought is that if the Philippines could eliminate smoke belching jeepneys, tricycles, buses and trucks the number of tourists would rise dramatically. The number of retirees who move to the Philippines would also rise dramatically.

There are over 61,000 jeepneys in Metro Manila alone. Many are smoke belchers.

I have an idea: the government of the Philippines could provide loans for new smoke free engines for all jeepneys and could outlaw two stroke motorcycle engines or provide loans for owners to upgrade to motorcycles equipped with 4 stroke engines. With a provision that all old two stroke engines and worn out jeepney, bus and truck engines be rebuilt, destroyed or melted down and used to manufacture new cars in the Philippines.

"A single two-stroke engine produces pollution equivalent to that of 30 to 50 four-stroke automobiles.
(from an article at the "two stroke motorcycle engines" link in the paragraph above).

The government could somehow effectively enforce the pollution laws it already has on the books and take all the smoke belching vehicles off the road until it is proven they have been fixed and are no longer emitting smoke. Maybe the government could look outside the Philippines for countries which strictly enforce anti-pollution regulations and implement those methods.

"The secretary of the environment stressed...'We will be popularizing the use of electric tricycles not only in Metro Manila but in other major cities. The ultimate aim is for our country’s five million tricycles, of which 2.8 million are in Metro Manila, to become zero-emission vehicles,' he said." (Philstar 2011)

Sounds good, but how many years will it take?

Here is an article from USA Today dated July 29, 2014 which tells about how the Philippines is leading the way in Asia to convert to electric vehicles for public transport.

If you know of cities in the Philippines which do not have significant air pollution from vehicular traffic please share with other readers by making a comment below.

Other sources of pollution are pig farms in the Philippines and poultry farms. Living near chicken farms will subject you to a virtual plague of flies whenever the farms are cleaned. Click on this pig farms link to get advice about how to locate pig and poultry farms.

What percentage of people in the Philippines have asthma? This is an unverified answer.

Check the GlobalAsthmaReport for more detailed information about asthma in the Philippines and other countries. Scroll down to Figure 4 on page 12.

Find out about Asthma in the USA (See charts and information). Approximately 8% of the US population have asthma. The link is to the Center For Disease Control (CDC).

Check out pollution in various cities in the Philippines and around the world.

If you are a foreigner in the Philippines please tell us about your experiences while you are in the Philippines by making comments below.

You may want to submit your opinion about pollution in the Philippines at Numbeo.com. There you can find statistics about air, water and other types of pollution gathered from a survey of visitors and residents of the Philippines.

If you are considering buying real estate in the Philippines.

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This article will be expanded. Check back for more information about asthma, COPD and air pollution in the Philippines. This article last updated June 20, 2022.