Transportation

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in the Philippines, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Travel within the Philippine archipelago is possible by car, boat, plane, bus, and other public transportation. However, vehicle traffic is dense, chaotic, and unpredictable. The road system is frequently congested, and drivers are often undisciplined. Visitors may wish to carefully consider the advisability of driving themselves. If you are involved in an accident, contact the local police and notify them of the accident and attempt to stay inside your car before dealing with the other driver. Do not attempt to negotiate with drivers until police arrive. Be aware that drivers often ignore or do not yield to emergency vehicles. These factors can combine to impede the ability of emergency vehicles, including police, rescue vehicles, and ambulances, from reaching accident scenes in a timely fashion. Additionally, it is particularly dangerous to drive off the national highways and other paved roads, especially at night, and you should avoid doing so.

There have been eight major inter-island ferryboat accidents since 2012, two with significant loss of life. The safety record of ferry boats is such that U.S. government employees are advised not to use inter-island ferry boat services unless they are the only means of transportation available. There have also been a series of bus accidents, in part attributed to poor bus maintenance or driver error. U.S. citizens are advised to avoid overcrowded or unsafe transport and to exercise caution in planning travel by inter-island ferryboats or other public conveyances.

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. For specific information concerning Philippine driver's permits, vehicle inspection, road tax, and mandatory insurance, please contact the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. at (202) 467-9300 or one of the Philippine consulates in the United States (Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco). Please also see related information from the Philippine Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines.

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of the Philippine’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of the Philippines’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.