Is the Philippines Safe For Travel? A Philippines Safety Guide For Expats (2024)

I divided this Philippines Safety Guide into five parts.

1. Transportation Safety Tips- Advice for traveling around in the Philippines
2. Scams in the Philippines- How to keep your money safe
3. Tips for Staying Safe in the Philippines-Personal Safety
4. Food Safety- Avoid getting sick
5. Travel safety in the Philippines- Places to Avoid

The first part of the guide includes tips on making sure you're safe in your new country, such as where and when you should travel. Next comes the second section covering common scams, especially around Manila. The third section covers personal safety and guidance on LGBTQ and solo females. The fourth section covers food safety to avoid any health issues. Lastly, I discuss places expats are warned to avoid and cities where local authorities officially advise foreigners to "reconsider travel."

Other Guides On Expat Life In The Philippines

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While most studies do not consider the Philippines more dangerous than the United States, I would not characterize the crime rate as low.

It's no surprise that poor neighborhoods in Metro Manila have the largest robbery, assault, and violent crime incidents. Outside of the poor areas in the Capital, expats should take caution in crowded markets and public places, where petty theft and pickpocketing are more common.

As in any country, foreigners flashing around large amounts of cash or wearing expensive jewelry are more likely to be mugging targets.

The coastal waters in the Philippines can cause property damage and deaths during a Super Typhoon

The warm tropical waters and gorgeous landscape are, unfortunately, what make the Philippines prone to natural disasters. Most of the country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire's sphere of volcanic activity.

The warm tropical waters and gorgeous landscape are, unfortunately, what make the Philippines prone to natural disasters. Most of the country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire's sphere of volcanic activity.

The same seismic activity that created the country's dramatic landscapes peppers the country with earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides. Additionally, the country's tropical climate spawns several tropical storms annually, peaking during rainy season (July through October), when nearly 70% of typhoons hit the Philippines.

Palawan, the most popular island in the country, is also the safest place for tourists in the Philippines

Luckily Palawan, voted the most beautiful island in the world, is also the safest place in the Philippines from natural disasters. This island chain, which includes El Nido and Coron, is located in Western Philippines, away from volcanic activity and the high-risk tropical storm areas.

Palawan's coastal waters on the West Philippine Sea are tectonically stable. Unlike most of the country, the island is not located near any active faults. The last seismic activity to hit Palawan's Capital, Puerto Princesa, was in 1897.

Traffic in Manila is chaotic and drivers can be undisciplined and aggressive. Photo Credit

You can feel safe driving in the Philippines outside Manila and maybe Cebu City. However, driving in Metro Manila is not for the meek. Traffic laws are nothing like in the US, and defensive driving is unheard of. Instead, driving in Manila traffic is closer to Max Max levels of chaos.

Manila drivers, especially the jeepney drivers, are undisciplined and unpredictable. Be prepared for jeepneys to suddenly stop in the middle of traffic to let out passengers, causing cars and buses which were closely tailgating to recklessly zigzag at high speed to avoid collisions.

While cramped, slow, and uncomfortable, Jeepneys are a safe way to get around the Philippines

Tricycles are the most common way for locals to get around in the Philippines. They come in different forms, but they're basically a three-wheeled motorcycle with an attached sidecar. They're popular because they're cheap and can navigate crowded streets and narrow alleys that cars can't squeeze past.

Don't be surprised when more and more people start to pack in next to you. There is no such thing as overcapacity during peak rush hour when there is money to be made.

As in any country, keep your belongings close to you and be aware of your surroundings when riding in crowded public transport. Keep your bags in sight and nearby; wear your backpacks in front where you can keep things secure.

• COVID-19 Trip Insurance- A short-term health insurance plan specifically fortourist entering the Philippines needing COVID coverage.

Taxi drivers are known to rip off foreigners. Make sure you are clear about the price before getting in the taxi. Point to the meter as soon as you open the door, so the driver understands that you will only pay the metered rate.

Additionally, be alert when stopped at intersections or in traffic jams. While not common, beggars may try to reach into the taxi to grab your belongings.

It's no surprise that an archipelago of over 7,000 islands is dependent on ferry service. From large car ferries to smaller local banca outrigger boats, thousands of people and tons of cargo crisis cross the Philippine islands.

Ferry travel was considered extremely unsafe in the Philippines. The country ranked last in terms of safety and the global leader in fatalitiesuntil 2017. However, the Philippine government has made remarkable strides in improving the country's safety statistics.

With some ferry trips lasting several days, even with improved safety, you should take precautions.

• When possible, only sail with a reliable transportation company. This advice applies more to large passenger ferries than small outriggers.
• Don't board overloaded or unseaworthy vessels.
• Ensure you have access to a life jacket in case of an emergency.
• Plan for extra time during the rainy season, as services get canceled if the seas are too rough.

Be cautious when using debit or credit cards. Credit card and ATM fraud is a common crime. Scammers try to use skimmers to steal and clone cards, then rack up your card with unauthorized purchases or cash advances.

ATM Skimmers

There has been a recent uptick in ATM card fraud where criminals are attaching illegal devices that record your information as you enter it into the keypad. Vigorously shake the card reader to check for loose connections to protect yourself. Avoid any card readers with irregular or unusual features. Using ATMs located in well-lit public areas or inside a bank to reduce the risk scammer tampered the ATM's card reader. Always be aware of your surroundings and cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN.

Online Dating Scams

Online dating is booming in the Philippines. Unfortunately, online dating scams targeting men in Western countries are also growing.

Common online dating scams in the Philippines follow the same pattern: Scammers will create fake profiles to build a relationship with someone. Once the scammer gains the trust of their "online boyfriend," the requests for money come.

The requests for money seem reasonable enough:

• To buy books for school
• Medical treatment for sick mother
• A new phone, so they can video call their boyfriend
• A visa to visit their partner in real life
• Getting kicked out of their house unexpectedly and needing rent money

An even more nefarious scam is asking for nude pictures or videos of sexual acts, only to turn around and blackmail their victim.

Most dating scams revolve around money. No matter how much someone you meet online seems like your "soulmate" when money gets involved, it seldom ends well.

A familiar face scam

Manila is a hot spot for this common tourist scam, while expats, who live in the area, are less likely to be approached. The scammer pretends to recognize your familiar face.

The scammer's setup is claiming to work at your hotel. Conveniently, the employee is on their day off and offers to "show you around town" or "give you a free tour."

Kindly decline the offer. It isn't worth the risk. A free tour in a strange area led by someone you don't know is a movie plot that ends in a robbery or mugging.

The money changer scam

This scam happens in nearly every country with a foreign currency. There are two variations. One involves someone approaching you on the street; the other is a physical location in an out-of-the-way, inconspicuous area. The lure of the scam is the same; the money changer advertises a currency exchange rate better than what is offered by local banks.

What to look out for:

• Improperly calculated exchange rate
• Undisclosed fees
• Tellers stealing bills while counting the money
• Replacing large notes with smaller notes

Protect yourself by :

• Only changing currency at reputable locations
• Double-check the agreed-upon conversion rate
• Calculate the rate yourself, don't trust the calculator used by the vendor
• Clarify any additional fees or commissions at the start of the transaction
• Count, then recount your money in front of the teller before the exchange.
• Count, then recount your exchanged pesos before you complete the transaction.

No Change Scam

Assume all taxi drivers, Grab delivery, local street food stalls, farmer's market vendors, anyone that you pay in cash will likely not have much change. Instead, they will try and make you buy more things or subtly hint at a tip by claiming to have no change for large bills.

Always carry small bills with you. This one is more annoyance than a full-fledged financial scam. Lots of times, this is a true statement. Remember, the minimum wage in the Philippinesis only. It is unreasonable to give someone a 1000 Peso note for a 20 Peso item and expect change.

Child Abuse Scam

While I haven't heard of this one personally, it was brought up on the Canadian government website and is particularly sinister. Locals with kids befriend single Western males, only to extort money from the expat, calling them a pedophile and accusing them of child abuse.

Philippines is one of the safest places for solo female travelers.

Yes, it is generally safe for a woman to travel alone in the Philippines. Similar to any destination, be cautious and practice basic travel safety. In major cities, like Manila, you'll need to deal with pickpockets and overpriced taxi scams everyone, including men and locals, avoids.

Sexual assault and rape are uncommon in the Philippines, especially against foreigners, and are punishable by death. A woman is 4.5 times more likely to be raped in the US than in the Philippines.

The Philippines ranks among the least sexist nations in the world. There is not a lot of gender bias, and culturally, we treat women as equals. You'll get more intrusive questions about traveling solo than your gender.

If you are concerned about a specific area or event, ask a local Filipina. Most Filipinos are open, speak English, and are helpful to a fault- They will assist you any way they can.

Manila is considered by many the Gay Capital of Asia

Transgender and Filipino gays are accepted and applauded members of Philippine society, with many in the LGBTQ community prominent in TV, media, including an openly transgender woman elected to Congress.

However, with a very influential Catholic church and heavily Roman-Catholic population, other websites give the Philippines a D Ranking, due to denial of same-sex marriage, absence of adoption rights, and lack of federal LGBTQ anti-discrimination laws.

While federal protections are lacking, several cities including Cebu City, Quezon City, and Metro Manila have locallaws protecting LGBTQ rights. Additionally, the PhilippineDepartment of Education observes June be celebrated as Pride Month in all public schools.

Yes. Filipinos are known to be incredibly friendly. Especially if you are a American or speak English, if you come as a solo traveler, you'll find it easy to make friends here. Outside of the places avoiding in the southern part of the country, you'll find it very safe traveling alone.

The exception to that rule is Metro Manila. The Capital's population is over 13,000,000 people. Treat the Metro Manila like you would any big city anywhere in the world.

• Don't walk alone late at night
• Avoid poorly lit streets and dark alleys
• Don't accept drinks from strangers.
• Be careful letting strangers in your home
• Don't flaunt large wads of cash or expensive jewelry

Food is a huge part of Filipino culture. And while food in the Philippines is not inherently "unsafe," Filipino cuisine is questionable to most foreign expats.

Filipino cooks showcase the country's ingenuity by using the least edible ingredients. Especially to an Americanize palate, traditional meals like stir-fried pig face (sisig), partially formed duck embryos (balut), or blood stew (dinuguan) sound more like an episode of Fear Factor than a restaurant menu.

Street food anywhere in the world carries an inherent risk. It's hard maintaining hygienic food preparation when cooking and cleaning on an open street. Consuming contaminated food caused by improper food handling and unsafe food storage can lead to terrible cases of travelers' diarrhea.

Like many countries in Southeastern Asia, food and water in the Philippines can carry diseases like cholera, hepatitis, schistosomiasis, and E. coli. However, I love street food. Street food is cheap and delicious in places like Penang, Hanoi, or Chang Mai.

Busy with locals and expats, Salcedo Market is one of the safest places to try street food in Manila

However, I generally avoid street food in the Philippines. The country does not have the same street food culture as Thailand or Vietnam. The quality of the street food vendors in the Philippines doesn't hold up to their Southeast Asia counterparts.

A tell-tale sign of street food quality is if wealthier locals eat street food. In Thailand, Malaysia, or Vietnam, locals of all income levels eat street food. In Hanoi, you are just as likely to see a businessman sitting on the street eating a bowl of pho as a construction worker.

In the Philippines, you will rarely see upper-class or wealthier Filipinos eating street food. Even middle-class or working-class Filipinos are more likely to eat cheap meals at a 7-11 than next to a street stall.

Honestly, I hate this part because the Philippines is very safe subjectively. Unlike when I lived in South America, I feel comfortable walking nearly anywhere in the country. However, I would be negligent in ignoring the safety issues in the Southern Philippines and the fact that the US State Department has an Active Travel Warning for Western and Southern Mindanao.

Consider that terrorist activity can happen anywhere. Hundreds of people have been killed or injured in attacks in New York, London, Paris, Barcelona, and many more in recent years. Yet, there are rarely calls to avoid tourism in the US, UK, France, or Spain due to terrorism.

The security situation remains a HIGH-RISK for terrorist activity in Southern Philippines, where ISIS-affiliated groups, including Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) base their lairs. Islamic militant groups have been known to conduct kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks targeting markets, airports, and government institutions in the area. Anyone entering this region can expect frequent security checkpoints and increased security presence around public areas.

The US State Department considers the island of Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago, and Palawan as regions with risk. While kidnapping victims tend to be local Filipinos or immigrant Chinese citizens, US Citizens should take adequate security measures or avoid non-essential travel to the area. US government employees need special authorization for any official travel or entry into the Sulu Archipelago and Mindanao Island. They can not guarantee emergency services to any Americans in the area.

Marawi City is a off-limits area for American Travelers ImageSource

The US Department of State has a Level 3 Travel Advisory for the Philippines. The State Department's Do Not Travel warnings consider the Sulu Archipelago, the Sulu Sea, Marawi City as regions with risk, stating that "the risk level of personal safety and security in the Philippines remains high."

Government authorities recommend foreign nationals "Reconsider Travel" for other areas of Mindanao Island. Insurgent groups linked to Al Qaeda and ISIS operating in these areas pose a higher level of risk of violence linked to piracy, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.