At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Philippines

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO *
• Head of Government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
• Assembly: Philippines has a bicameral Congress (Kongreso) consisting of the Senate (Senado) with 24 seats and the House of Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan) with 214 seats.

* ARROYO became president on January 20, 2001 after former President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA was removed from office on corruption charges.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 6-year term.
• In the Senate (Senado) 24 members are elected by popular vote to serve 6-year terms*. In the House of Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan) 214 members are elected by popular vote to serve 3-year terms.**

* One-half of the members are elected every three years.

** The Constitution prohibits the House of Representatives from having more than 250 members.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Gloria M. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO*
  • Party: Koalisyon ng Karapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan or K-4 (LAKAS-CMD)
• Fernando POE, Jr.
  • Party: Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisan Pilipino (KNP)
• Panfilo M. LACSON
  • Party: Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP)
• Raul S. ROCO
  • Party: Aksyon Demokratiko (AD)
• Eduardo C. VILLANUEVA
  • Party: Bangon Pilipinas

* The K-4 consists of the National Union of Christian Democrats (Lakas Ng Edsa or Lakas-CMD), the Liberal Party, members of the Nationalist People

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 84,596,249 (2004)
• Registered Voters: 43,536,028 (2004)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 42,093,350 (2004)

·         Is Philippines a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (15 July 1980)

·         Has Philippines ratified CEDAW: Yes (5 August 1981)

·         Gender Quota: No (there are some political parties that have adopted voluntary gender quotas)

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 37 (House of Representatives); 4 (Senate) following the 2004 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 115 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Medium (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Philippines a signatory to CRPD: Yes (25 September 2007)

·         Has Philippines ratified CRPD: Yes (15 April 2008)

·         Population with a disability: 12,689,437 (est.)