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Daily News Analysis

PHILIPPINES

29th May, 2024 Geography

PHILIPPINES

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Picture Courtesy: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/philippines-legalise-divorce-bill-9355146/

Context: The Philippines, identified as one of the two countries globally, alongside Vatican City, where divorces are not permitted, has initiated measures to address this situation. This progress was marked by the passage of a Bill aimed at legalizing divorce in the country.

Philippines

  • The Philippines is an archipelagic country located in Southeast Asia. Comprising 7,641 islands, it spans a total area of 300,000 square kilometres.
  • It is bordered by the South China Sea to the west, the Philippine Sea to the east, and the Celebes Sea to the south.
  • The Philippines shares maritime boundaries with several neighbouring countries, including Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China.
  • Situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire and close to the equator, the Philippines is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons.
  • The country's highest mountain is Mount Apo in Mindanao, with an altitude of 2,954 meters above sea level.
  • The Philippines is a megadiverse country with some of the world's highest rates of discovery and endemism (67%). The country has an estimated 13,500 plant species, 3,500 of which are endemic.
  • The Philippines has a tropical maritime climate, usually hot and humid with three seasons: a hot dry season from March to May, a rainy season from June to November, and a cool dry season from December to February.

Source:

Indian Express

Wikipedia

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. The Sulu Sea separates the Philippines from which country to the southwest?

A) Malaysia

B) Singapore

C) Brunei

D) Indonesia

Answer: C