View source for Wikimania 2016 bids/Manila/Manila

===Safety and security===
When people think of the Philippines, one of the first questions that come to mind is whether or not the country is really safe to visit.  Understandably, the question comes in light of recent events such as the [[:en:Moro insurgency in the Philippines|ongoing Muslim insurgency]], the devastation wrought by [[:en:Typhoon Haiyan|Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)]] in 2013 and the [[:en:Manila hostage crisis|Manila hostage crisis]] in 2010.  However, it should be stressed that context is very important in understanding the safety and security situation in the Philippines, and that in fact, the country is not as unsafe as it is often portrayed to be in the media or in government travel warnings.

It should be stressed that while there are travel warnings in effect for the Philippines, these are only in effect for [[:en:Mindanao|Mindanao]]—and specifically western Mindanao—due to the threat posed against foreigners in light of the ongoing Muslim insurgency: something that we hope will subside in the future with the signing of the [[:en:Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro|Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro]] and the activation of its provisions come 2016, when a new Bangsamoro entity is scheduled to replace the [[:en:Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao|Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao]] (ARMM).  Mindanao is in the southern Philippines and is over 1000 km away from Manila, so events there very rarely affect the capital.  In addition, there are no travel warnings in effect for the rest of the country issued by most major Western countries.

Like any major city, travelers should use their common sense and exercise caution when in Manila.  Although crime is common, with an average crime incidence of 660 crimes a week as of September 2014,<ref>Alquitran, Non. "[http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/10/13/1379575/ncrpo-crime-rate-metro-down NCRPO: Crime rate in Metro down]". ''[[:en:The Philippine Star|The Philippine Star]]'' (PhilStar Daily, Inc.). October 13, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2014.</ref> most of these crimes are petty crimes.  Only 26 homicides were reported between May and September 2014, which is lower than the average homicide rate of many major cities in the United States.  In most cases, local Filipinos are the target of crimes in Manila, not foreigners, and the majority of crimes occur in places not frequented by tourists.  Most areas frequented by tourists are heavily policed, often monitored by both the [[:en:Philippine National Police|Philippine National Police]] and private security firms.  Security on public transport, particularly at the airport and aboard the LRT and MRT, is tight—so tight, in fact, that it has even been the subject of complaint by locals.<ref>Villanueva, Marichu A. "[http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2014/01/29/1284136/keeping-straight-track Keeping on straight track]". ''[[:en:The Philippine Star|The Philippine Star]]'' (PhilStar Daily, Inc.). January 29, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2014.</ref><ref>Santos, Tina. "[http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20110518-337114/Redundant-security-measures-at-NAIA-removed Redundant security measures at NAIA removed]". ''[[:en:Philippine Daily Inquirer|Philippine Daily Inquirer]]'' (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.). May 18, 2011. Retrieved October 19, 2014.</ref>  The area around the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where the venue for Wikimania 2016 is located, is heavily policed with two police stations on or near the grounds, not only because the area is heavily touristed, but also because the venue is in proximity to the [[:en:Coconut Palace|Coconut Palace]], the official residence of the Vice President of the Philippines, as well as the Central Bank.  The venue itself meanwhile has a private security force on the premises and bags are checked prior to entering the buildings.

;Travel warnings and advisories for the Philippines:

[http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Philippines Australia] • [http://travel.gc.ca/destinations/philippines Canada] • [http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/zggmzhw/lsbh/aqtx/t1199307.shtml China] ([http://www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota/note-Philippines.htm Hong Kong]) • [http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/conseils-par-pays/philippines-12346/ France] • [http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/Laenderinformationen/00-SiHi/Nodes/PhilippinenSicherheit_node.html Germany] • [http://www.viaggiaresicuri.it/index.php?id=322&tx_ttnews&#91;tt_news&#93;=14394 Italy] • [http://www2.anzen.mofa.go.jp/info/pchazardspecificinfo.asp?id=013&infocode=2014T107#ad-image-0 Japan] • [http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/reisadviezen/filipijnen Netherlands] • [http://www.msz.gov.pl/pl/informacje_konsularne/ostrzezenia/filipiny___ostrzezenie_dla_podrozujacych__1 Poland] • [http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/es/ServiciosAlCiudadano/SiViajasAlExtranjero/Paginas/DetalleRecomendacion.aspx?IdP=66 Spain] • [http://www.swedenabroad.com/sv-SE/Ambassader/Bangkok/Reseinformation/Reseinformation-Filippinerna/ Sweden] • [https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/philippines United Kingdom] • [http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings/philippines-travel-warning.html United States]