Government

The Philippine Social Security System (SSS) is a public service which provides, among others, retirement and health benefits for workers and employees in the private sector.

The Philippines is a relatively solid democracy with a strong civil society. Nevertheless, it is still a developing country, with persistent social problems, corruption, and a partially inefficient bureaucracy. Here is an overview of the political system, the level of development, and many links to country reports and fact sheets that provide you with further information about all sectors of society.

Originally the summer house of a Spanish aristocrat and now the residence of the Philippine President, the Malacañang Palace has its fair share of colorful history.

Megacitizens looking to extend their visa or put up a business while staying in the Philippines might want to check out our list of government agencies and bureaus that could be helpful on the aforementioned legal subjects. 

The Bureau of Immigration has its main office in Intramuros, Manila City. Hundreds of foreigners and Filipinos go there everyday to extend visas, get clearances, or change their residence status. Here is the Megacitizens survival guide for the Bureau of Immigration.

Whether you are needing the latest updates to run your business, are interested in politics or just want to know what is going on in the Megacity, news and information are vital to the life of a Megacitizen. Manila, well-known in Southeast Asia to have a comparatively high degree of free media and investigative journalism (though almost all media outlets are owned by powerful corporations and families), offers a variety of sources to acquire the information you are looking for.

If you are looking for even more up-to-date information unmediated by the media outlets mentioned in the other articles, you can go directly to the websites of the most important government departments and/ or follow their Twitter accounts.

For a long time, the history of Manila was shaped by foreign powers. In fact, few cities in the world have such a long history of colonization. Here is a brief overview of the city's and the country's checkered past.

The House of Representatives, together with the Senate, forms the legislative branch of the government in the Philippines. It is also referred to as the 'Lower House'. Members of Congress are elected by either legislative districts or nationwide through party lists supporting marginalized groups.

After decades of armed conflict and 17 years of negotiations, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government of the Philippines have signed a historic peace treatment on March 27.