In News:

The enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones have affected more than 3.8 lakh people across eight regions of the Philippines, highlighting the country's vulnerability to extreme weather events.

About the Philippines

The Philippines is an island country in Southeast Asia, located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is surrounded by the South China Sea to the north and west, Philippine Sea to the east, Celebes Sea to the south, and Sulu Sea to the southwest. Its capital is Manila.

Geographical Features

The Philippines predominantly experiences a tropical and monsoonal climate, making it vulnerable to tropical cyclones and heavy monsoon rainfall.

Its major geographical features include:

• Highest point: Mount Apo
• Longest river: Cagayan River
• Other major rivers: Mindanao and Agusan
• Major lake: Laguna de Bay
• Important volcanoes: Mayon, Bulusan and Kanlaon

The country is also rich in natural resources such as timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt and copper.

Geothermal Energy

The Philippines is a major producer of geothermal energy and ranks third globally, after the United States and Indonesia.