Use of ISO Codes PH and PHL for Philippines

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OP Administrative Order No. 5, s. 2010: Use of ISO Codes PH and PHL for Philippines

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Title Source: Supreme Court: Use of ISO Codes PH and PHL for Philippines

Law: Op Administrative Order No. 5, S. 2010

Decision Date: Dec 9, 2010

President Benigno S. Aquino III issues Administrative Order No. 5, directing all government offices and agencies to adopt and use the ISO codes PH or PHL instead of RP when referring to the Philippines, in order to avoid ambiguity and confusion.

Law Summary

ISO 3166-1 Country Code Assignments

ISO developed a standard (ISO 3166-1) that assigns two-letter (alpha-2) and three-letter (alpha-3) codes to countries worldwide.
The Philippines was assigned the two-letter code "PH" and the three-letter code "PHL".

Usage of ISO Codes in Various Contexts

The ISO codes PH and PHL are internationally used in events such as conferences, sports competitions, and airline ticketing.
These codes facilitate consistent country identification both within the Philippines and abroad.

Adoption of ISO Codes in Official Philippine Documents

The Department of Foreign Affairs has incorporated the three-letter code "PHL" into the electronic passport's data page.
This reflects the government's formal acknowledgment of the ISO standard codes.

Problems with Using "RP" as a Country Initial

The initials "RP" (standing for "Republic of the Philippines") have been traditionally used to refer to the Philippines.
However, "RP" does not conform to the ISO 3166-1 standard, creating ambiguity and potential confusion.

Directive to Adopt ISO Codes Officially

To avoid confusion and promote uniformity, all government offices and agencies are directed to adopt and use the ISO-assigned codes "PH" and "PHL".
This adoption is to be implemented as soon as practicable, ensuring consistent country representation in all official communications and documents.

Authority and Effectivity

The directive is issued by the President of the Philippines, exercising constitutional powers.
The law is formalized with the affixation of the President's signature and the official seal of the Republic of the Philippines.

END