Administrative Information for PARTICIPANTS ASEAN Regional Conference on Child Online Protection

Manila, , 25-27 February 2020

1. General Information Mabuhay! Welcome to , Philippines for the Regional Conference on Child Online Protection!

We are pleased to share with you some general information concerning the administrative and logistical arrangements for the Regional Conference on Child Online Protection in Manila, Philippines from February 25-27 February 2020. Conference Website: http://www.rccop.com 2. Conference Venue Conference Venue: The Address: One , 0913, Manila, Philippines Contact Persons: • Ms. Nohezi Soriano, Events Account Manager • Mr. John Robert Lozareto, Corporate Account Manager Tel No: Landline +632 8527 0011 local 1274 & 1105 Mobile: +63 917 8680645 Fax No: +632 85279467 Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Website: https://www.manila-hotel.com.ph/ 3. Registration Process Please note that participation in this conference is by invitation only. Registration is obligatory for anyone who wants to attend the conference, the exhibition or any single session. Each delegate is kindly requested to finish the registration process by 14th January 2020 so that logistical arrangement can be made accordingly. The Conference Organization Committee has provided two registration methods: Method 1: Online registration • Online registration is encouraged and the access of the online registration platform can be found on conference website, or through the following link: http://www.rccop.com. If the registrant should encounter any problem with online registration, the registration to the conference is only possible via the below method using the attached registration form. Please note that a confirmation email will be sent to the registrant’s email signifying that the online registration process is finished.

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Method 2: Attached registration form • If the online registration is not possible, delegates are requested to send their completed Registration Form by 14th January 2020 at the latest to Ms. Maria Dolores Picot [email protected] and Ms. Di Yu [email protected] with copy to Ms. Natcha Chutinthararuk [email protected] and Ms. Rachel Harvey [email protected]. Please note that a confirmation email will be sent to the registrant’s email signifying that the registration form was received. 4. Language The official language will be in English and all materials will be provided in English. 5. Accommodation For security and logistical purposes, you are recommended to stay in the conference venue – the Manila Hotel - https://www.manila-hotel.com.ph/ For your information, the standard check-in time is 02:00 PM. Early check in will be subject to room availability. The standard check-out time is at 12:00 NN.

Other amenities include: • Daily buffet breakfast at Café Ilang-Ilang • Welcome fruits • Local Mineral water daily • Daily local English newspaper • Complimentary in-room broadband internet and Wi-Fi access • Free access to the outdoor swimming pool • Complimentary scheduled shuttle service going to Mall of Asia, Robinson’s Place Manila, , , San Agustin Church and mall.

For other recommended hotels, please kindly find the below list which contains hotels cleared by UNDSS – please book directly with the hotel. • Hotel H2O, Manila, Philippines Luneta, (Behind the Quirino Grandstand), Manila, 1000, Philippines https://www.manilaoceanpark.com/hotel-h2o • , Manila, Philippines South Road Drive, T.M. Kalaw Ext., Ernita, Manila, 1000, Philippines https://www.rizalparkhotelmanila.com/ • Bayview Park Hotel Manila 1118 Roxas Blvd. cor. un. Ave., Manila https://www.bayviewparkhotel.com/ • Diamond Hotel , Corner Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manila, 1000 https://www.diamondhotel.com/ • Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd, , 1300 Metro Manila Regional Conference on Child Online Protection | Page 2

https://all.accor.com/hotel • The Bayleaf Muralla St, Intramuros, Manila, 1002 Metro Manila https://www.thebayleaf.com.ph/intramuros When making accommodation arrangements please note the that traffic will add time to your daily journeys to the conference venue. 6. Meals International buffet lunch and coffee breaks are included in the conference package and will be served daily at the Centennial Hall A. The Reception and Exhibition area on the night of 25th February will be at the Pandanggo Hall (ground floor). 7. Expenses Unless the invitation letter provides information on sponsorship, travel and expenses are to be covered by the participants. The local currency is the Philippine Peso (PHP). The UN exchange rate is PHP 50.935 for US$1. 8. Visa Generally, a foreign citizen who wishes to enter Philippines is required to obtain a visa from the Embassy or Consulate of Philippines in the participant’s respective country. However, nationals of certain countries do not require visa exemption requirements. Please see the link below that shows the list of countries whose nationals are allowed to enter the Philippines without visa for a stay not exceeding thirty (30 days), provided the traveler holds valid return air tickets and their passport is valid for at least six months beyond the period stay in the Philippines. https://consular.dfa.gov.ph/visainformation Kindly note that the issuance of a visa on arrival in the Philippines is dependent on the nationality of the traveler, regardless of whether s/he is a UNLP holder or not. Thus, we request that you bring both their national passport and their UNLP when traveling to the Philippines. For more information, please contact: • Annie Rosario, Sr. Admin Associate at [email protected], Tel. +63 (2) 8249 5530 • Antonette Oseo, Admin Assistant at [email protected], Tel. +63 (2) 8249 5532 Please ensure that you have proper visa and travel documents before departure. In most cases, a passport must be valid at least 6 months in order to obtain a visa. 9. Documents As per our normal eco-friendly practice of paper-free meetings, no meeting folder will be provided and all Conference meeting documents will be posted the conference website at www.rccop.com. 10. Transportation Airport Transportation Rates

Vehicle type One way Airport Pick Up via CAR (maximum of 2 passengers with luggage) PhP1,140.00 nett Airport Pick Up via VAN (maximum of 7 passengers with luggage) PhP2,250.00 nett

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11. Snapshot of Philippines • Philippines Snapshot

Capital Manila

Official languages • Filipino and English

Government Unitary Presidential Constitutional Republic

Population 103.3 million (2016) World Bank

Currency Peso (Filipino: piso) (₱) (PHP)

Time zone PST (UTC+8:00)

Weather/Climate Information Month Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov

Rainfall DRY RAINY

Temperature COOL HOT

Season Cool Dry Hot Dry Rainy

12. Practical Information • Exchange Rate: The currency in the Philippines is the Peso (PhP) and the Centavo. 100 centavos = P1. Coin denominations are: 1, 5, 10, and 25 centavos; P1, P5 and P10. Bill denominations are: 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 pesos. Foreign currency may be exchanged at the airport, hotel, and in most of the large department stores, banks and authorized money changing shops. Exchanging money anywhere else is illegal and the laws are strictly enforced. The exchange rate is approx. US$1 = PhP46.64 (as of 16 May Regional Conference on Child Online Protection | Page 4

2016).Most large stores, restaurants, hotels and resorts accept major credit cards including American Express, Visa and MasterCard. Traveler's checks, preferably American Express, are accepted at hotels and large department stores. Personal checks drawn on foreign banks are generally not accepted. • Climate: In February, weather conditions in Philippines make it a medium trip destination. The average temperatures tourists face in February would be between 22.0°C and 31.0°C, with exceptional possible peaks as low as 14°C and high as 36°C as observed in previous years. • Time Zone: Philippines is 8 hours ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +8) • Clothing: Delegates are advised to bring light cotton tropical wear, with or without jacket. However, business suites are required at official meetings. • Official Language. The national language is Pilipino. English is both spoken and understood throughout the country. It is also used as the medium of instruction for higher education. Eight (8) major dialects spoken by the majority of Filipinos: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense. • Electricity. 220 volts a/c is the common standard. 110 volts a/c is also used, especially in major hotels. • Business and Banking Hours. Private and government offices are open either from 8 AM to 5 PM or from 9 AM to 6 PM during weekdays. Some are open from 8 AM till noon on Saturdays. Banks are open from 9:00 AM till 3:00 PM Mondays through Fridays. • Health. Member States in the region are not required to take any vaccine to enter the Philippines. • Transportation. Manila is well served by a number of taxi services that can be called 24-hours a day throughout the city. • The undisputed “King of the Philippine Roads” is the colorful jeepney, adorned with colorful designs. Jeepneys ply fixed routes and are a convenient way of commuting short distances. Makati City has air- conditioned e-jeepneys (electric jeepneys) serving the Central Business District. • Provincial and city buses, as well as railway transit systems, provide extensive public transportation throughout Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon. • Tipping. All gratuities are at individual discretion. Some establishments include a service charge with the bill. • Emergency Phone Number. For medical, fire or police emergencies, call 117. 13. Sightseeing, Dining and Shopping: Sightseeing, Dining And Shopping You might find some more options below for shopping and sightseeing: • For Shopping/Dining/Entertainment:

SM Mall of Asia

More than just a Mall, the SM Mall of Asia is a tourist destination that has raised the standard of shopping, leisure and entertainment in the Philippines

Mall of Asia consists of four buildings interconnected by walkways; the Main Mall, the Entertainment Mall, and the North and South Parking Buildings.

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Aerial view of SM Mall of Asia

The Main Mall includes shopping and dining establishments and the food court. The Entertainment Mall is a two-story complex, most of which is open-air, and faces .

The mall features the Philippines's first Olympic-sized ice skating rink. At 61 by 30 meters, the rink is described as the biggest of its kind in Southeast Asia. It can accommodate both recreational and competitive figure skating, as well as ice hockey. Along with plain access and skate rentals, the rink's operators also offer training programs in both figure skating and ice hockey. Several ice skating competitions have been held at the mall's ice skating rink, the most prestigious yet having been Skate Asia 2007. It was also the first time that the Philippines had hosted any international ice skating event.

The mall's open-air music hall directly facing the sea has also held several events, contests and concerts.

From Hotel: Around 30-40 minutes taxi ride from Manila Hotel

Market-style for tourists selling all kinds of clothing, bags, replica designer labels etc. All prices are negotiable so bargaining skills are essential. Expect heavy traffic during rush hours.

From Hotel: Approx. 3.5km

14. Contact UNICEF Philippines Country Office Contact Information

Name Functional Title Mobile:

Ms.Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov Representative +63 917 867 8342

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Ms. Julia Rees Deputy Representative +63 917 867 8346

Ms. Zafrin Chowdhury Chief of Communication +63 917 867 8366

Mr. Charles Parks Chief of Operations +63 917 867 8350

Mr. Kent Harrington UNDSS Security Advisor +63 917 595 7214

Patrizia Benvenuti Chief-Child Protection + 63 917 8678363

Maria Margarita Ardivilla Child Protection Specialist + 63 998 5652631

Marie Michelle Quezon Child Online Protection Officer + 63 917 5518574

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