Program location
Iligan City is a city in the northwestern part of the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is approximately 800 kilometers southeast of the capital, Manila, and is located in the province of Lanao del Norte. Known as the City of Waterfalls, Iligan is also a major industrial center and produces hydroelectric power for the region. According to the 2000 census, Iligan City has a population of 325,000 with a majority of Cebuano speakers (94 percent) and both Muslim and Christian cultural influences.
Climate/weather
The climate of the Philippines is tropical with an average year-round temperature of 32ºC (90ºF). Summer is from March to May and is always hot and dry. The average daily maximum summer temperature ranges from 92 to 94ºF (33 to 34ºC). June to October is the wet season with monsoon rains and typhoons in most parts of the country. The coolest weather in the Philippines is from November to February, when the daily maximum temperature is around 84 to 88ºF (29 to 31ºC). In Iligan, the climate is consistent year around since the city is outside the typhoon belt. The average temperature is 22 Celsius, and average rainfall is about 109 mm per month.
Mailing address
Mindanao Sanitarium and Hospital, 9200 Iligan City, Mindanao, Philippines
Site size
This hospital has 100 patient beds of which 75 percent are regularly occupied. The site sees an average of 100 outpatients per day.
Services offered at the site
Program details
Languages
The national language is Filipino with English as the most widely spoken second language. All business, governmental, and legal transactions are conducted in English. There are over 100 regional languages. In this region, the three most commonly spoken languages are Cebuano, Ilocano, and Tagalog. At the hospital, all of the staff are English-speaking.
Accommodations
Participants will be housed in a guesthouse. Students may choose to eat their meals in the cafeteria or prepare them at home. It may be possible to hire cooking help. Fresh food is available for purchase locally, and it is recommended that students buy bottled water to drink. Amenities at this site include running water and laundry service.
Transportation to site
Participants are responsible for arranging their own air travel to the international airport in Cagayan de Oro City, the Philippines. From there, the hospital will arrange for students to be picked up at the airport. The site is located 90 miles from the airport, and travel time is estimated at 1.5 hours by car.
Eligibility
This site recruits students and professionals in all health professions.
Program fee
Program fees include food, lodging, and transport from the arrival airport to the site. Program fees do not include air travel or personal travel while in the country. The following costs are based on a four-week stay and subject to change in conjunction with the site.
| Housing cost: | $3.00/night |
| Food cost: | $5.00/day |
| Transport to site fee: | $15.00 |
| Estimated total cost: | $255.00 |
Country information
Last Revised: Fri, Feb 16, 2007
