Laws in Philippines
How the Philippines is classified on 42 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Illegal Abortion is prohibited, with no explicit exceptions recorded.
- Euthanasia
- Passive only Active euthanasia is illegal, while passive euthanasia is recognized but lacks specific legislation.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- FGM Laws
- No specific ban There is no specific legal ban on FGM.
- Surrogacy
- Unregulated There is no specific legal framework for surrogacy in the Philippines, creating legal barriers for intended parents.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Legal Cryptocurrency is legal to own and trade.
- Online Gambling
- Legal & regulated Online gambling is legal and regulated by PAGCOR, which issues licenses to operators.
Daily Life
- Jaywalking
- Legal Jaywalking is not illegal, though local ordinances may restrict it.
- Public Smoking Bans
- Varies by region Smoking bans vary by city, with Metro Manila having a strict ban and other areas having different rules.
- Driving Age
- 18+ Minimum age to drive a car: 18.
- Homeschooling
- Legal Homeschooling is legal.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Legal No ban on fur farming.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- No ban No ban on testing cosmetics on animals.
- Dog Meat
- Banned Slaughtering and selling dog meat are prohibited nationwide, with specific exemptions for indigenous religious rituals.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Partial measures Plastic-bag bans or charges apply in some regions only.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 18 The voting age is 18.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- 14–15 Minimum working age: 15.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not recognized Same-sex unions have no legal recognition.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Age of Consent
- 16–17 The age of consent is 16.
- Sex Work
- Illegal Prostitution is a criminal offense in the Philippines, though enforcement is rare.
- Pornography
- Illegal Maintaining or hiring a person to engage in pornography is an unlawful act of trafficking.
- Divorce
- Not possible Divorce is not legally available.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Limited (step-child / single) Joint adoption is not open to same-sex couples; step-child or single-person adoption is.
- Incest Laws
- Criminal offense
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 21.
Speech & Belief
- Blasphemy Laws
- Criminal offense The Philippines criminalizes offending religious feelings with imprisonment penalties under the Revised Penal Code.
- Holocaust Denial
- No specific law No specific law against Holocaust denial.
- Flag Desecration
- Criminal offense Desecrating the flag is a prohibited act punishable by fine or imprisonment under the Flag and Heraldic Code.
- Conversion Therapy
- Varies by region The Philippines has no nationwide ban, but Quezon City has a local ban effective in 2025.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished Fully abolished for all crimes.
- Gun Laws
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned Corporal punishment is prohibited in all schools since 1987.
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
Substances
- Cannabis
- Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only; recreational use remains prohibited.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Legal Psilocybin possession is legal.
- Salvia Divinorum
- Illegal Possession of salvia divinorum is a criminal offence.
- E-Cigarettes
- Legal / lightly regulated E-cigarettes are legal, subject to an age limit.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.