The Philippines (/ˈfɪləpiːnz/ ; Filipino: Pilipinas [ˌpɪlɪˈpinɐs] or Filipinas [ˌfɪlɪˈpinɐs]), officially the Republic of the Philippines (Filipino: Republika ng Pilipinas), is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Situated in the western Pacific Ocean, between Taiwan in the north and Borneo in the south. Sited at the crossroads of the eastern and western business, it is a critical entry point to over 500 million people in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) market and a gateway of international shipping and air lanes suited for European and American businesses. Comprised of 7,641 islands that are broadly categorized under three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Its capital city is Manila.

The Philippines is a unitary presidential constitutional republic, with the President of the Philippines acting as both the head of state and the head of government. It proclaimed its independence from the Spanish Empire on June 12, 1898, following the culmination of the Philippine Revolution. It is a founding member of both the United Nations (UN) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It has embassies and consulates in 62 countries around the world.

The country's primary exports include electronics, semiconductors, transport equipment, construction materials, and minerals. As an open economy, the Philippines trades with other economies around the world. It considers Japan, the United States, China, South Korea, and Germany as its top export markets.

The Philippines was host to a record high of 4.7 million foreign tourists in 2013, thanks to the country's tourism brand, "It's More Fun In The Philippines." Among its top tourist drawers are Boracay Island in Aklan, Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan, Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Mayon Volcano in Albay, and the Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao, as well as the cities of Manila, Baguio, Vigan, Cebu, and Davao.

In 2018, the Occupational Safety and Health Law was signed, enhancing the practice and enforcement of OSH standards in the country. This law defined the extent of coverage of where OSH shall be applicable and lists down penalties for any violations to the OSH Standards. The enforcement of the OSH Law is spearheaded by the Department of Labor and Employment with the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) acting as the National Program Manager for the said law and for the OSH Standards through its Labor Inspection System.. The promotion of practice, knowledge, advocacy and research into OSH is handled by the Occupational Safety and Health Center, a DOLE attached agency.

It has a dual mandate of protecting Filipino workers against accidents and illnesses and promoting workers' welfare through effective programs that enhance productivity, workers well-being and afford social protection to its client sector. The Center adopts a multisectoral strategy with its partners -- business, workers group, other Government and Non-Governmental Organizations and the Academe to fulfill its mandate.

The OSHC has been designated as the national CIS Center for the Philippines on July 1991 to become the focal agency which receives and disseminates information matters from CIS Center in Geneva and the Asia-Pacific Regional Program on Occupational Safety and Health based in Bangkok which is under the International Labour Organization (ILO) to members of the inter-agency committee and other data users in the Philippines. This is consistent with its critical responsibility to provide access and improve the quality of Occupational Safety and Health information in the Philippine workplace.

VISION

A healthy and well-protected working population in a caring and responsive work-environment brought about by sound OSH policies and laws, research, training, information exchange, technical expertise and extensive networking.

MISSION

To develop effective, responsive, and sustainable OSH programs, policies and services; promote excellent management of resources and foster mutually beneficial linkages that will create a healthy and safe work environment for workers in all industries.

FUNCTIONS

Undertake continuing studies and researches on occupational safety and health.

● Plan, develop and implement occupational safety and health training programs.

● Serve as clearing house for occupational safety and health information, methods, techniques, and approaches; and, institute an information dissemination mechanism.

● Monitor work environment and conduct medical examinations of workers.

● Serve as duly recognized agency for testing and setting standard specifications of Personal Protective Equipment and other safety devices.

● Assist other GO's in policy and standards formulation on occupational safety and health matters; issue technical guidelines for prevention of occupational disease and accidents.

● Enlist assistance of GO's and NGO's in achieving the objectives of the Center.

● Perform such other acts appropriate for attainment of the above functions and enforcement of the provisions of Executive Order 307.

The Occupational Safety and Health Standards was formulated in 1978 in compliance with the constitutional mandate to safeguard the worker’s social and economic well-being as well as his physical safety and health. Adopted through the tested democratic machinery of tripartism, the 1978 Standards is considered as a landmark in Philippine labor and social legislation. With joint efforts from the Bureau of Working Conditions, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Manila Office and the tripartite sectors, the revisions to the OSH Standards were approved in August 1989. With the latest improvements in the Standards, all establishments covered will now be provided with a better tool for promoting and maintaining a safe and conducive working environment.