Field file / MANILA

Asia / Philippines

Manila

Tools34

Channels11

Local currencyPHP

Verified21 Jul 2026

Emergency firstEmergency (Police / Fire / Medical) — 911

01 / Full local toolkit

Every useful channel.

Traveler-compatibility checks for this destination are still pending. Local notes are useful, but phone, payment and signup eligibility are not yet sourced per service.

Ride-hailing

5 tools

Grab is the default for cars/taxis. When traffic is gridlocked, locals switch to motorcycle taxis (Angkas/JoyRide/Move It) to weave through.

GrabLocal default

The default. Cars, taxis, and GrabBike. Cash or GCash/card in-app. Surge pricing is real at rush hour and in rain.

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Angkas

Motorcycle taxi — the original. Fastest way through Metro Manila traffic; riders provide a helmet. Metro Manila, Cebu, CDO only.

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JoyRide

Motorcycle + car rides. Good backup when Grab/Angkas have no available riders.

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Move It

Motorcycle taxi (now part of Grab). Often cheapest and quickest to match during peak hours.

inDrive

Cheaper alternative for cars. Fare-haggling was suspended by regulators; now follows the standard LTFRB fare matrix.

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Food delivery

2 tools

foodpanda and GrabFood are genuinely co-dominant — locals check both and order from whichever is cheaper or faster.

foodpandaLocal default

Huge in the Philippines — widest restaurant coverage and frequent vouchers. Pay via card, GCash/Maya, or cash on delivery.

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GrabFoodLocal default

Built into the Grab app. Reliable, often better in business districts (Makati/BGC/Ortigas).

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Groceries

3 tools

On-demand grocery runs through the same super-apps you already use for food. Cash on delivery is still common.

GrabMartLocal default

In the Grab app — convenience-store and supermarket items in ~30–60 min.

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pandamart / foodpanda shops

foodpanda's grocery + dark-store arm. Wide item range, fast in dense areas.

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MetroMart

Full supermarket / big-basket delivery (SM, S&R, specialty stores). Better for a proper weekly shop than a quick top-up.

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Public transport

3 tools

Rail is LRT-1, LRT-2 and MRT-3. Pay by tapping a beep card; contactless bank cards and GCash QR now work on MRT-3 and LRT-1. Jeepneys and tricycles are cash.

beepLocal default

The stored-value tap card for LRT/MRT and many buses/jeepneys. Buy at stations (~₱100). The beep app reloads it and can generate a QR ticket.

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Sakay.ph

The go-to route planner for jeepney/bus/train commutes — tells you which rides to chain together. No official all-in-one transit app exists here.

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GCash

GCash Commute QR now pays fares on MRT-3 (and rolling out to LRT-1/2) — open the app, scan at the gate, no physical card needed.

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Payments

3 tools

GCash is the everyday default — QR at market stalls, bills, transfers, load. Cash is still king for jeepneys, tricycles, sari-sari stores, and small vendors, so always carry pesos.

GCashLocal default

The dominant e-wallet — accepted almost everywhere via QR. Full features (cash-in limits) need a local number and verified account.

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Maya

The strong #2 wallet (formerly PayMaya). QR payments, bills, and a linked digital bank. Handy as a GCash backup.

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GrabPay

In-app wallet for paying Grab rides/food; some merchants accept it too. Convenient if you live in the Grab ecosystem.

eSIM & connectivity

5 tools

For a fast landing, a global eSIM gets you online before you clear the airport. For a longer stay, a local Globe/Smart traveler SIM/eSIM is cheaper per GB. Smart has the wider 5G footprint in cities; Globe's 4G is very solid.

Airalo

Most popular global eSIM for travelers. Convenient Philippines data plans — install before you fly. For a longer stay a local carrier SIM is cheaper per GB.

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Nomad

Global eSIM, often cheaper for larger data bundles. Good Philippines coverage.

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Saily

Global eSIM (from the NordVPN team) with simple Philippines data plans.

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Globe

Local carrier. Globe Prepaid Traveler eSIM can be installed before arrival; strong urban coverage.

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SmartLocal default

Local carrier with the widest 5G — what many locals actually use. Buy a prepaid SIM/eSIM at the airport or malls; register it (SIM registration is mandatory).

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Messaging

4 tools

The Philippines runs on Facebook Messenger — it's how businesses, sellers, and people you meet will contact you. Viber is the strong second, widely used for group chats, business, and OTP/announcements. WhatsApp is minor here.

Facebook MessengerLocal default

The default. Nearly everyone uses it; many small businesses take orders only via Messenger. Free data on some 'Free Facebook' promos.

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Viber

Very popular #2 — big group chats, community broadcasts, and business/customer service. Worth installing.

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WhatsApp

Used mostly with foreigners/overseas contacts, not the local default. Have it, but don't expect locals to prefer it.

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Telegram

Niche — used by some communities and expat/hobby groups.

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Shopping

3 tools

E-commerce is a two-horse race: Shopee is #1, Lazada #2. TikTok Shop is rising fast for impulse buys. Cash on delivery is widely offered.

ShopeeLocal default

The market leader — cheapest prices, mega sale days (9.9, 11.11, 12.12), free-shipping vouchers. Pay with ShopeePay, card, or COD.

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Lazada

Strong #2, often better for branded goods and LazMall official stores. Card, wallet, or COD.

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TikTok Shop

Fast-growing for live-selling and cheap impulse buys; deals via the TikTok app.

Government & ID

1 tools

Mostly relevant for longer stays/residents, but useful to know.

eGovPHLocal default

The national super-app — digital National ID, driver's license, PRC/health IDs, and 1,000+ government services in one place.

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Emergency numbers

3 tools

911 is the single national emergency line (since 2016) for police, fire, and medical — it replaced the old 117. Save these before you need them.

Emergency (Police / Fire / Medical) — 911Local default

National 24/7 emergency hotline; routes your call to the nearest of 16 regional centers.

Philippine Red Cross — 143

Ambulance, blood, and disaster response. Also (02) 8790-2300.

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MMDA (road / traffic emergencies) — 136

Metro Manila road accidents, flooding, stranded-vehicle help.

12 / First 60 minutes

Leave the airport ready.

Six concrete setup decisions for Manila. No fake personalization—just the local default, the local caveat, and what to do before day one gets expensive.

Arrival sequenceConnectivity → airport exit → transit → map → money → contact

Mark only what you have actually set up. Progress stays in this browser.

Ready for arrival0 / 6 complete

Step 1 · Get onlineSmartTraveler check pending

Set up data before you need a ride, ticket, map, or verification code.

Local carrier with the widest 5G — what many locals actually use. Buy a prepaid SIM/eSIM at the airport or malls; register it (SIM registration is mandatory). For a fast landing, a global eSIM gets you online before you clear the airport. For a longer stay, a local Globe/Smart traveler SIM/eSIM is cheaper per GB. Smart has the wider 5G footprint in cities; Globe's 4G is very solid.

Open Smart

Step 2 · Price the airport rideGrabTraveler check pending

Know the local default before accepting a taxi quote or opening a global app.

The default. Cars, taxis, and GrabBike. Cash or GCash/card in-app. Surge pricing is real at rush hour and in rain. Grab is the default for cars/taxis. When traffic is gridlocked, locals switch to motorcycle taxis (Angkas/JoyRide/Move It) to weave through.

Open Grab

Step 3 · Check the public routebeepTraveler check pending

Compare the official airport-to-city option before paying for a car.

The stored-value tap card for LRT/MRT and many buses/jeepneys. Buy at stations (~₱100). The beep app reloads it and can generate a QR ticket. Rail is LRT-1, LRT-2 and MRT-3. Pay by tapping a beep card; contactless bank cards and GCash QR now work on MRT-3 and LRT-1. Jeepneys and tricycles are cash.

Open beep

Step 4 · Load the right mapWazeTraveler check pending

Open the map that works best locally and save your hotel or first stop.

What locals and Grab drivers actually navigate by — best real-time traffic, hazard, and reroute data for Metro Manila. Manila traffic is brutal, so Waze is the local driver's default for live congestion and rerouting. Google Maps is better for walking, transit, and finding places.

Open Waze

Step 5 · Know how to payGCashTraveler check pending

Check the local card, cash, and wallet reality before your first purchase.

The dominant e-wallet — accepted almost everywhere via QR. Full features (cash-in limits) need a local number and verified account. GCash is the everyday default — QR at market stalls, bills, transfers, load. Cash is still king for jeepneys, tricycles, sari-sari stores, and small vendors, so always carry pesos.

Open GCash

Step 6 · Reach people locallyFacebook MessengerTraveler check pending

Use the service locals answer—and note any calling or registration restriction.

The default. Nearly everyone uses it; many small businesses take orders only via Messenger. Free data on some 'Free Facebook' promos. The Philippines runs on Facebook Messenger — it's how businesses, sellers, and people you meet will contact you. Viber is the strong second, widely used for group chats, business, and OTP/announcements. WhatsApp is minor here.

Open Facebook Messenger

This is an arrival checklist, not an app ranking. Open the full local toolkit below for alternatives, coverage limits, and services you may need later.

13 / Money on arrival

Know what you're paying.

Local tender, realistic foreign-currency acceptance, and a daily USD reference before a terminal or exchange desk chooses the rate for you.

Local currencyPHP

Philippine peso

₱

USD reference rateLoading daily rate

Check rate before paying

Unavailable

Reference only. Your bank, card network, ATM, or exchange counter may add fees or use a different rate.

What can I pay with?

PrimaryPHP

The normal currency for prices and payment.

LimitedUSD

Some tourism businesses may accept it; pesos are the practical default.

Cash remains important for small merchants and transport. Cards and wallets are strongest in malls, hotels, and larger businesses.

Country payment guidance reviewed Jul 21, 2026

Manila

Manila

Leave the airport.

Your first six downloads.

Every local channel.

Manila

Every useful channel.

Ride-hailing

Food delivery

Groceries

Public transport

Payments

eSIM & connectivity

Messaging

Navigation

Shopping

Government & ID

Emergency numbers

Leave the airport ready.

Know what you're paying.

Philippine peso