The Philippines Adopts PH & PHL as Initials

So, it is bye-bye RP now as the Republic of the Philippines officially adopts the PH & PHL initials. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued Department Order No. 16-10 last 20 Oct 2010 directing all of the 67 embassies, 23 consulates, and 04 permanent missions to adopt the initials PH or PHL. According to the Department Order, “this is in line with the Philippine membership with the ISO, as well as to avoid the ambiguity and confusion with the use of the initials ‘RP’. The long standing usage of the initials ‘RP’ is not in accordance with ISO codes, leading to ambiguous initials that can also refer to other countries, the DFA noted.”