How long can you stay in Philippines with a visa?

Answer 1

It depends where you come from, but excepted for ASEAN countries, and some countries considered as hostiles/terrorist (as lybia or corea) all foreigners have automatically 21 days visa when they arrive in Philippinas.
You can extend this 21 days tourist visa in each BI (bureau of Immigration) in Philippinas, each 2 months, for a period of 59 days, and a total stay of 16 months in the country.
Each visa renewal will cost you something as 3.000 / 3500 pesos (in 2009).
10 -14 days before your visa expires you should go to the immigration and can extend your visa for 2 month more if you wish to stay longer.

If you want to stay more than 16 months, you need to have the approval of the chief of immigration Regulation Division. Extension of stay after 24 months need the approval of the Commissionner.

You might stay a long time in Philippines with a tourist visa. However to apply every 2 months for extension is not really comfortable.

Longstay in Philippines legally is easy, there is a permanent resident/retirement visa, if you are +35 year old and willing to invest some money, which might be used again for your own business or buying your own condominium.

The required amount for investment (starting with USD 125.000,-) will decline with your age, and if you are 60 years old you need only to invest USD 25.000,- and you will get a permanent resident visa, including re-entry and working permit.

Answer 2

A Philippine passport holder can stay for 30 days in Singapore.