Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that a "survey team" had already been dispatched to meet with US officials to find out what the Philippines could contribute and what it should prepare for.

"More or less, the composition will be peace-keepers, engineers and doctors," Bunye said in a radio interview.

Arroyo wants the task force dispatched to Kuwait immediately to join other humanitarian groups preparing to aid the residents of Iraq following the US-led attack there but Bunye stressed that the Filipino task force would only enter Iraq after the fighting ceases.

The Department of National Defense will be the lead agency in forming the task force, Bunye added.

"I hope that with this 500-man humanitarian task force, we can help in converting resistance to the (US-led) coalition into one of cooperation and with our deeds, put the humanitarian crisis on the top desk of priorities," Arroyo said in a statement.

The Philippines had been one of the staunchest Asian supporters of the US-led attack on Iraq although it provided no soldiers to the conflict.

SPACE.WIRE