The advance team would "assess the best place for the contingents to be deployed," following the fall of the Iraqi government, Vice Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Rodolfo Garcia said.

Garcia said 300 soldiers, 100 policemen, 60 health workers, 39 social welfare workers and a diplomat would comprise the mission, to be led by an unnamed general.

The team would deploy even without a United Nations mandate, he said, remarking, "humanitarianism knows no boundaries."

The Philippines was one of the staunchest Asian supporters of the US-led attack on Iraq although it did not send any troops to join the fighting.

Foreign Secretary Blas Ople said last week that Filipinos were expected to be awarded some 100,000 jobs in the reconstruction of Iraq.

SPACE.WIRE