Press Release No: 184-03
22 April 2003

OPLE CONVENES R.P. HUMANITARIAN TASK FORCE TO IRAQ

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople today called the first meeting of the Philippine government task force for the humanitarian assistance to Iraq. Created last week by the President's Executive Order #195, this inter-agency task force -- which Secretary Ople co-Chairs with DND Secretary Angelo Reyes -- is charged with the planning and implementation of the Philippines' humanitarian assistance to Iraq -- be it in peacekeeping, medical assistance or other related activities.

These are but natural extensions of the Philippines' policy of extending assistance to Iraq not in pursuit of the war but in "building the peace".  And, as hostilities draw to a close, the need is now to re-establish civil authority in order to stabilize Iraq and to prevent a humanitarian disaster. Iraq's economy can thus be allowed to recover and its territorial integrity is preserved.

The Philippines is contemplating a humanitarian mission of about 500 people.  Three hundred (300) will come from the AFP; another 100 will come from the PNP.  Sixty (60) doctors and nurses will be dispatched by the DoH; while the DSWD will contribute 39 social workers.  All these will be joined by 1 foreign service officer from the DFA -- ideally someone who has served in the area and will therefore be is familiar with the social and political terrain in Iraq.

The task force is assisted by a Technical Working Group (TWG) chaired by Defense Department.  This TWG is working out the details from the Manila end while a 3-man liaison team is presently meeting with US/coalition officials at the CENTCOM (Central Command) headquarters in Florida.

The Philippine contingent will depart about mid-May and will be deployed in a contiguous area so as to remain as much as possible near one another instead of being spread out over several places within Iraq.  An advance team is expected to leave by late April.

Initially, funding for this humanitarian effort will have to be advanced by the individual agencies from their savings.  Asked about this, Secretary Ople said: "…we could wait indefinitely for money to come from other sources; but, given the situation on the ground and the implications of further regional instability arising out of the situation Iraq for the 1.5 million Filipinos in the Middle East, we should already do something now."

Other than the Foreign Affairs and Defense Secretaries, the task force Executive Director is the Special Envoy of the Middle East Preparedness Team Roy Cimatu; Other members are the Secretaries of Health, the DILG, the DSWD, the AFP Chief-of-Staff, the PNP Director-General, the Office of Muslim Affairs Executive Director and the Philippine Ambassadors to Kuwait and Iraq.