Zamboanga (Philippines), Jan 13: The United States has earmarked about $ 78.65 million in military assistance for the Philippines this year, the largest sum allocated to an Asian country so far, a us military spokesman said here today. Part of the funds would go towards purchasing US-made weapons, service and training while most of the remainder would be used to buy blankets, tents, radios, uniforms, food and medicine, said Captain Steve Wulmann, a spokesman for US troops in the southern Philippines.

About $ 2.4 million is to be spent on military education and training, Wulmann said. International military education and training grants are given to foreign government to pay for professional education in military management and technical training on us weapons system, he said.

Aside from the military education training, Wulmann said $ 21.5 million from the security assistance package would be used to support existing programs. At least 200 US soldiers are to begin arriving in batches in this port city this week to train an elite unit specialised in going after terror groups, including Muslim Abu Sayyaf gunmen.

Philippine military officials said appropriate security measures have been undertaken to protect participating American soldiers from Abu Sayyaf rebels. In October, a US soldier was among three people killed in a bomb attack by the Abu Sayyaf in Zamboanga city. Bureau Report