AN AMERICAN non-government organization would distribute 1.5 million dollars (roughly 78 million pesos) worth of medicines and medical supplies to war-ravaged Mindanao, one of its officials told INQ7.net on Wednesday.

"We're working across areas in West and East Asia that are hit hard by instability and terrorism," said Al Santoli, founding director of the Asia America Initiative (AAI).

Antibiotics, re-hydration salts, intravenous fluids, de-worming preparations and medicine for tuberculosis and other respiratory ailments as well as surgical equipment would be distributed to Sulu, Davao City, Pikit in North Cotabato, Maigo in Lanao del Norte, Siocon in Zamboanga del Norte and Koronadal in South Cotabato, Santoli said.

The four-ton shipment, which will be transported by Northwest and KLM airlines, will come ahead of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's visit to the United States where she is scheduled to meet US President George W. Bush to discuss, among others, military aid and the ongoing war against terrorism.

"We will be focusing on government hospitals and schools where very impoverished children don't get enough medical attention," he said.

With representatives from the health, social welfare and defense departments and local government officials, AAI will start distributing the supplies in Davao City on Friday.

"The program was originally intended for Sulu, but with the problem in Pikit and as more attacks occurred we decided to bring more medicine," he said.

"The funds are privately raised, some of it coming from individuals some from foundations," he said, adding the supplies were sourced from US firms Medpharm and World Diagnostics.

Santoli said the AFPC had received requests for aid to Mindanao from Ms Macapagal, when she was still vice president and from Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Parouk Hussin.

"She (Ms Macapagal) was very concerned about developing Mindanao. She asked if I could help as (a member of an) NGO," he said.