Headed by Col. Mario Mendoza of the Philippine Army, the contingent is composed of 165 men and women from the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, and Philippine Air Force.

A simple sendoff ceremony was held at the Villamor Air Base grandstand in Pasay City where the soldiers and their families bade each other goodbye.

After the event, the soldiers were transported to the Balagbag area of the Villamor Airbase where they awaited the arrival of the aircraft that will take them to Liberia.

The United Nations chartered a Boeing 747 jumbo jet from Orient Thai Airways to fly the Filipino soldiers to Liberia. On the way to Liberia, the aircraft will make a brief stopover in Kathmandu, Nepal to pick up Nepalese peacekeepers.

Mendoza said the commanding officer of the fifth Philippine contingent to Liberia disclosed that they will be stationed in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, where the overall headquarter of the UN peacekeeping forces is located. Mendoza said the Philippine contingent will be in charge of providing transportation support and security for ranking officers of the UN peacekeeping force.

He added that nine female soldiers will be tasked to do administrative, clerical, and liaison work since they are proficient in English and very good in drafting letters.

While in Liberia, the UN will shoulder all their expenses.

Reports said the UN will give enlisted personnel allowances amounting to 300 percent of their base pay. Officers will receive 250 percent of their base pay.

Another batch of Filipino peacekeepers are scheduled to leave for Liberia and Haiti next week.