The Philippines has awarded Burson-Marsteller an $800,000 one-year contract to restore investor confidence in the country that has been knocked due to its own war on terror.

B-M, which has been advising Saudi Arabia, says its job is to "enhance the sovereign credit rating and strengthen perceptions of the international business community that the Philippines is an attractive location for foreign direct investment."

The program includes media relations, spokesperson training and the development of economic materials.

B-M's Richard Mintz, chair of its U.S. PA practice, coordinates his shop's activities with Ariel Abadilla, Philippines' Charge d'Affairs in Washington, D.C.

The Philippines has emerged as a key U.S. ally following the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

The U.S. plans to dispatch a fleet of military helicopters to the Philippines next month for attacks on members of the Abu Sayyaf Muslim terror group that has links to Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda network.

Philippines President Gloria Arroyo has been granted millions of dollars in American support, and her country received rifles, mortars and military trucks from the U.S. last week.

Foreign ministers from the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia are meeting today to plot a regional counter-terrorism strategy.