Little Kibungan, Philippines  - The Philippines Tuesday created a commission to oversee the reconstruction of typhoon-devastated areas in the country.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said the government would hold a pledging session in November with the assistance of the United Nations to raise more foreign aid for the commission.

She said the group would be headed by businessman Manuel Pangilinan, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves and senior Catholic Church leader, Cardinal Jose Vidal.

The commission would study the costs of typhoon Parma and storm Ketsana, seek fresh aid, prioritize projects and oversee the implementation of programmes.

It would also serve as a clearing house for international assistance, Arroyo said in an order creating the group.

More than 650 people were killed in floods and landslides caused by Parma and Ketsana in the past two weeks.

The deluge destroyed at least 15.5 billion pesos (337 million dollars) worth of infrastructure, crops and livestock, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council.

Arroyo visited Tuesday the village of Little Kibungan in La Trinidad town in Benguet province, 210 kilometres north of Manila, where 174 people were buried in dozens of landslides.

She ordered the military to study the re-assignment of troops from the troubled southern region of Mindanao to boost recovery operations for an undetermined number of missing.

The Philippines has already received more than 94 million dollars in assistance for more than 6 million people affected by Parma and Ketsana.

Ketsana struck on September 26, when it dumped more than one month's worth of rain in Manila and outlying areas triggering the worst floods in over 40 years.

One week later, Parma slammed into the northern Philippines and hovered for almost one week, triggering landslides and more flooding. (dpa)