JOLO, Sulu -- The government has began a massive rehabilitation on areas affected by fierce clashes between government troops and rebel forces last month in Sulu.

At the same time, relief goods started pouring into the troubled southern island to feed tens of thousands of hungry refugees.

"Rehabilitation projects estimated to cost about P23 million are underway in Jolo and we are going to start rebuilding the roads and schools, and mosques and a lot of other things, and we will bring peace to the people of this beautiful island," said Arroyo's peace adviser, Teresita Deles, who visited Jolo on Saturday together with aid workers.

This amount is on top of the more than P50 million worth of aid from a private foundation, Peace and Prosperity for the Philippines (PPP), run by an Italian executive, Armando de Rossi, who has been living in the Philippines the past three decades.

De Rossi, also president and CEO of the CMC di Ravenna (Asia), Inc., who accompanied Deles, already donated more than 1,000 bags of rice and relief goods, including medicines, to refugees in Jolo.

Social workers said more than 48,000 people in 10 of the 18 towns in Jolo were displaced by the fighting between government soldiers and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members, loyal to jailed leader Nur Misuari, who is facing rebellion charges in Manila.

"All we want to do is to help the Filipino people, especially those who are now at the different government shelters in Jolo. I've been living in the Philippines the past 30 years. I love this country and we will continue to help the poor people," De Rossi said in a separate interview.

He said he contacted his friends from around the world to raise some P50 million to help finance the rehabilitation efforts in Jolo. "We are going to bring here a lot of aid, a lot of help from different people, to buy food and medicines, hospital equipment, to fund the building of mosques, of potable water system, of school rooms and more," De Rossi said.

But he also admitted that most of the money would come from his own pockets.

"Helping other people is the most important thing for me, money is just a tool to help those who have less in life," De Rossi said.

According to the website of the American Digital Channels, the CMC di Ravenna (Cooperativa Muratori e Cementisti) was founded in 1901 and is the largest construction cooperative in Europe based in Italy and world renowned among the leading European Contractors with its impressive record of completed projects in all construction fields and good reputation among domestic and international clients.

A Philippine Air Force C-130 transport plane arrived in Jolo on Saturday, bringing tons of relief goods that were distributed to refugees in Panamao town, scene of the bloody gun battle between government troops and rebel forces.

Another Arroyo aide, Jesus Dureza, presidential assistant for Mindanao, and Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza also joined Deles' group in inspecting different refugee centers in Panamao town, and held a dialogue with local leaders.

"We assured the people that government would help them and we are doing everything we can to bring more developments in Jolo," Dureza said.

Braganza said while security forces were hunting down the rebels, the soldiers would also help in the government's rehabilitation efforts. "All we ask is for everyone to do their share. Help us maintain peace and order so that the government can pursue development and humanitarian projects in Jolo," Braganza said.

President Arroyo on Friday rejected proposals for a cease-fire in Jolo and ordered the military to hunt down members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group and Moro National Liberation Front rebel leader Ustadz Habier Malik and his supporters.

"Upon the recommendation of the secretary of National Defense (Avelino Cruz) and the (Armed Forces) Chief of Staff (Gen. Efren Abu), I have directed our forces to continue operations and focus on apprehending or neutralizing the remaining leaders and members of the Abu Sayyaf, as well as the other groups that was reported to have alliances with them," Arroyo said.

She also ordered the police to file criminal charges against the rebels. "I have also directed the AFP in coordination with the Philippine National Police to file criminal complains against those responsible with this act of terrorism," she said.

Jolo politicians have proposed for a cease-fire after weeks of fighting that left more than 100 rebels and 30 government soldiers dead.

The fighting was triggered by simultaneous attacks by rebels on military posts on February 7 to avenge the death of a Muslim couple and their 14-year old son, who were killed by troops during clashes with the militant Abu Sayyaf group. But Malik said the trio were civilians and not members of the Abu Sayyaf.

The military claimed the rebels had planned the attacks to force the government to free Misuari, who is facing rebellion charges in Manila.

The military also claimed the rebels had forged an alliance with the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group in Jolo. But the MNLF denied links with the Abu Sayyaf, blamed for three deadly bombings Feb. 14 in the southern port cities of General Santos and Davao and in Manila that left 11 people dead and more than 100 wounded.

Misuari formerly headed the separatist rebel group Moro National Liberation Front that accepted limited autonomy and signed a peace deal with the government in 1996.

But violence flared again in November 2001 after some 200 former rebels, backed by the Abu Sayyaf, attacked a major army base in Jolo island.

Misuari later escaped to Malaysia where he was arrested and deported back home.

Misuari was imprisoned on charges of rebellion, which carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, but thousands of his followers and supporters still maintain strongholds in Jolo. Many Abu Sayyaf militants were former MNLF members and are still loyal to Misuari and in many instances fought alongside with forces identified with the ex-rebel leader. (Al Jacinto)