MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines on Friday called for a postponement of the special ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement planned for December in Manila to give the country time to recover from two devastating tropical storms.

“We really need all hands on deck in relief and rehabilitation. That’s why the president, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, are studying if we will continue hosting the NAM Ministerial Meeting in Manila,” said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s spokesperson Cerge Remonde.

Remonde said the President has directed Romulo to study the possibility of putting off the conference for another date.

Romulo has been consulting NAM members about holding the ministerial meeting at some other date after December, he said.

He said the government prefers that it be pushed back “because of the priority we need to give to rehabilitation.”

“Everything is still under review,” said Rafael Seguis, the foreign undersecretary for special concerns.

Officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs said a review panel is considering what options are open for the country, whether to postpone, reset or cancel the summit scheduled for Dec. 1 to 3 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

“We’re still awaiting word from the President. There’s no decision yet from the Palace,” said Seguis, who heads the review panel.

DFA spokesperson Ed Malaya said the panel has to consider how the postponement would impact on the country’s foreign policy.

“The NAM event, which is considered a cornerstone of our foreign policy, has been programmed long before the two typhoons hit the country. It is part of our government’s commitment to promote lasting peace, stability, development and progress,” Seguis said.

The 118-member NAM represents around 56 percent of the global population. Formally, it represents countries not aligned with or against any major power bloc.