by T. Villavert

Iloilo City (4 February) -- The new government scheme to upgrade the skills of Filipino workers right in the country where they are working will enable them to have better chances for promotion and getting higher salary, and job security.

This was announced by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during her meeting with the Filipino community in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where she explained that the objective is to sustain the upgrading of the capabilities of Filipino workers, already the employees of choice in various countries for their honesty, industry, reliability and capability to easily learn new skills.

"We are holding professional licensure examinations for Filipino in selected countries like Qatar, Hong Kong and now, Saudi Arabia, to prepare (them) for skilled jobs that command higher salaries," the President said.

The Malacanang press report disclosed that during the said meeting with the Filipino community, President Arroyo explained that under the government's retraining program, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) will conduct licensure examinations for Filipino professionals, who have yet to take the exams required for their profession, right in the country where they are working.

The idea is to enable the Filipinos professionals still without license to take the licensure tests without having to return to the Philippines for the examination.

"In that way, professionals who pass the licensure exams will have better chances for promotion and getting higher salary, not to mention job security," the President stressed.

The President also said the government has also earmarked P1 billion for the Filipino Expatriate Livelihood Support Fund (FELSF), one of the safety nets for OFWs displaced in the current global economic crisis.