To “reciprocate” the invaluable contribution of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) to the Philippine economy through their remittances, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today unveiled a P1-billion government assistance program for OFWs displaced by the global economic crisis.

“Ngayon naman susuklian ng pamahalaan ang mga biyaya na binigay ninyo sa bansa sa isang program of Full Reciprocity,” the President told the Filipino community who came to the Lotte Hotel here to meet her.

“We are carrying out this program of Full Reciprocity to help expatriate workers from their host countries that are now being buffeted by the economic crisis,” she added.

The President said the Full Reciprocity program consists of two parts: the Filipino Overseas Livelihood Support Fund (FOLSF), and the government assistance to help displaced workers find other jobs.

The FOLSF, which has a funding support of P1 billion, is administered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Under the FOLSF, affected Filipinos can avail themselves of loans from the Fund to put up their own business, the President said.

She added that the government will also assist displaced OFWs find suitable jobs that are at par with his or her previous job abroad.

Like the “mobile reintegration team” sent by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to South Korea last February “to assist displaced workers and counsel those who are uncertain about leaving their jobs,” the government’s job hunting assistance program will “provide job referrals, skills re-training and re-tooling and livelihood training and assistance to displaced OFWs.

The President said government help desks and internet sites that DOLE established in various provinces were assisting displaced OFWs in looking for new jobs.

“Sinabayan naman natin ito ng marketing blitz ng Philippine Overseas Employment Agency upang lalong makilala ang husay ng manggagawang Pilipino,” she said.