MANILA, 16 May 2003 ? Filipinos applying for work abroad should now be given basic instructions on how to respond in cases of terrorist attacks, Presidential Arroyo?s adviser on overseas Filipino communities proposed yesterday.

Alvarez's proposal came after Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said the government could not do anything to prevent its citizens from terrorist attacks abroad.

Sto. Tomas was reacting to the suicide attacks in Riyadh on Monday night, in which three Filipino workers were killed and 14 others injured.

Alvarez said while counter-terrorist measures are the domain of the host governments, OFWs could be taught ways of taking protective measures and how to respond in case of attacks similar to that in Riyadh, which were targeted at compounds housing Westerners.

?The POEA and the OWWA must begin to train our overseas workers in what protective measures to adopt against terrorist acts,? Alvarez said. ?We must now begin a hard-nosed appraisal of terrorism and how to protect our citizens.?

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is in charge of deploying Filipino workers abroad while the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is charged with providing welfare and protection to the workers.

Alvarez suggested that the basic training be incorporated in the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar, which the POEA requires Filipinos to attend being deployed to jobs abroad.

?Terrorism has been a developing menace in Asian countries,? Alvarez said.

?We should know how to anticipate and avoid terrorist attacks and little by little withdraw our citizens from terrorist dangers.?

In the past, Filipino workers have been among the victims of terrorist attacks in the United States, Israel, Jordan, South Africa and Indonesia.

Earlier, Senator Manuel Villar said migrant workers in the Middle East should be cautious and vigilant when they go to public places.

Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, also called on the Philippine envoys in the Middle East to ensure the safety of millions of OFWs in the region.

?The government has been harping on the country?s gains from its open and strong support to the US government?s attack on Iraq,? he said.

?It is now time for the government to focus on protecting our migrant workers who may be targeted by anti- American terrorist groups,? Villar added.