Backgrounder: U.S. Financial Crisis
    MANILA, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 50,000 Filipino workers inthe United States may be laid off due to the worldwide economic crisis, Philippine Vice President Noli De Castro said on Tuesday.

    There are more than 8 million Filipinos working overseas, some one-third of whom live in the United States. Others are concentrated in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe.

    The overseas Filipino workers, called "modern-day heroes" of the country, remit billions of dollars back to their families. The remittances act as a cornerstone for the national economy.

    De Castro, also presidential adviser on overseas Filipino worker, said the government is looking for ways to cushion the impact of a possible influx of Filipino migrant workers back to the country.

    Labor agencies are finding alternative sources of livelihood tosubstitute for the jobs that the Filipinos might lose abroad, said the Vice President.

    "We cannot just neglect our duty to help our modern-day heroes after they lose their jobs abroad. We have to find them alternative means of livelihood even on temporary basis or at least while there is global economic crisis," De Castro said.

    The government is exploring and opening new job opportunities in other stable markets such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Guam, he added.