MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the relaxation of requirements for Filipinos applying for white collar jobs with "very reputable" companies overseas where they are not prone to exploitation.

Arroyo issued the directive during a meeting of the Cabinet's National Security Cluster in Malacañang on Tuesday, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

"One of the agreements was to relax the requirements for white collar workers and professionals who will work in known and very reputable companies," Bunye said.

"The requirements that are normally undertaken to protect our OFWs [overseas Filipino workers] from exploitation should not apply to these white collar workers," he said.

"The distinction is very obvious. The President said that these professionals, they can easily take are of themselves. I don't think they will allow themselves to be exploited," he added.