It's not Superman, but it's a ``supermaid,'' according to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who on Thursday announced a new training program for Filipino domestic helpers.

``We will be sending 'supermaids,''' Arroyo said of a new training program during a round-table discussion on efforts to evacuate 30,000 Filipinos in Lebanon, most of them maids, and help them find new jobs.

Augusto Syjuco, head of the government's Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, said the ``supermaids'' program includes instruction in first aid, evacuations from high-rises in case of a fire and other skills to help maids get higher pay.

``They are not just maids. They are really very well trained now,'' he said. ``If there is someone injured among the family they work for ... how to get out of a fire in a high-rise building, all these are part of our upgrading program.''

Arroyo agreed. ``They should (be able to) find jobs with families who will offer them high salaries,'' she said.

About 10 percent of 86 million Filipinos work abroad, sending home at least US$ 10 billion (euro7.9 billion) each year.