President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said that Qatar was going to hire 37,000 more Filipinos to work on infrastructure projects in 2009, mostly in the areas of services, construction, and energy.[6] The Qatar Minister of Labour also set aside 121,924 work permits "exclusively for Filipinos," also for 2009.[7] About 22 major companies (and 27 in all), including engineering company Bechtel-Qatar, Royally owned transportation company Mowasalat and Lulu Hypermarkets.[8][7][9] In addition, 65% of the construction workers helping build New Doha International Airport are Filipino.[10] The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment also has a Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Qatar.[11]