New batch of refugee scholars arrive in the Philippines through Complementary Pathways programme
New batch of refugee scholars arrive in the Philippines through Complementary Pathways programme
A warm welcome in Manila. Newly arrived Rohingya scholars, the biggest batch to date, are greeted by representatives from UNHCR, the Department of Justice, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and partner academic institutions as they begin their academic journey in the Philippines through the CPath programme. A total of 10 new CPath scholars will be studying in Columban College, Inc., De La Salle University - Dasmariñas, San Beda University, and University of St. La Salle.
“When my community found out that I will be going to the Philippines to study, they expressed big hopes for me. I carry that hope with me today,” said Ali, one of the Philippine Complementary Pathways programme’s Rohingya scholars from Bangladesh.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the arrival of the latest batch of refugee scholars under the Philippines’ Complementary Pathways programme, which offers young refugees with access to higher education opportunities in the Philippines.
A total of 10 newly arrived Rohingya scholars, most hailing from Malaysia and with a handful being the first to come from Bangladesh, arrived in two batches on 19 June and 3 July to pursue undergraduate degrees in Philippine universities through scholarships made possible by partnerships with the Philippine government, partner academic institutions, Asia Philantropy Circle, Asia Community Foundation, other civil society organizations, and UNHCR’s National Office in the Philippines.
“Your batch is very historic. We started this four years ago and you are the biggest batch and now, there are scholars here who have come from Bangladesh. We moved heaven and earth through our foreign affairs and UNHCR for you to arrive in the Philippines,” State Counsel Paulito de Jesus, Assistant Head of the Department of Justice – Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (DOJ-RSPPU), told the new CPath scholars upon their arrival in Manila, adding that now these Rohingya youth can place their efforts on adjusting to their new environment and doing well in school. “It will be very difficult to adjust but we will all be there.”
A warm welcome in Manila. Newly arrived Rohingya scholars, the biggest batch to date, are greeted by representatives from UNHCR, the Department of Justice, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and partner academic institutions as they begin their academic journey in the Philippines through the CPath programme. A total of 10 new CPath scholars will be studying in Columban College, Inc., De La Salle University - Dasmariñas, San Beda University, and University of St. La Salle.
A milestone for inclusive education in the Philippines. This latest batch includes the largest number of Complementary Pathways scholars to date and the first group to include Rohingya youth from Bangladesh.
It takes a barangay (village). Representatives from government agencies, academic institutions, and UNHCR emphasize the collective commitment behind the safe and dignified arrival and stay of refugee scholars to the Philippines.
MRCTD, documentation for protection and opportunity. CPath scholars hold their Machine-Readable Convention Travel Documents (MRCTDs), issued by the Philippines through its relevant foreign service post, which enabled their safe and legal travel for the CPath programme.
Building a better future through education. With support from local universities, government partners and Asia Community Foundation, the Complementary Pathways scholars will pursue undergraduate studies as part of a broader effort to promote inclusion, protection, and self-reliance among forcibly displaced and stateless communities.
Complementary Pathways are safe and regulated routes that allow refugees’ access to host countries for study, work, or family reunification. In the Philippines, this initiative forms part of UNHCR and its partners’ broader efforts to support the favourable protection environment of the country and expand access to solutions, including through higher education as a pathway for refugees to achieve protection, inclusion, and self-reliance. The newest batch brings the CPath programme’s total number of scholars being supported in the country to 25.
“I always remind the students who are here how powerful the opportunity that has been given to you. Open your hearts and minds to what you may learn from the Philippines. The journey is not yet over, always remember that you have our support,” said Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo, UNHCR Philippines Head of National Office.
The scholars will receive academic support to help them integrate into their new environment. Local universities, colleges, and partners play a key role in making them feel welcomed and supported throughout their academic journey in the Philippines.
“The Philippines has a very special history of not only opening our doors but also opening our hearts, especially those who are in need of shelter, protection, and a sense of community,” remarked Assistant Director Stacy Danika Garcia of the Department of Foreign Affairs Office of the United Nations and International Organizations, who was also present to welcome the scholars. “On behalf of our partner agencies such as the Department of Justice, UNHCR, and other agencies, it really took a barangay (village) to bring you here. We are grateful to bring you home and give you a sense of tahanan (home).”
This initiative aligns with the commitments of the country to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, and the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. It is also consistent with the goals of the Philippines under the Global Compact on Refugees, which calls for shared responsibility in expanding access to third-country solutions, and highlights the Philippines’ role as a champion of humanitarian efforts for the forcibly displaced and stateless in the region.
And as forced displacement and statelessness continue to persist and grow more complex and protracted, UNHCR continues to work with governments, higher education institutions, and host communities to ensure that refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, populations at risk of statelessness, and internally displaced persons have access to their rights and opportunities, enabling them not just to survive but to thrive in rebuilding their lives in safety and dignity.
ABOUT UNHCR
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We lead international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. We deliver life-saving assistance, help safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place called home where they can build a better future. We also work to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality. We work in over 130 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.
In the Philippines, UNHCR has maintained its presence since 1975, working on providing durable solutions to refugees, ending and reducing statelessness, and empowering displaced families.
For more information, please contact:
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