MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines reaffirmed its long-standing humanitarian tradition by welcoming eight Rohingya refugees who arrived from Malaysia and Bangladesh, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
The Rohingya refugees belong to the fourth batch of beneficiaries under the Complementary Pathways (CPath) Programme, the DFA said on Monday.
In a statement, the DFA said that the refugees, who arrived on July 3, expressed gratitude “for the chance to begin again.”
Since the program’s launch in 2019, the Philippines has welcomed around 30 Rohingya refugees.
The program offers selected Rohingya refugees displaced in Southeast Asia a safe, regulated avenue for admission and stay in the Philippines through education.
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The initiative not only meets their immediate protection needs and upholds their basic rights, but also empowers them with the necessary tools for long-term self-reliance.
The Philippines’ open-door policy for individuals seeking protection is rooted in history, having welcomed “Nine Waves of Refugees” since 1917, including Russian emigrés in the 1920s, Jewish refugees in the 1930s, and the Vietnamese “boat people” in the 1970s, the DFA said.
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The CPath Programme continues this legacy by offering not just shelter, but the opportunity for dignity, education, and a brighter future.
CPath is a joint initiative between the Philippine government through the Department of Justice Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit and the Department of Foreign Affairs, together with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and selected academic institutions.
