Refugee-beneficiaries of PH’s Complementary Pathways (CPath) Program for Rohingyas Arrive in Manila 

 Left photo: DFA Assistant Secretary Kira Christianne D. Azucena delivers welcome remarks during the arrival ceremony of the first batch of beneficiaries of the CPath Program for Rohingyas; Right photo: DFA-UNIO Assistant Secretary Azucena welcomes one of the five beneficiaries

PASAY CITY, 02 September 2022 – The first batch of refugee-beneficiaries of the Complementary Pathways (CPath) program arrived in Manila on 30 August 2022 in time for the start of the school year next week.  

Their arrival marks a historic first for the country with respect to its program for admitting and advancing the welfare of refugees.  Under the Cpath program, refugee-beneficiaries are provided tertiary education training in the Philippines as well as access to comprehensive support and protection services.

At the arrival ceremony, DFA Assistant Secretary for the Office of the United Nations and International Organizations Kira Christianne D. Azucena welcomed the beneficiaries, and said that their arrival marked another milestone in the country’s long tradition of extending assistance to refugees and stateless persons.  She also thanked the Inter-Agency Committee led by the DOJ-Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (DOJ-RSPPU), as well as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), for their hard work that resulted in the realization of the Cpath program for the Rohingya refugees.

The CPath program was developed in 2020 following former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s emphasis at the 75th UN General Assembly in September 2020 on assisting those who are fleeing for safety and the shared responsibility of all countries to help the most vulnerable —those displaced by conflict and the persecuted.

The DOJ-RSPPU, headed by Chief State Counsel, George O. Ortha, highlighted the strong humanitarian spirit of the  Philippine Government and the Filipino people that drove  the crafting of the program.  The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Philippines’ Ms. Iya Valdeavilla-Gallardo warmly welcomed the students and only asked one thing of them, to be inspired and to be beacons of inspiration to their fellow Rohingyas.  Representatives from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and partner institutions were also present to receive the beneficiaries. END