Border News Agency 
Manila, 8 July 2025

A new group of Rohingya refugee scholars has arrived in the Philippines to pursue higher education under the country’s Complementary Pathways (CPath) program, a humanitarian initiative led by the Philippine government in partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

The group, consisting of eight young Rohingya from refugee camps and host communities in Malaysia and Bangladesh, landed in Manila on 3 July 2025. They are the fourth cohort to be welcomed since the CPath program was launched in 2023 as part of the commitments made by the Philippines at the Global Refugee Forum.

Through this initiative, the Philippines offers qualified Rohingya youth the opportunity to rebuild their lives through access to higher education in a safe and supportive environment. So far, approximately 30 Rohingya students have benefited from the program.

The scholars were received by officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Justice – Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (DOJ-RSPPU), and UNHCR Philippines. Welcoming them at the orientation session, government representatives reaffirmed the country’s continued support for refugee protection and inclusion.

The newly arrived students will begin their studies at various partner universities, including San Beda University in Manila, St. Louis University in Baguio, Tarlac State University, and the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod.

One of the scholars expressed deep gratitude upon arrival, saying, “We are just grateful for the chance to begin again.”

The Complementary Pathways initiative aims to offer safe and legal alternatives for refugees outside traditional resettlement channels. It reflects the Philippines’ long-standing tradition of humanitarian support, which dates back to welcoming Russian refugees in the 1920s, Jewish refugees before World War II, and Vietnamese “boat people” in the 1970s.

UNHCR, together with the Philippine government, hopes to expand the program in the future, engaging more educational institutions and private sector partners to support young refugees seeking a better future.