PACCI Strengthens Refugee Protection Through Landmark Partnerships and National Refugee Day 2026 Engagements
Manila, Philippines | 20–23 June 2026 — The Philippine Arab Cooperation Council Inc. (PACCI) participated in a series of World Refugee Day and National Refugee Day activities from 20 to 23 June 2026, contributing to initiatives focused on refugee protection, inclusion, financial access, and sustainable solutions for refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons in the Philippines.
ELEVATING VOICES
On 20 June, PACCI Executive Director Mr. Raffy El Hawi served as a guest speaker at “Stories Beyond Borders: Voices That Know No Barriers,” a World Refugee Day initiative organized by the De La Salle University–Manila University Student Government. The live video podcast explored forced displacement, resilience, and the importance of building inclusive communities, providing an opportunity to raise awareness of refugee experiences among students and the wider public.
PACCI also participated in the 4th Refugee Film Festival, organized by UNHCR Philippines at De La Salle University–Manila under the theme “Solutions in Motion: Rebuilding Futures Together.” Through films and discussions, the festival highlighted the experiences, aspirations, and resilience of refugees, including Nor Aishah, a Rohingya refugee scholar.
UNHCR Philippines National Goodwill Ambassador Mr. Atom Araullo highlighted the role of storytelling in changing perceptions, noting that young filmmakers were “helping reshape narratives, showing that refugees are not defined by displacement, but by resilience, strength, and potential.”
ADVANCING FINANCIAL INCLUSION
On 22 June, PACCI joined government and partner organizations in witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Justice–Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (DOJ-RSPPU) and GCash, enabling recognized refugees in the Philippines to access digital financial services.
The initiative addresses practical barriers faced by refugees in conducting everyday financial transactions and represents a step toward greater financial inclusion and independence.
Talal, a Syrian refugee and businessman residing in Palawan, described the development as a meaningful change after previously being unable to open a GCash account.The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) emphasized the need for alternatives to detention for vulnerable asylum seekers, particularly women and children, the importance of sustaining a non-discriminatory protection environment, and the development of a comprehensive legal framework to provide clearer procedures, safeguards, and remedies within the asylum and refugee status determination system.
“The decision to allow refugees to access GCash has made a meaningful and immediate difference in my life. It has removed one of the barriers that made me feel excluded from the digital financial system and has given me the ability to manage everyday financial transactions more independently and conveniently.”
Another Syrian refugee, Hamdin, welcomed the development, noting that having a GCash account would allow him to pay bills and toll fees online, making everyday life “easier and more comfortable.
For some refugees, accessing digital financial services had previously been challenging due to difficulties during the account verification process. The new initiative provides an opportunity to address these barriers and make essential digital services more accessible to refugee communities.
As an invited partner organization, PACCI was honored to sign the commemorative milestone board alongside government agencies and partner institutions. PACCI volunteers also assisted refugees during the event with their GCash account registration, helping translate the landmark partnership into immediate and practical support.
CONTRIBUTING TO NATIONAL REFUGEE DIALOGUE
The activities concluded on 23 June with the 3rd National Refugee Day Forum 2026, organized by the DOJ-RSPPU under the theme “Solutions in Motion: Rebuilding Futures Together.”
The forum brought together representatives from government agencies, international organizations, civil society organizations, refugee-led organizations, development partners, and other stakeholders to discuss protection, inclusion, and sustainable solutions for forcibly displaced communities.
Mr. El Hawi served as a panelist in the session “Leading the Way to Inclusive Futures,” where he shared PACCI’s experiences and perspectives on refugee participation, community development, inclusion, and sustainable solutions. The session was moderated by journalist and UNHCR Philippines Goodwill Ambassador Mr. Atom Araullo.
PACCI’s participation throughout the four-day observance reflected the growing strength of collaboration among government institutions, international organizations, academic institutions, civil society organizations, private sector partners, and refugee-led communities.
From amplifying refugee voices through education, promoting empathy through storytelling, supporting financial inclusion, and contributing to national policy discussions, each engagement demonstrated that lasting solutions are achieved through partnership, shared responsibility, and collective action.
These milestones reaffirm PACCI’s enduring commitment to serving as a bridge between communities and institutions—advocating for refugee rights, advancing inclusive development, and creating opportunities that empower our refugees and other rightsholders as active contributors in the community.
