President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared June 20 every year as National Refugee Day.

By signing Proclamation No. 265 on June 20, 2023, Marcos Jr. called on all agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned or controlled corporations and state universities and colleges, to actively participate and provide the necessary support and assistance for the effective implementation of the Proclamation.

All local governments, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, Philippine United Nations (UN) agencies and the private sector were encouraged to do the same.

“The Philippines has a long humanitarian tradition of opening its arms to those seeking safety, and fostering an enabling environment for people forced to flee their countries of origin, stateless persons and populations at risk of becoming stateless,” the president said.