Muslim Filipinos will soon have the opportunity to study in Indonesia through a scholarship program being developed by the Philippine and Indonesian governments, according to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).
The initiative will provide Madrasah scholarships, covering tuition and a cost-of-living allowance, for eligible Filipino students at Pondok Pesantren Darullughah Wadda’wah, an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia.
NCMF Secretary Sabuddin Abdurahim announced that an eight-member delegation from the commission engaged in discussions with Indonesian officials this month to establish educational partnerships. He described the meetings as “fruitful,” noting that Indonesia’s religious affairs ministry expressed its willingness to offer scholarships to Muslim Filipinos.
To formalize the program, the NCMF plans to draft a memorandum of understanding and will soon release details on the application process and eligibility requirements.
In addition to scholarships, the Philippines and Indonesia are exploring collaborations in organizing the Hajj pilgrimage and halal certification. The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta, through Chargé d’Affaires Gonaranao Musor, facilitated discussions between officials from both countries.
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, has long extended support to the Muslim community in the Philippines, where around 6.98 million Muslims make up 6.4% of the population.
