Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Tuesday, Oct. 10, revealed plans by the Turkish government to grant scholarships to Filipino students.

(From left) Vice President Sara Duterte and Turkish Ambassador to Manila Niyazi Evren Akyol shake hands during a meeting on Oct. 9, 2023. (Photo from Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook)

In a Facebook post after Turkish Ambassador to Manila Niyazi Evren Akyol’s courtesy call, Duterte shared the purpose of their meeting.

“Kusang-loob na ipinangako ng Turkey ang mga pribilehiyong scholarship para sa mga batang Pilipino, na magbibigay-daan sa paglago ng kanilang kaalaman at kakayahan (Turkey promised to extend scholarship privileges for Filipino students, which will pave the way to more knowledge and capability),” she said in a post on Tuesday, Oct. 10.

The Vice President said they also discussed education and security topics.

“Bukod dito, mahigpit ang kanilang pangako na patuloy na makipag-ugnayan at magbigay-suporta sa ating layuning makamit ang tunay na kapayapaan sa Mindanao (Aside from this, they also strengthen their promise to continue coordinating and provide support in our goal to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao),” Duterte said.

This would be done through the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB), which the lady official stressed would reduce conflicts.

The IDB, which provides “an enabling environment for the Bangsamoro, allowing the MILF combatants to transition to productive civilian life,” was created by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) “to oversee the process of decommissioning of MILF forces and weapons.”

According to its website, the IDB board was composed of a Turkish representative as the chairman, Norway as the vice chairman, and international experts from Brunei.

Local experts, as well as representatives from the Philippine government and the MILF, complete the board’s composition.

During their meeting, Duterte said she also extended her sympathies to Akyol in light of the terrorist attack in Ankara last Oct. 1.

The envoy thanked the Filipinos who prayed for them and the families affected by the tragedy.

“Ang pagkakaisang ito ay patunay ng malasakit at pagkakaibigan ng ating mga bansa na hindi matitinag sa anumang pagsubok at unos (This unity is proof of the concern and friendship of our countries that will not be swayed by challenges),” she wrote.

“Sa bawat sandali, patuloy nating itataguyod ang pagsasama-sama at pagpapatibay ng ugnayan sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Turkey, bilang haligi ng pagkakaisa at pag-unlad ng ating mga bayan (Every day, let us continue uplifting the cooperation and strengthening of the ties between the Philippines and Turkey, as the cornerstone of unity and progress of our nations),” Duterte added.