Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said on Tuesday that the country would not be accepting permanent refugees from Australia, as a response to a proposal sent by the latter earlier this month. Aquino, however, clarified that he is “seriously considering” welcoming in-transit refugees, or those who are just passing by the Philippines to get to their destination.

Aquino pointed out to Australia that the country has significantly bigger population with a smaller land area, and thus, there are challenges to meet the needs of his own people. Assistance will be offered but with limitations, he told reporters.

Aquino’s statement came after a report that both countries’ foreign ministers had agreed to the Philippines accepting refugees for resettlement. The statement was made as a response to the Oct. 9 proposal from the Australian government asking the Philippines to house refugees that have flocked the country. An exchange of $150 million was offered, according to a report on the Daily Telegraph. However, the Australian government has not disclosed any details of the said proposal, nor has Aquino elaborated on it during his speech on Tuesday.

Australia is known to having a strict policy when it comes to refugees as they do not accept them but rather ship them to off shore detentions, or in this case, to other countries.

The Philippines is not the first country that Australia approached to house refugees, Cambodia has already entered to a deal with the country in return for millions of dollars of aid. However, only four refugees have resettled in the country has the deal was strongly criticised by rights groups, AFP reports.

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