HOUSE Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III has called on Southeast Asian lawmakers to forge a common message reflecting the concerns of their constituents and bring these issues to the attention of ASEAN leaders, underscoring the need for stronger cooperation between governments and parliaments across the region.
Dy made the call Saturday as he opened the 15th ASEAN–ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Leaders’ Interface parliamentary preparatory meeting at the Makati Shangri-La.
“Our primary task is to bridge the voices of our people with the aspirational goals of ASEAN,” Dy said in his opening address. He emphasized the importance of strengthening institutional partnerships between the executive and legislative branches to build a resilient and inclusive regional community.
As current president of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), Dy said the Philippine ASEAN chairship theme, “Navigating Our Future Together,” complements the thrust of the 47th AIPA General Assembly, “Parliaments Securing a Peaceful, Prosperous and People-centered ASEAN.”
He stressed that active parliamentary engagement is essential in translating ASEAN’s shared goals into concrete gains for communities throughout Southeast Asia.
The preparatory meeting brought together parliamentary delegations to review the draft AIPA Message and reach consensus on issues of common regional concern ahead of its presentation to ASEAN heads of state and government.
Dy expressed confidence that the delegates’ participation and cooperation would lead to an agreed message that reflects the collective position of AIPA member parliaments.
Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand L. Hernandez chaired the preparatory meeting, with AIPA Secretary-General Dr. Chem Widhya serving as meeting secretary.
The Philippine delegation was led by Deputy Speaker Maria Rachel J. Arenas and included Representatives Maria Carmen S. Zamora, Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos, Emigdio P. Tanjuatco III and Jude A. Acidre. House Secretary General Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil served as delegation adviser, while Novel V. Bangsal was the delegation secretary.
Other participating delegations were led by representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam, along with officials of the AIPA Secretariat.
The 15th ASEAN–AIPA Leaders’ Interface is scheduled for Sunday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, as part of the 49th ASEAN Summit.
The dialogue brings together ASEAN heads of state and government and leaders of AIPA member parliaments to discuss shared regional concerns and provide lawmakers an opportunity to present their perspectives. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in his capacity as ASEAN Chair, is scheduled to open the meeting, while Dy is expected to deliver the AIPA Message.
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