HOUSE of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Senate President (SP) Juan Miguel Zubiri on Saturday declared the just-concluded 31st Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF31) a resounding success, particularly, for the fruitful sessions that resulted in the adoption of the Joint Communique and all 10 resolutions.
They also recognized the country’s able hosting of the event, and the commitments secured from countries for the Philippines’ bid for a seat in the United Nations Security Council for the period 2027-2028.
Speaker Romualdez, APPF Co-Chair, and Senate President Zubiri, APPF Chair, made the assessment at the closing ceremony of the APPF31 held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), where more than 250 delegates from 19 countries participated in the event from Nov. 23 to 25, 2023.
“On behalf of the Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, let me thank you all our honored guests, and distinguished delegates for making our annual meeting a resounding success. In these past few days, it has been an honor for the Philippines to host all of you. We hope that even in such a short period, we may have been able to share with you what is best in our Filipino culture and that you do consider coming here again,” Speaker Romualdez said.
He said hosting the APPF31 has been both a privilege and an opportunity for the Philippines. “It has been our privilege to bring together to a common table distinguished parliamentarians from across the Asia-Pacific Region. We fully support the original vision by which the APPF was established, that of enhancing regional peace, stability and prosperity through political dialogue,” he said.
Speaker Romualdez also thanked his colleagues in the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives, especially to APPF31 Chair and Senate President Zubiri, the Secretariat of both houses. “Your hard work and dedication helped made all these possible. Thank you also to all the delegates, my fellow parliamentarians, we wish you the best and we wish you a safe trip home to your respective countries. We hope to see you all again in the next APPF. Mabuhay tayong lahat!,” he said.
Meanwhile SP Zubiri said he can proudly say that the country’s hosting of the APPF 31 is successful. “I can proudly say na matagumpay ang hosting ng Philippine Congress ng 31st APPF at napalakas natin ang ugnayan sa mga bansang dumalo. Umaasa tayo na masusundan ito ng maraming follow-up bilateral meetings and parliamentary exchanges upang maisakatuparan ang mga commitments na nagawa natin sa pag-host ng APPF.
According to SP Zubiri, the adoption of all the 10 resolutions endorsed by the working groups have been adopted in the Drafting Committee and the Final Plenary, and ultimately became part of the Joint Communiqué, as proof of the great job done by all concerned, “It was a perfect score, a reflection of the amazing job put in place by the respective chairs and co-chairs and of course the active participation of all delegates from the 19 countries represented.”
Other than the adoption of these resolutions, SP Zubiri said they were able to lobby for the Philippines’ bid for a seat in the United Nations Security Council for the period 2027-2028. “We secured firm and new commitments from the countries we have approached. In fact, some of them even wrote us to formalize their commitments,” he said.
