Manila: Speaker Faustino 'Bojie' Dy III on Monday urged legislatures in Southeast Asia to strengthen peace and prosperity by delivering credible laws, transparent processes, and results that improve people's daily lives. Dy made the call as the House of Representatives formally launched the Philippine Presidency of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).
According to Philippines News Agency, in his keynote address, Dy emphasized that regional cooperation must be anchored on public trust and institutional credibility. "Our guiding theme is clear: Parliaments Securing a Peaceful, Prosperous, and People-Centered ASEAN. It reflects a fundamental truth: communities endure not on aspiration alone, but on laws that are credible, systems that are trusted, and leaders who deliver results," he stated. Dy noted that the Philippines' AIPA agenda aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s commitment, as ASEAN Chair, to deepen dialogue and enhance cooperation on regional security and economic integration in a people-centered manner.
The launch coincides with ASEAN's 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and the preparation for the admission of Timor-Leste as its 11th member state. Dy remarked that these milestones affirm that regional peace was "built deliberately through dialogue, mutual respect, and the rule of law." He acknowledged the complex challenges the region faces, including economic uncertainty, security risks, and rapid technological change.
Dy shared his experience from leading the House of Representatives, emphasizing that public trust is built through results. "People judge governance by how decisions are made, whether processes are transparent, and whether outcomes genuinely improve daily life," he said. He added that when laws are openly debated, carefully scrutinized, and aligned with real needs, institutions earn the public's confidence.
Further, Dy stressed that trust across ASEAN grows when laws are clear and resources are directed where they matter most. "This is how parliaments secure peace, support prosperity, and keep people at the center of policy - principles that will guide our AIPA Presidency," he added. He described peace as more than the absence of conflict, highlighting it as confidence in resolving differences through dialogue and respecting rules even under pressure.
Through AIPA, Dy said, legislatures strengthen parliamentary diplomacy by addressing shared concerns such as maritime security, transnational crime, cyber threats, and disinformation, choosing cooperation over confrontation. On economic development, he argued that prosperity should be measured by its impact on ordinary citizens, advocating for laws that encourage innovation, protect workers, strengthen small enterprises, and improve regional connectivity.
Dy also emphasized that a people-centered ASEAN begins with dignity, requiring protection for vulnerable sectors, empowerment of women and youth, recognition of migrant workers, and responsible governance of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. "When peace is secured, prosperity is shared, and people remain at the heart of policy, ASEAN moves forward with confidence - as a region that is resilient, connected, and governed by strong institutions," he said.
As the Philippines formally begins its AIPA Presidency, Dy called on ASEAN parliaments to act collectively and move toward a future anchored on unity, shared purpose, and stronger parliamentary cooperation. "For today's young public servants, and for the generations that will follow, the Philippines stands ready - to work with you, to listen, and to help secure a peaceful, prosperous, and people-centered ASEAN," he declared.
The Philippines assumed the AIPA Presidency on Sept. 20, 2025, following the turnover by Malaysia's Speaker Tan Sri Johari Bin Abdul, with Deputy Speaker and TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza accepting the post on behalf of the Philippine House. This marks the seventh time the Philippines has hosted AIPA since its establishment in 1977, highlighting the country's long-standing role in advancing parliamentary diplomacy and ASEAN integration.
