House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Monday urged Southeast Asian legislatures to strengthen peace and prosperity by enacting credible laws, ensuring transparent processes, and delivering results that improve daily life.
In his keynote address, Dy said the Philippines will assume the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Presidency in 2026 “with humility and with a clear understanding of what this responsibility demands,” stressing that cooperation must rest on 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,” Dy said.
He noted that the Philippines’ AIPA agenda aligns with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s ASEAN Chairmanship, which focuses on dialogue, regional security, and economic integration in a people-centered manner.
Dy highlighted challenges facing the region—economic uncertainty, security risks, and rapid technological change—and emphasized that public trust is built through results.
“From my experience leading the House of Representatives, one lesson stands out: public trust is built through results,” Dy said. “People judge governance by how decisions are made, whether processes are transparent, and whether outcomes genuinely improve daily life.”
He added that laws openly debated and aligned with real needs earn confidence, while trust across ASEAN grows when 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,” Dy said.
The launch of the Philippine Presidency of the 47th AIPA coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and paves the way for Timor-Leste’s admission as ASEAN’s 11th member state.