House Speaker Faustino Dy III announced that the Philippines will scale down its hosting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) meetings this year, citing the impact of rising fuel costs driven by tensions in the Middle East.
Dy said only two in-person events will proceed—the General Assembly in October and the Interface Meeting in November—while all preparatory sessions will be held virtually.
“Following the guidance of the President, we are adopting necessary austerity measures in our AIPA hosting—without compromising its objectives,” Dy said. “We will focus our resources on the meetings that matter most, while ensuring that the work of parliamentary diplomacy continues uninterrupted.”
He added:
“Sa bawat desisyon natin, mahalaga pong palagi nating unahin ang kapakanan ng mamamayan. By maximizing digital platforms, we reduce costs, ease the burden on public resources, and continue to fulfill our responsibilities to our ASEAN partners.”
Dy explained that the move was prompted by the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has pushed global oil prices higher.
“Patuloy po nating gagampanan ang iniatas na tungkulin sa atin bilang host ng AIPA. Gayunpaman, hindi natin puwedeng isantabi ang epekto ng krisis sa Middle East—lalo na ang pagtaas ng presyo ng langis—na direktang magpapabigat sa magiging gastusin kabilang ang plane fares at iba pang logistical requirements,” he said.
Pangasinan 3rd District Representative and House Committee on Foreign Affairs chairperson Maria Rachel Arenas, who heads the organizing committee, said preparations are being recalibrated to fit the hybrid format.
“Following the instructions of Speaker Dy, we are aligning all committees and participating delegations with the revised structure. The General Assembly, scheduled in October, and Interface Meeting in November, will proceed as planned, while all other preparatory engagements will be conducted through secure and efficient virtual platforms,” Arenas said.
She added:
“We wholeheartedly support this move by the Speaker as this decision allows us to remain fully engaged with our ASEAN counterparts while ensuring that our preparations are focused, efficient, and outcome-driven.”
Arenas emphasized that the streamlined hosting reflects the country’s adaptability to shifting global conditions.