The Manila Times
SPEAKER Faustino Dy III called on women parliamentarians in Southeast Asia to push for “deeper, system-level change” and move from representation to real power in governance. In his speech at the 5th Meeting of the Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians of the Aseam Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) which was held virtually, Dy said parliamentarians must move beyond “gender-responsiveness toward true transformation — reshaping systems, dismantling barriers, and ensuring women have real decision-making power.” “Transformation must go beyond representation. It must create real opportunity — for women to lead, to build enterprises, and for marginalized voices to be heard. Inclusion is measured not by presence, but by impact,” Dy said. He linked women’s leadership to stronger institutions and lasting peace in the Southeast Asian region. “Peace is not just the absence of conflict — it is trust in institutions and in the future. When women lead, peace becomes more durable,” Dy said. He highlighted the Philippines’ National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security as part of efforts to promote inclusive and responsive governance. “At the core of all this is people-centered governance — laws grounded in real needs, budgets that reflect everyday realities, and institutions that are open and accountable,” Dy said. In her speech, Deputy Speaker Rachel Arenas underscored the need for sustained leadership and cooperation among women lawmakers in the region. “Though we gather today through extraordinary circumstances, our presence here sends an extraordinary message: that even in uncertain times, leadership does not pause; cooperation does not weaken; and the work of building a better future must continue,” Arenas said. She stressed that the global energy crisis, driven in part by tensions in the Middle East, is a test of the region’s collective resolve. “Yet even as challenges test our systems, they also reveal our character. Today, by choosing dialogue over delay and action over hesitation, we prove that Asean’s spirit remains strong,” Arenas said. In the session, House Committee on Women and Gender Equality chairman and Laguna Rep. Ann Matibag, who was appointed as the chairman of WAIPA, called on the region’s lawmakers to strive for deeper institutional reforms to build gender-transformative, inclusive, and future-ready parliaments. “A future-ready parliament is one that is inclusive, adaptive, and responsive — able to anticipate change, enhance oversight, and ensure that legislation and public resources respond effectively to emerging risks and inequalities,” Matibag said. The event gathered women lawmakers from across the region to advance cooperation on political participation, economic leadership, and inclusive governance.
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