House Speaker Faustino Dy III on Monday formally launched the Philippine presidency of the 47th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), calling on Southeast Asian legislatures to strengthen peace and prosperity through credible laws, transparent processes, and results that improve people’s daily lives.

In his keynote address, Dy said the Philippines assumes the AIPA presidency for 2026 “with humility and with a clear understanding of what this responsibility demands,” underscoring that regional cooperation must be grounded in 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,” Dy said.

The Philippines formally assumed the AIPA presidency on 20 September 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 House of Representatives.

Dy said the country’s 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 comes as ASEAN marks the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and prepares for the admission of Timor-Leste as its 11th member state. Dy said these milestones affirm that peace in the region was “built deliberately through dialogue, mutual respect, and the rule of law.”

As ASEAN looks toward Community Vision 2045, Dy said the region faces increasingly complex challenges, including economic uncertainty, security risks, and rapid technological change occurring simultaneously.

“From my experience leading the House of Representatives, one lesson stands out: public trust is built through results,” Dy said.

He added that people judge governance by how decisions are made, whether processes are transparent, and whether outcomes genuinely improve daily life.

Dy said institutions earn public confidence when laws are openly debated, carefully scrutinized, and aligned with real needs, stressing that these principles extend beyond national borders.

He emphasized that peace is more than the absence of conflict, describing it as confidence that differences can be resolved through dialogue and that rules will be respected even under pressure.

“Through AIPA, legislatures strengthen parliamentary diplomacy by working together on shared concerns—maritime security, transnational crime, cyber threats, and disinformation—choosing cooperation over confrontation,” Dy said.