House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its High Contracting Parties marked the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation to reaffirm the value of dialogue, mutual respect and peaceful cooperation in a changing global landscape.
The statement was issued as ASEAN and its High Contracting Parties commemorated the 50th anniversary of the TAC, the landmark 1976 accord that laid the foundation for peaceful relations, mutual respect and stability in the region.
The Philippines currently serves as ASEAN Chair and President of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly for 2026.
“Today, we honor not just a milestone, but a decision—made 50 years ago—when ASEAN’s Founding Fathers chose dialogue over conflict, cooperation over division, and mutual respect over mistrust,” Dy said in his capacity as 2026 AIPA President.
“In a region as diverse as Southeast Asia, that choice was neither easy nor inevitable. Yet it proved enduring and transformative,” he added.
From its original five ASEAN members, the treaty has expanded to 58 High Contracting Parties, underscoring what Dy described as its continuing relevance beyond the region.
“The [TAC] gave our region a shared commitment to peace, stability, and trust. What began among five ASEAN Member States has now been embraced by 58 High Contracting Parties and counting—a powerful testament to the Treaty’s relevance beyond geography and time, especially in an increasingly uncertain world,” he said.
Dy emphasized that the accord’s guiding principles remain vital today.
“For five decades, the Treaty has guided relations through principles that remain vital today: respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference, peaceful settlement of disputes, the renunciation of the threat or use of force, and effective cooperation among States,” he said.
“This shared framework has underpinned regional stability and helped ASEAN grow into one of the world’s largest economies, now on track to become the fourth-largest globally,” he continued.
He stressed that sustained peace delivers tangible results, including lifting millions out of poverty, expanding access to education and health care, and strengthening human security across the region.
The anniversary coincides with the Philippine ASEAN Chairship and AIPA Presidency, as well as the first year of implementation of “ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future.”
“Under the theme ‘Parliaments Securing a Peaceful, Prosperous, and People-centered ASEAN,’ we reaffirm the essential role of parliaments in translating the Treaty’s principles into law, ensuring accountability, and delivering real benefits for our people,” Dy said.
Dy reaffirmed AIPA’s full commitment to the TAC, alongside the ASEAN Charter and the United Nations Charter.
“We stand ready to work with ASEAN to turn shared visions into concrete outcomes our people can feel and trust,” he said.
He also called for renewed commitment to peace from lawmakers and citizens across the region.
“To my fellow parliamentarians, may this anniversary renew our commitment to preserving peace in both word and deed,” Dy said.
“And to the peoples of Southeast Asia, and all nations that have acceded to this Treaty: its principles belong to you, guiding how we live as neighbors and partners in an interconnected world.”