Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Monday urged legislatures in Southeast Asia to strengthen peace and prosperity by delivering credible laws, transparent processes, and results that improve people’s daily lives.

Dy made the call as the House of Representatives formally launched the Philippine Presidency of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

In his keynote address, Dy said regional cooperation must be anchored on 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,” he said.

Dy said the Philippines’ AIPA agenda is aligned 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.”

He 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. People judge governance by how decisions are made, whether processes are transparent, and whether outcomes genuinely improve daily life,” he said.

When laws are openly debated, carefully scrutinized, and aligned with real needs, Dy said institutions earn the confidence of the people they serve.

He said these principles extend beyond national borders, stressing that trust across ASEAN grows when laws are clear and 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,” he added.

Dy said 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,” he said.

On economic development, Dy said prosperity must be measured by its impact on ordinary citizens, not by growth figures alone, as he called for laws that encourage innovation, protect workers, strengthen small enterprises, and improve regional connectivity.

Dy further said a people-centered ASEAN begins with dignity, requiring the protection of vulnerable sectors, the empowerment of women and youth, the recognition of migrant workers, and responsible governance of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

“When peace is secured, prosperity is shared, and people remain at the heart of policy, ASEAN moves forward with confidence – as a region that is resilient, connected, and governed by strong institutions,” he said.

As the Philippines formally begins its AIPA Presidency, Dy urged ASEAN parliaments to act collectively and move as one toward a new future anchored on unity, shared purpose, and stronger parliamentary cooperation.

“For today’s young public servants, and for the generations that will follow, the Philippines stands ready — to work with you, to listen, and to help secure a peaceful, prosperous, and people-centered ASEAN,” he said.

The Philippines formally assumed the AIPA Presidency on Sept. 20, 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 Philippine House.

This marks the seventh time the Philippines has hosted AIPA since its establishment in 1977, underscoring the country’s long-standing role in advancing parliamentary diplomacy and ASEAN integration. (PNA)