By Jose Cielito M. Reganit
MANILA – House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Monday called for stronger cooperation among Southeast Asian lawmakers to address shared concerns, including illegal recruitment, human trafficking and online child safety, as the Philippines prepares to host the 47th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) this month.
As this year’s AIPA president, Dy will lead the gathering under the theme “Parliaments Securing a Peaceful, Prosperous, and People-Centered ASEAN.”
“Mahalaga ang pagtitipong ito dahil marami sa mga problemang kinakaharap ng ating bansa ay kinakaharap din ng ating mga kapatid sa Southeast Asia (This gathering is important because many of the problems our country is facing are also being faced by our brothers and sisters in Southeast Asia),” Dy said in his speech at the resumption of House plenary sessions.
He cited rising food and energy prices, illegal recruitment and human trafficking, cybercrime, threats to children’s safety online, and regional peace and security as issues requiring closer cooperation.
Dy said the assembly would allow ASEAN lawmakers to share their countries’ experiences, study effective legislation across the region, and agree on measures they could pursue in their respective legislatures.
“Sa pamamagitan ng AIPA, naibabahagi natin ang mga karanasan ng ating mga bansa, napag-aaralan ang mga epektibong batas, at napagkakasunduan ang mga hakbang na maaari nating isulong sa kaniya-kaniyang parlyamento (Through AIPA, we can share our countries’ experiences, study effective laws, and agree on measures that we can advance in our respective parliaments),” he said. (PNA)
