Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III (Photo courtesy of the Office of the Speaker)
The House of Representatives is scaling back the Philippines’ hosting of this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) meetings, limiting in-person events to only two major gatherings while moving all preparatory sessions to virtual platforms.
Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III announced on Saturday that only the General Assembly in October and the Interface Meeting in November will be held face to face, as part of a broader effort to streamline official engagements and manage costs amid mounting global economic pressures.
Dy said the decision aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to rationalize activities related to the country’s hosting of the upcoming ASEAN Summit, while also responding to the financial strain caused by recent international developments.
“Following the guidance of the President, we are adopting necessary austerity measures in our AIPA hosting without compromising its objectives,” Dy said in a news release.
He stressed that the scaled-down format is intended to preserve the substance of the Philippines’ role as host while making better use of public resources.
“We will focus our resources on the meetings that matter most, while ensuring that the work of parliamentary diplomacy continues uninterrupted,” he added.
The Speaker said the move comes as the continuing conflict in the Middle East pushes global oil prices higher, driving up travel and logistical expenses for international events.
“Patuloy po nating gagampanan ang iniatas na tungkulin sa atin bilang host ng AIPA. Gayunpaman, hindi natin puwedeng isantabi ang epekto ng krisis sa Middle East — lalo na ang pagtaas ng presyo ng langis — na direktang magpapabigat sa magiging gastusin kabilang ang plane fares at iba pang logistical requirements,” Dy said.
Deputy Speaker and House Foreign Affairs Committee chairperson Maria Rachel Arenas of Pangasinan, who is leading the chamber’s AIPA organizing efforts, said preparations are now being recalibrated to support a leaner hybrid format centered on the two key in-person events.
“Following the instructions of Speaker Dy, we are aligning all committees and participating delegations with the revised structure. The General Assembly, scheduled in October, and Interface Meeting in November, will proceed as planned, while all other preparatory engagements will be conducted through secure and efficient virtual platforms,” Arenas said.
She said the revised setup highlights the country’s ability to stay responsive and flexible in the face of changing global conditions, while keeping its commitments to regional partners intact.
“We wholeheartedly support this move by the Speaker as this decision allows us to remain fully engaged with our ASEAN counterparts while ensuring that our preparations are focused, efficient, and outcome-driven,” she said.
For Dy, the shift is not just a budgetary adjustment but a reflection of a people-first approach to governance. He said the House remains committed to helping advance a more responsive and future-ready ASEAN, even as it embraces more practical ways of conducting diplomacy.
“Sa bawat desisyon natin, mahalaga pong palagi nating unahin ang kapakanan ng mamamayan. By maximizing digital platforms, we reduce costs, ease the burden on public resources, and continue to fulfill our responsibilities to our ASEAN partners,” Dy said.
