PH Participates in the 146th Inter-Parliamentary Union in Bahrain
Left photo: Ambassador-designate Anne Jalando-on Louis (2nd from right) with Senator Pia S. Cayetano (center), Head of the Philippine Delegation to the 146th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, Representative Ramon Nolasco Jr (2nd from left), Representative Rachel Arenas (3rd from left), Mr. Milton Dick (3rd from right), Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives and Chair of the Asia Pacific Group Meeting, and Representative Ron Salo (rightmost). Right photo: Senator Cayetano and Representative Arenas after their elections to the Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs and Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, respectively. (Manama PE photo)
MANAMA 22 March 2023 — A delegation from the Philippines headed by Senator Pia S. Cayetano participated in the 146th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in the Kingdom of Bahrain on 11-15 March 2023.
Among the members of the Philippine Delegation were Rep. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (HOR), Rep. Ramon C. Nolasco, Jr., House Deputy Majority Leader, Rep Glona G. Labadlabad, Chair of the House Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Diplomacy, Rep. Maria Rachel J. Arenas, Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep. Ron P. Salo, Chair of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez, Chair of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Ambassador-designate Anne Jalando-on Louis.
On 11 March 2023, the Philippine Delegation attended the ASEAN+3 Group Meeting during which Sen. Cayetano invited the parliamentarians to the 31st Meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) to be held in Manila on 23-26 November 2023.
The ASEAN+3 Group Meeting was followed by the APG Meeting, which discussed the Asia Pacific Group vacancies of the IPU. Sen. Cayetano was elected as Member of the Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs, while Rep. Arenas was elected as Member of the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development.
Sen. Cayetano delivered an intervention at the Forum of Women MPs, where she underscored the importance of participation of women in all decision-making levels in the government and emphasized women’s role in nation building. She also shared the creation of the Committee on Sustainable Development, Innovations and Futures Thinking in the Philippine Senate and its role in reviewing policies and laws with futures thinking perspective.
On 13 March 2023, Senator Cayetano delivered the PHL Statement at the Governing Council Session of 146th IPU Assembly. She highlighted several accomplishments of the Philippines in the areas of sustainable development, education, universal health care system, protection of children, and women empowerment.
Sen. Cayetano also attended the side event organized by the World Health Organization on “Leveraging the Role of Parliamentarians to Progress toward Universal Health”. She highlighted the Philippines’ experience on health financing, especially on the sin tax law.
During the meeting of the Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs on 14 March 2023, Sen. Cayetano expressed support for the initiative of the IPU to push for more women representation in the UN General Assembly and in other policy making bodies.
The HOR Delegation also participated in the 2nd Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network at the sidelines of the IPU. Rep. Arenas delivered the PHL Statement at the said meeting.
On 12 March 2023, the members of the House of Representatives met with forty-six (46) Filipino community leaders at the PHL Embassy. END
Senator Pia S. Cayetano delivers the Philippine Statement at the 146th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Assembly on 13 March 2023. (Manama PE photo)
Ambassador-designate Anne Jalando-on Louis (5th from right) together with (from left to right) Representative Ron Salo, Representative Ramon Nolasco Jr., Representative Glona Labadlabad, Representative Rufus Rodriguez, Representative Rachel Arenas, former Deputy Speaker Rosemarie Arenas, Mr. Jose Ma. Antonio Tuaño, HOR Deputy Secretary General for Internal Audit, and Mr. Renard Kayne Ycasiano, Mr. Joe Anthony Ramos, and Mr. Alfredo Besas, also from the HOR. (Manama PE photo)
Ambassador-designate Louis (center) together with (1st row, from left to right) Consul Bryan Jess Baguio, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Rep. Glona Labadlabad, Rep. Rachel Arenas, Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza, Rep. Ron Salo, Labor Attache Vicente Cabe, Welfare Officer Redina Manlapaz, and Filipino community leaders after the Congressional Delegation’s meeting with the Filipino community held at the Bulwagang Rizal of the Embassy on 12 March 2023. (Manama PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.manamape.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHLinBahrain or https://www.instagram.com/phlinbahrain/.