20 October 2014 - A member of the Philippine delegation to the 131^st Inter-Parliamentarian Union (IPU) was elected to the Board of the Forum of Young Parliamentarian of the IPU.

Representative Mercedes K. Alvarez, representing the 6^th District of Negros Occidental and the youngest member of the Philippine delegation to the 131^st IPU Assembly was elected to the Board of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians representing the Asia Pacific Group.

Representative Alvarez is one of the youngest members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines. In 2010, she was elected as the youngest district representative in the Philippines, and was re-elected for a second term in 2013. 

In Congress, Representative Alvarez has pushed for additional funds for the construction of school buildings, bridges, farm-to-market roads, countryside electrification and various infrastructures. She has authored a number of major legislations, including an Act which strengthens the juvenile justice and welfare law in the Philippines.

The IPU established the Forum of Young Parliamentarians in 2013 as a formal and permanent body dedicated to enhancing the quantitative and qualitative participation of young people in parliaments and in the IPU. The Forum convened the first ever Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians just before the start of the 131^st IPU Assembly in Geneva.

The IPU has in its roster of members more than 160 parliaments worldwide.  END