PH hosting of 2023 APPF to further promote reg’l cooperation

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa/Facebook)

MANILA – The Philippines is slated to host the 31st Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) next year to serve as a platform for parliamentarians to promote greater regional cooperation, as well as peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

During the plenary session of the 30th Annual Meeting of the APPF on Friday, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa led the Philippine delegation in Bangkok, Thailand in manifesting acceptance to host the next meeting in 2023, adding that the House of Representatives and the Senate would now begin exploratory talks on the details.

“We hope that, in Manila, we could bring new experiences that would inspire substantive discussions and advance cooperation on pressing issues and challenges faced by our region,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa thanked the executive committee of the APPF for considering the country’s hosting next year.

“We appreciate the scale of this undertaking and we realize its success calls for support and collaborative effort not just on a national scale but more importantly, on our strong relationship with APPF Member Parliaments,” he said.

Other Philippine delegates were Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman, Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, Negros Occidental Rep. Gerardo Valmayor Jr., USWAG ILONGGO Party-list Rep. James Ang, Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron, and Maguindanao and Cotabato City Rep. Mohamad Paglas, as well as Senator Francis Tolentino.

Valmayor urged fellow parliamentarians to promote further regional integration and growth in the APPF community to ensure “no one is left behind.”

Valmayor expressed confidence that APPF Member Parliaments would achieve greater synergy in making the region a leading digital community and economic bloc.

Paglas, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of increased inter-regional cooperation and interdependence.

He also added that APPF Member States’ mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, equality, and territorial integrity creates a positive environment across regions.