The Philippines has contributed USD20,000 (approximately PHP1.15 million) to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), reaffirming its support to inter-parliamentary cooperation across ASEAN, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.

The contribution was turned over by Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN Ambassador Hjayceelyn Quintana at the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia on May 13.

“The voluntary contribution reflects the Philippines’ confidence in the invaluable role that parliamentary diplomacy plays in advancing the ASEAN goal of creating a people-centered ASEAN,” the DFA said.

In her speech, Quintana recalled that it was the Philippines that initiated the establishment of an ASEAN Parliament in 1980 to strengthen regional cooperation by providing a platform for parliamentary dialogue and collaboration among ASEAN member-states.

That same visionary initiative, the DFA said, sparked important discussions and laid the groundwork for future efforts to enhance parliamentary diplomacy within ASEAN.

AIPA Secretary General Rozaimeriyanty Dato Haji Abdul Rahman, during the turnover, hailed Manila’s contribution which she said would significantly enhance AIPA’s efforts to “foster parliamentary cooperation in the region and beyond”.

The AIPA General Assembly convenes once a year, with the 44th session held in August 2023 in Jakarta. (PNA)