The Iloilo Provincial Government today welcomed delegates from the House of Representatives and national government agencies (NGAs) for an inter-agency meeting as part of the preliminary activities for the upcoming ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly, tentatively scheduled in September 2026.
The coordination meeting forms part of the early groundwork for the prestigious regional event, which will gather parliamentarians from all ten ASEAN member states.
The Philippine Congress, as the lead agency participant, sent a delegation to assess Iloilo’s readiness to host the one-week AIPA conference.
OIC Executive Director for Interparliamentary Relations and Special Affairs Bureau Rosemarie R. Santos said the purpose of the visit in Iloilo is to conduct an ocular or on-site inspection for the possible venue for the AIPA General Assembly in 2026.
Now celebrating nearly five decades since its inaugural assembly in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1975, AIPA continues to serve as a communication and cooperation hub among ASEAN parliaments.
The Philippines, being a founding member, plays a significant role in advancing parliamentary diplomacy in the region.
Present at the meeting also included officers from the House of Representatives, namely Director Maria Arlene Figueroa (Travel Support Services), Atty. Merta Sandoval-Serbio (OIC Deputy Director and Chief Protocol Officer), Ms. Marie Loriane Ayson-Inton (Interparliamentary Relations Service), Atty. Arturo Enrico Navarro, and Ms. Christina Mae Montuya.
They were joined by officials from the Iloilo Provincial Government and representatives from national government agencies who provided technical insights and logistical support.
The Iloilo Provincial Government, in coordination with national and regional agencies, looks forward to the outcome of the venue evaluation and expresses full support for the success of the AIPA General Assembly.
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