JDV leads 300 Asean parliamentarians’ meet in Cebu

Cebu City is rolling out the welcome mat for some 300 parliamentarians and officials from all over Southeast Asia in the 27th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization (AIPO), which begins tomorrow.

Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., who is also AIPO president, leads nine speakers of parliament who have confirmed participation in this meeting that will tackle vital issues and the possible conversion of the body into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Parliamentary Council as a prelude to an ASEAN Parliament.

The delegates began arriving in the Queen City of the south from the AIPO-member legislatures that include Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and the Philippines and the leaders of special observer countries Myanmar and Brunei.

When De Venecia formally opens the assembly on Monday, the Philippines will be hosting the first of two premier meetings this year, one by the region’s top parliamentary leaders and the other the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in December in Cebu City.

The two events are expected to bolster the country’s image in the region and recognize the parliamentary leadership of De Venecia and the executive leadership of President Arroyo as it tackles some of Southeast Asia’s most important issues.

"The Philippines has the unprecedented honor of hosting two important regional meetings this year," De Venecia said.

He is also the former president of the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace and the third-term chairman of the Standing Committee of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), which is currently convening its fourth assembly in Seoul.

Eight heads of parliaments from Southeast Asia confirmed their AIPO attendance: Samdech Heng Samrin of Cambodia, Suchon Chaleekure of Thailand, Tan Sri Dato Diraja Ramli Ngah Talib of Malaysia, Agung Laksono of Indonesia, Abdullah Tarmugi of Singapore, Thongsing Thammavong of Laos, Nguyen Phu Trong of Vietnam and Senate President Manuel Villar of the Philippines.

In his speech at the inaugural activity of the conference, Villar is expected to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of globalization.

"High on the list of issues on our agenda is the threat of global terrorism, the challenge of a globalized economic order and the creation of an ASEAN economic community," Villar said in a press statement. "We are deeply disturbed to know that terrorism today has become transnational and transregional. What can the ASEAN community do to minimize the threat?"

Villar also said "an ASEAN community can pave the way for the flow of intra-regional investments within its sphere. There are already some of these activities on the ground. We have Filipino companies that have an established presence in ASEAN countries of the so-called Overseas Filipino Corporation or OFCs."

The General Assembly carries the theme "Caring and Sharing for ASEAN prosperity," reflecting a strong concern for economic growth and equity among neighbors in the region, House foreign relations committee chairman and head of the organizing committee for the 27th AIPO General Assembly Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco said.

De Venecia and Cuenco said "AIPO Cebu 2006" is also expected to strengthen sentiments for political unification among ASEAN nations by launching the beginnings of an ASEAN parliament to legislate and confirm common action on world peace, terrorism, poverty, environmental health, narcotic drug trade, cross-border crimes, human rights and social justice.

AIPO dialogue partner-countries, such as Japan, Australia, Korea, New Zealand, the European Parliament and the Russian Federation will also be sending delegates.

The Philippine delegation is made up of senior members of the House of Representatives: Deputy Speaker Raul del Mar, Reps. Roque Ablan, Robert Ace Barbers, Edgar Chatto, Simeon Kintanar, Ramon Durano VI, Clavel Martinez, Nerissa Soon-Ruiz, Antonio Yapha, Herminio Teves, Eduardo Zialcita, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Luis Villafuerte, Emmylou Talino-Santos, Iggy Arroyo, Mat Defensor, Vincent Garcia, Janette Garin, Eduardo Gullas, Josefina Joson, Milagros Magsaysay, Oscar Malapitan, Reylina Nicolas, Joey Salceda, Lorna Silverio and Akbayan party-list Rep. Loretta Ann Rosales.

Philippine National Police Central Visayas director Superintendent Silverio Alarcio Jr. said comprehensive steps are being taken to cover all security arrangements for the safety of the legislators and officials attending the conference.