SFA-AGR-176-08

SENATOR PIA CAYETANO HEADS RP DELEGATION IN IPU-APG MEET

19 March 2008 - Senator Pia Cayetano headed the Philippine delegation to a meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union – Asia Pacific Group held in Ottawa last 14 March.  Accompanied by Minister and Consul General Joseph Gerard B. Angeles, Senator Cayetano led the Philippine delegation in pursuing courses of action that are intended to strengthen the Asia Pacific Group within the influential Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

The IPU, established in 1889, is the international organization of Parliaments of sovereign states.  The Union is the focal point for worldwide parliamentarian dialogue and works for peace and cooperation among peoples and for the firm establishment of representative democracy.

Geopolitical groups within IPU play an important role in the functioning of the organization. There are twelve such groupings, namely Africa, Arab group, Asia-Pacific, Eurasia, Latin America, and Twelve Plus.

The emergence of countries within the Asia Pacific Group (APG), particularly China, Japan, India, Korea and the ASEAN countries, has behooved the regional grouping to look into ways by which it can influence the direction of the IPU with the goal of harnessing the growing weight of Asia Pacific countries to bear on future directions of the IPU. Specifically, the APG looked at its internal Rules of Procedure to ensure coherence and continuity of its policies, flagship projects and focal issues within the bigger IPU.

Senator Cayetano recalled to the Group that the Rules of Procedure for the APG was first proposed by the Philippine delegation in Geneva in September 2002, and subsequently adopted in 2005. The Philippine delegation reiterated that the Rules should be sufficiently flexible to allow changes, especially

against a backdrop of fluid international events.

The APG agreed to bring forth proposals to amend its Rules of Procedure before the IPU during the upcoming IPU meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.  Among the suggestions it will bring to the table are an extension of the term of the APG Chair to ensure continuity of plans, a co-chairing arrangement to ensure participation of many countries in the policy-making process, and the viability of establishing a Secretariat and a Working Group to institutionalize the APG’s work. Being composed of elected parliamentarians, the personal composition of the APG always changes, thus highlighting the need to institutionalize its programs of work.

Senator Cayetano also met with leaders of the Filipino Community in Ottawa, with whom she discussed her goals and objectives in the Philippine Senate especially on issues affecting women, environment and health. END

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