House scales down Philippine’s hosting of Asean IPA

MANILA, Philippines — With oil prices reaching record highs, the House of Representatives is initiating an austerity measure by scaling down the Philippines’ hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) meetings this year.

“Following the guidance of the President, we are adopting necessary austerity measures in our AIPA hosting – without compromising its objectives,” Speaker Faustino Dy III said, as they intend to limit in-person activities to the General Assembly in October and Interface Meeting in November.

All other meetings will be “shifted to virtual platforms,” Dy said.

Deputy Speaker and foreign affairs committee chair Maria Rachel Arenas, who heads the House’s AIPA organizing efforts, said preparations are being recalibrated to ensure a smooth transition to a hybrid format centered on two key in-person events. — Jose Rodel Clapano