House Speaker Martin Romualdez (left), Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri (Speaker’s office)

 

The Philippines is "on a roll". 

An upbeat House Speaker Martin Romualdez had this to day during the third and final day of the 31st Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF31), wherein the Philippines gained the support of 17 member-nations in its bid for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). 

The Philippines hosted the event at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City. 

"I think we're on a roll na sinasabi, yung momentum... (We have momentum)," Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives, told reporters Saturday afternoon, Nov. 25 during a chance interview at PICC. 

Romualdez was interviewes together with Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri. 

"There's] 17 now," APPF31 Chairman Zubiri said, referring to the Philippines' backers in its UNSC seat ambition. 

To this, Romualdez, the co-chair, said, "Malaking dibidendo na yan sa Pilipinas na makuha natin ang bagay na mga seats sa [UNSC] kaya napakaganda nitong event na ito." 

(These are already high dividends for the Philippines, to be able to [potentially] get a UNSC seat. That's why this was quite a great event.) 

"I'd like to thank again our chairman for the successful hosting, and the Senate, the House of Representatives, all of the staff," the Leyte 1st district congressman added. 

Gaining a UNSC seat will allow the Philippines to participate in dialogues and vote on important security matters. There are 10 non-permanent seats in the council, with a tenure of two years each. 

The Philippines is a founding member of the APPF.