Taking a cue from the executive, House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III has announced that the Philippines' hosting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) meetings this year will be scaled down by limiting in-person activities to the General Assembly in October and the Interface Meeting in November, while shifting all preparatory meetings to virtual platforms.

In a statement on Saturday afternoon, March 28, Dy said the move was in line with President Marcos' directive to streamline official engagements for the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) Summit, as a response to the economic pressures brought about by global developments.

Specifically, Filipinos are grappling with the sudden spiking of gasoline and diesel prices to over P100 per liter as a result of the United States (US)-Iran tensions.

“Following the guidance of the President, we are adopting necessary austerity measures in our AIPA hosting—without compromising its objectives,” Dy said.

“We will focus our resources on the meetings that matter most, while ensuring that the work of parliamentary diplomacy continues uninterrupted,” the Isabela 6th district representative noted.

The Speaker emphasized that the decision comes at a time when the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to drive up global oil prices, with direct consequences on travel and operational costs.

“Patuloy po nating gagampanan ang iniatas na tungkulin sa atin bilang host ng AIPA. Gayunpaman, hindi natin puwedeng isantabi ang epekto ng krisis sa Middle East—lalo na ang pagtaas ng presyo ng langis—na direktang magpapabigat sa magiging gastusin kabilang ang plane fares at iba pang logistical requirements,” Dy explained.

(We will continue to fulfill our assigned duty as host of AIPA. However, we cannot set aside the impact of the crisis in the Middle East—especially the rise in oil prices—which will directly increase expenses, including plane fares and other logistical requirements.)

Deputy Speaker Pangasinan 3rd district Rep. Maria Rachel Arenas, head of 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.

“Following the instructions of Speaker Dy, we are aligning all committees and participating delegations with the revised structure. The General Assembly, scheduled in October, and Interface Meeting in November, will proceed as planned, while all other preparatory engagements will be conducted through secure and efficient virtual platforms,” Arenas said.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs chairperson added that the streamlined setup reflects the Philippines’ ability to adapt to evolving global conditions.

“We wholeheartedly support this move by the Speaker as this decision allows us to remain fully engaged with our ASEAN counterparts while ensuring that our preparations are focused, efficient, and outcome-driven,” she said.

Dy stressed that Philippine lawmakers remain committed to advancing a “people-centered, forward-looking ASEAN,” noting that the shift to digital platforms is both practical and principled.

“Sa bawat desisyon natin, mahalaga pong palagi nating unahin ang kapakanan ng mamamayan (In every decision we make, it is essential that we always put the welfare of the people first). By maximizing digital platforms, we reduce costs, ease the burden on public resources, and continue to fulfill our responsibilities to our ASEAN partners,” Dy said.