Speaker, 11 others attend ASEAN-Korea Leaders’ Forum

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez led a 12-member delegation of the House of Representatives for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Korea Leaders’ Forum in in Jeju Island, South Korea.

“We hope this forum can serve as a bridge to connect the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia closer to our Asian and international partners,” he said in his message during the opening ceremony urging leaders of ASEAN and Seoul to work closer together for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Other prominent personalities who graced the regional forum include Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos Horta and former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. 

The ASEAN-Korea Leaders’ Forum is a special program of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity. It brings together parliamentarians and business leaders in the region to forge mutually beneficial, inclusive and trustworthy cooperation in the spirit of solidarity. 

Romualdez was accompanied by his congresswoman-wife Rep. Marie Yedda of party-list Tingog, along with Reps. Glona Labadlabad (Zamboanga del Norte), Shernee Tan-Tambut (Kusug Tausug), Princess Rihan Sakaluran (Sultan Kudarat), Maria Carmen Zamora (Davao de Oro), Emigdio Tanjuatco III (Rizal), John Tracy Cagas (Davao del Sur), Peter Miguel (South Cotabato), Maria Alana Samantha Santos (North Cotabato), Jonathan Clement Abalos (4Ps party-list) and House secretary-general Reginald Velasco.

Romualdez identified critical areas of potential collaboration among parliamentarians in the region such as promoting green investment; equitable and sustainable finance; improving the operational efficiency of inter-parliamentary mechanisms; promoting innovation, transfer, application and development of science and technology for regional growth and sustainable development and building resilient supply chain.

He noted that the Philippines is an advocate for the importance of open communication and effective collaboration between inter-parliamentary bodies in addressing a range of transnational and global threats.   

“I look forward to substantive discussions on how we as a collective global community can ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the region; as well as promote sustainable economic growth and enhance regional resilience, with a focus on energy and food security, among others,” the Speaker said in his message. 

During the forum, Romualdez also congratulated his Korean counterpart, Kim Jin-pyo, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (ROK), for hosting the 2023 forum.

“It is a great honor for me to lead the delegation to the 18th Jeju Forum. I would like to thank the Republic of Korea for hosting this forum in Jeju Island, home to world heritage sites and a model for green transition,” he said.