14 June 2023, JEJU ISLAND, REPUBLIC OF KOREA – Philippine House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and members of the 19th Congress represented the Philippines at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity and the Special ASEAN-Korea Leaders Forum from 31 May to 2 June 2023. The Philippine Embassy in Korea, led by Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega likewise participated in the Forum.  

At the Forum, Speaker Romualdez emphasized the importance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ROK working closer together for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. “The Philippines looks forward to cooperation in promoting sustainable mic growth and enhancing regional resilience, with a focus on energy and food security, among others,” said Romualdez.

As sustainable peace is a key component of economic growth, Speaker Romualdez also said the Philippines continues its effort to reform and modernize the country’s security sector to uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity and deal with natural calamities and disasters to pave the way for accelerated economic development.

“We still have ways to go and we will look to partners like the Republic of Korea and those present today in improving these initiatives, and in working together to make sure that the geopolitical challenges of today do not undermine the possible gains of our future,” the Speaker said.

He also pointed out that the Philippines is an advocate of the importance of open communication and effective collaboration between interparliamentary bodies in addressing a range of transnational and global threats. Speaker Romualdez also congratulated his counterpart, Kim Jin-Pyo, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, for hosting the 2023 forum during a meeting between the PH and ROK delegations.

Both Speakers agreed to strengthen PH-ROK parliamentary relations through the exchange of information, parliamentary visits, and sharing of best practices. The House Speaker expressed hope that increased parliamentary cooperation can help create more job opportunities for Filipinos through more investments in the country. 

Senior members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Glona Labadlabad and Hon. Emigdio Tanjuatco III represented the Philippines at the Special Session of the ASEAN-Korea Leaders Forum, a special program of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, which brought together parliamentarians and business leaders in the region to discuss pressing issues such as climate change and the diversification of the supply chain. 

Members of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) sub-committee including Hon. Princess Rihan Sakaluran, Sultan Kudarat 1^st District, Hon. Ma. Alana Samantha T. Santos, North Cotabato, 3rd District, Hon. John Tracy Cagas, Davao Del Sur Lone District, and Hon. Peter B. Miguel, South Cotabato 2nd District, held bilateral meetings with their counterparts from Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia to discuss institutional ways that will strengthen and foster BIMP-EAGA as a whole, especially at parliamentary level. 

The Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity was first launched in 2001 as a platform for international dialogue to seek creative solutions to pressing issues. With this year’s theme of “Working Together for Sustainable Peace and Prosperity in the Indo-Pacific”, the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity gathered around 3,000 participants to discuss that the current state of global affairs and more engagement among middle-rising economies in the Indo-Pacific. END