SPEAKER Faustino Dy III called on women parliamentarians in Southeast Asia to push for “deeper, system-level change” and move from representation to real power in governance.
In his speech at the 5th Meeting of the Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians of the Aseam Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) which was held virtually, Dy said parliamentarians must move beyond “gender-responsiveness toward true transformation — reshaping systems, dismantling barriers, and ensuring women have real decision-making power.” “Transformation must go beyond representation. It must create real opportunity — for women to lead, to build enterprises, and for marginalized voices to be heard. Inclusion is measured not by presence, but by impact,” Dy said.