Women’s Leadership Takes Center Stage as PH Hosts 4th ASEAN Women Leaders’ Summit

Over 100 regional leaders, policymakers, and women empowerment stakeholders convened in Mandaluyong City as the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) opened the 4th ASEAN Women Leaders’ Summit (AWLS) on September 29, 2026. The three-day gathering is dedicated to advancing women’s leadership for inclusive prosperity across Southeast Asia. 

Organized by the PCW with funding support from the Government of Canada, the Summit is being held under the theme “2026: The Year of Women’s Leadership for Inclusive Prosperity in the ASEAN Region.” It forms part of the country’s programming under the 2026 Philippine ASEAN Chairship. 

Delivering the keynote address, His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. framed women’s empowerment as a cornerstone of regional development. 

“What kind of future are we building and who’s building it with us?” President Marcos asked the delegates. “Women’s leadership is not optional to our agenda, it is the core driver of our security, resilience, and prosperity.” 

President Marcos called for stronger partnerships across ASEAN Member States and highlighted critical structural reforms, including: 

- Unpaid care work: Recognizing unpaid care work and fostering equitable sharing of care responsibilities to help expand women’s economic participation. 

- Women, Peace and Security: recognizing women’s role in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and community recovery. 

- Policy to Practice: Building an ASEAN where gender equality is reflected not only in formal declarations, policies, and commitments, but in the daily realities of women and children. 

In her opening address, PCW and ASEAN Committee on Women Chairperson, Honorable Ermelita V. Valdeavilla underscored the critical role of women in driving progress and shaping the future of the region. 

“Women are engineering the future of ASEAN,” Chair Valdeavilla emphasized, describing women as “the primary drivers of sustainable, economic, and societal transformation.” She urged delegates to translate regional commitments into tangible action, ensuring that women who have historically faced marginalization are actively engaged in decision-making processes. 

Echoing this focus on transformative reforms, ASEAN Political-Security Community Deputy Secretary-General Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz outlined three prerequisites for achieving inclusive prosperity: a strong foundation for participation, equitable access to opportunities, and trustworthy institutions. She noted that meaningful leadership extends beyond mere numerical representation; it demands structures where women can directly influence governance. 

The remaining sessions of the AWLS will focus on strategic dialogues concerning women’s political participation and leadership, environmental stewardship, disaster risk governance, renewable energy, and digital entrepreneurship, among other areas relevant to advancing inclusive prosperity in the region.