From Babaylan to Peace Tables: ASEAN Convenes in Manila to Turn WPS Commitments into Action

Drawing on centuries of indigenous peacebuilding history and calling for concrete grassroots implementation, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) officially opened the ASEAN Conference on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) in Pasay City, Metro Manila on October 7, 2026.

A part of the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship, the regional conference convenes over 200 participants, including government officials, diplomats, civil society leaders, women peacebuilders, youth delegates, and development partners. It aims to bridge the gap between high-level policy declarations and localized conflict resolution strategies across Southeast Asia.

Opening the conference, PCW Chairperson H.E. Ermelita V. Valdeavilla, Chair of the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW), grounded her address in the historical legacy of the Babaylans, the ancient Philippine women healers, mediators, and keepers of community memory whose leadership in conflict resolution long preceded modern peace agreements and frameworks.

“Mediation, in our oldest traditions, was women’s work, and it was respected and recognized as leadership,” Chair Valdeavilla said. She urged delegates to confront why women’s leadership in peace and security remains marginalized despite this history, stressing that regional frameworks alone are insufficient to secure lasting stability.

“Declarations and policies do not keep the peace. Leaders like us do. People on the ground and in communities do. And an educated next generation will continue to do so,” she emphasized, calling for a whole-of-ASEAN approach that integrates the WPS agenda across all three ASEAN pillars: Political-Security Community, Economic Community, and Socio-Cultural Community. 

Reinforcing the need for grassroots impact, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity H.E. Secretary Mel Senen S. Sarmiento highlighted the Philippines’ own peace journey and the 40th anniversary of the 1986 Mount Data Peace Accord. 

Notably, the living tradition of indigenous mediation and community peacebuilding by the Babaylans found modern expression in this historic 1986 agreement that was sealed through the traditional Cordillera Sipat (peace pact), showing that community-rooted mediation in the Philippines is a vibrant, continuous practice. 

Secretary Sarmiento urged regional stakeholders to examine whether existing mechanisms and resources effectively strengthen peace on the ground.

“Communities must experience greater security, better opportunities, and meaningful role in shaping the future. This is where women’s participation and the localization of the WPS Agenda becomes essential,” he said.

The conference comes as ASEAN advances implementation of its policy milestones, including the 2017 Joint Statement on Promoting WPS in ASEAN, the 2022 ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on WPS, and the inclusion of WPS in the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its Strategic Plans.

Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega, delivering a message on behalf of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that meaningful participation of women in decision-making and peace negotiations is essential to building enduring regional security.

“Leadership transcends gender and an inclusive ASEAN holds space for everyone,” she said. 

The opening ceremony also featured a keynote address from ASEAN Secretary-General H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn on ASEAN’s continued efforts to advance the WPS agenda; statements of support from Australian Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires Johanne Stratton and UNDP Philippines Resident Representative Christophe Bahuet; and a regional WPS landscape presentation from H.E. Koung Sorita of Cambodia, Chair of the ASEAN WPS Advisory Group.

During the conference, delegates will participate in plenary discussions and working sessions addressing local mediation, climate-related security risks, non-traditional threats, and cross-sectoral and intergenerational engagement.

Among the highlights of the conference is the launch of the National Action Plan on WPS 2023-2033 Dashboard on the second day of our Conference, an interactive monitoring tool developed by OPAPRU in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to enhance transparency and accountability in tracking WPS implementation. 

The conference is expected to conclude on Thursday, October 8, with the presentation of the consolidated recommendations and implementation priorities arising from the discussions. These will subsequently be shared by the ACW with the Working Group on WPS and the ASEAN Gender Mainstreaming Steering Committee (AGMSC) for consideration in advancing regional cooperation and implementation on WPS.

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) is the primary policy-making and coordinating body on gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Philippines. As the Chair of the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) for 2026, PCW leads regional efforts under the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Pillar to mainstream gender equality, promote women’s leadership, and operationalize the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).

Beyond Seats at the Table: 4th ASEAN Women Leaders’ Summit Drives Substantive Regional Action on Women’s Leadership

In a decisive step toward translating regional commitments into transformative action for women across Southeast Asia, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) successfully concluded the three-day 4th ASEAN Women Leaders’ Summit on October 1, 2026. 

Held in Mandaluyong City, the Summit convened leaders, policymakers, sectoral experts, and delegates from across ASEAN Member States. Discussions focused on identifying practical pathways to advance women’s leadership across governance, peace, climate resilience, technology, and the economy. 

Opening the Summit, His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored the value of moving beyond surface-level representation and ensuring that women have a meaningful role in shaping decisions that affect their communities and societies. He recognized women’s leadership as a key driver of ASEAN’s security, resilience, and prosperity. 

Echoing this call, ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) Chair and PCW Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla emphasized that regional commitments must ultimately be felt in the everyday lives of women. She stressed that inclusive prosperity can only be realized when women, including those who sustain communities on the ground, have equal opportunities to participate in and shape governance and development. 

Breaking Barriers in Governance: The WPPL Landmark Study 

The Summit also marked an important milestone in advancing women’s political participation and leadership with the official launch of the Cambodia-led Women’s Political Participation and Leadership (WPPL) Study, developed in partnership with the European Union. 

Grounded in 18 key performance indicators evaluated across ten ASEAN Member States (Timor-Leste not covered yet), the study provides a critical, evidence-based benchmark to track women’s leadership across executive, legislative, judicial, and political party spheres. It revealed notable progress in senior civil service appointments (37.56 percent) and judicial roles (39.67 percent). However, it exposed persistent gaps in high-level decision-making, with women occupying only 13.54 percent of ministerial positions and 21.20 percent of parliamentary seats across the region. 

The study outlined key structural obstacles limiting women’s meaningful participation and leadership in political life, such as lower placement on party candidate lists, acute resource and financing constraints, online gender-based harassment, and critical gaps in national sex-disaggregated data. To address these systemic barriers, the study outlines an actionable blueprint recommending target policy mixes, affirmative action, political candidate financing, formal mentorship networks, family-friendly workplace protections, and the integration of WPPL indicators into ACW’s post-2025 regional tracking framework. 

Elevating Women’s Substantive Leadership Across Critical Sectors 

Moving beyond political representation, plenary and parallel sessions provided a venue for deep substantive policy exchanges across high-impact and traditionally male-dominated sectors. The sessions examined the barriers and opportunities shaping women’s leadership in climate action, environmental stewardship, science, technology and innovation, peace and security, and other traditionally male-dominated fields. 

● Climate Action and Environmental Resilience: This session underscored the critical role of rural, indigenous, and coastal women as frontline responders in disaster risk governance, calling for direct resource allocation and participation of women in climate resilience planning. 

● STEM, Innovation, and Economic Integration: Discussions centered on eliminating barriers in digital technologies and science, expanding capital access for women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises, and ensuring equal participation in the evolving digital economy. 

● Peace and Security: Panelists urged for the expansion of women’s participation in peace-building and conflict resolution decision-making frameworks across the region. 

● Unpaid Care Work as a Structural Barrier: Across all thematic sessions, the discussions highlighted the disproportionate burden of unpaid care and domestic work as a fundamental barrier to women’s leadership and participation. There were recommendations for immediate policy interventions to recognize, reduce, and redistribute care responsibilities through state-supported care infrastructure and social protection systems. 

Translating Dialogue into Regional Action 

Bringing together the key insights from the Summit, ACW Philippines Focal Point and PCW Executive Director Nharleen L. Santos-Millar presented ten strategic recommendations to be integrated into the upcoming Joint Ministerial Statement on Women’s Leadership for Inclusive Prosperity. 

The recommendations call on ASEAN Member States to: 

1. Strengthen pathways for women’s representation and decision-making; 

2. Recognize women’s leadership in disaster, peace, and development structures; 

3. Address sector-specific barriers; 

4. Mainstream gender equality across economic policies; 

5. Sustain financing and institutional support through gender-responsive budgeting, research funding, and growth capital for women in STEM; 

6. Engaging men and boys as allies; 

7. Recognizing, reducing, and redistributing unpaid care work; 

8. Strengthening sex-disaggregated data and monitoring; 

9. Investing in young women leaders; and 

10. Building on existing commitments. 

“We did not start this summit at zero. We have strong foundations,” ED Santos-Millar stated. “We carry these forward to the next work and strategic plans for ASEAN Community Vision 2045.” 

Closing the Summit, Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Monina Josefina Romualdez affirmed the Philippines’ commitment to sustained cross-sectoral cooperation to ensure that advancing women’s leadership is central to the region’s shared future. 

Under the theme “2026: The Year of Women’s Leadership for Inclusive Prosperity in the ASEAN Region,” the Summit serves as a landmark call to action for Southeast Asian nations to move from high-level declarations to measurable, institutionalized progress that empowers women to lead at every level. 

PH hosts 2026 ASEAN WPS Conference to boost regional Women, Peace and Security efforts

MANILA, Philippines – As the ASEAN Chair for 2026, the Philippines, will host the ASEAN Conference on Women, Peace and Security from October 6 to 8 in Metro Manila, bringing together ASEAN member-states, regional institutions, civil society, women peacebuilders, development partners, learning institutions, and other stakeholders to strengthen cooperation on WPS across the region.

Anchored on the theme, “Advancing Women, Peace and Security in ASEAN: Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Localizing Peacebuilding Commitments,” the Conference reflects the spirit of the Philippine ASEAN Chairship theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” which highlights the need for stronger regional cooperation, localized action, and shared learning on WPS.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), as Chair and Vice Chair of the National Steering Committee on Women, Peace and Security, will lead the Philippines’ hosting of the Conference. The Philippines, through PCW, also chairs the 2025-2026 ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW).

Carrying forward a shared ASEAN journey

“It is a privilege for the Philippines to host this year’s conference as part of ASEAN’s continuing journey on Women, Peace and Security. We bring lessons from our own experience, knowing that there is also much to learn from the experiences of our ASEAN neighbors,” Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Mel Senen S. Sarmiento said.“This is an opportunity to listen to one another and move forward together,” Sec. Sarmiento stressed.

It was also during the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship in 2017 that ASEAN leaders adopted the Joint Statement on Promoting Women, Peace and Security. Since then, ASEAN has continued to build on this shared commitment, including the adoption of the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on WPS in 2022.

The Philippines has achieved major strides since adopting its first NAPWPS in 2010. Its experience in implementing the WPS agenda and pursuing peace processes across the country has brought lessons on sustaining dialogue, honoring commitments, localizing peacebuilding, and creating meaningful space for women and communities to shape and sustain peace.

“Our experience has taught us that peace is built over time and sustained by people. Agreements and policies provide the foundation, but their true value is in how they improve lives and create space for people, especially women, to participate and lead,” Sec. Sarmiento said.“These are lessons we bring to the Conference, alongside our willingness to learn from the rest of ASEAN,” he added.

Putting women’s livedql realities at the center

“Women across ASEAN experience peace and security in different ways. Their knowledge and lived realities must have a place in the decisions we make. When women can participate meaningfully, exercise leadership, and shape solutions, we are better able to build peace that responds to the realities of our communities,” PCW and 2026 ACW Chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla said.

The Conference’s plenary and breakout discussions will focus on strengthening regional cooperation mechanisms, localizing WPS commitments, and promoting cross-border learning and policy harmonization, These dialogues aim to bring ASEAN institutions and member-states together with civil society, women peacebuilders, communities, learning institutions, and development partners.

“Advancing WPS requires us to work across institutions and sectors, while keeping women’s experiences at the center. Regional commitments become meaningful when women have a voice in how these are translated into action in their countries and communities,” Valdeavilla said.

Carrying dialogue into action

The Conference is expected to culminate In the crafting of an Outcome Document that contains recommendations that were developed through the plenary and breakout discussions to help advance WPS implementation and cooperation across ASEAN.

The recommendations will go through the ASEAN’s review process and will be forwarded to ASEAN decision-makers during the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting in November 2026.

The Conference also seeks to contribute to the production of knowledge materials, which  capture the experiences and lessons from the ground, helping bring women’s voices and lived realities into the broader ASEAN discourse on WPS.

SEARCA to convene global leaders for ARD Conference 2026 on sustainable agrifood systems

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines-The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) will bring together senior policymakers, researchers, development organizations, private sector leaders, farmers' groups, and other key stakeholders from across Southeast Asia and beyond for the Agricultural and Rural Development (ARD) Conference 2026 on 2-3 December 2026 at the Sheraton Manila Hotel in Pasay City, Philippines.

With the theme "Policy Pathways for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation in Southeast Asia, "the conference seeks to shape a shared regional agenda for building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood systems.

Organized as one of the key events for SEARCA's 60th anniversary, the ARD Conference 2026 underscores that Southeast Asia's agrifood systems are at a critical turning point. The region faces mounting climate, economic, and social pressures, but also has unprecedented opportunities to accelerate agricultural transformation through stronger regional collaboration, evidence-informed policies, and strategic investments. These efforts are expected to support agrifood systems that are more resilient, inclusive, and competitive.

Anchored on SEARCA's 12th Five-Year Development Plan: SUSTAIN Southeast Asia, conference discussions will contribute to the Center's four development outcomes-Pocket, Plate, Place, and People while advancing regional efforts toward more productive, climate-resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems.

Specifically, the ARD Conference 2026 will:

Review regional progress and emerging trends in agrifood systems transformation;

Identify scalable and innovative solutions that can be replicated across countries;

Align policies and investments with common development goals; and

Strengthen collaboration and peer learning among Southeast Asian countries and institutions.

The two-day event will feature keynote presentations, plenary sessions, fireside chats, and high-level policy dialogues structured around four strategic themes:

1. Strengthening inclusive agrifood value chains and expanding access to finance and markets;

2. Promoting nutrition-sensitive agrifood systems and healthy diets;

3. Accelerating the transition to climate-resilient, inclusive, and nature-positive agricultural systems; and

4. Leveraging digital innovation to empower farmers, youth, and women and increase agricultural productivity.

"As Southeast Asia confronts increasingly complex agrifood challenges, this conference provides a timely platform for translating knowledge into action," SEARCA said. "By bringing together diverse stakeholders to exchange experiences, forge partnerships, and co-create policy solutions, ARD Conference 2026 will reinforce SEARCA's commitment to science-based, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural development for present and future generations."

Amid Global Energy Crisis, PH to Champion Strong ASEAN Energy Agenda

Against the backdrop of a national energy emergency and a global energy crisis, the Philippines will advance a strong ASEAN energy agenda aimed at protecting people, strengthening economies, and building resilience as it hosts the 44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM44) and its Associated Meetings from 5 to 9 October 2026 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). 

The meetings come at a consequential moment for the region. Supply disruptions, volatile energy prices, and geopolitical uncertainties can quickly translate into higher transport and food costs, pressure on businesses, and uncertainty for households. At stake are livelihoods, jobs, and ASEAN’s capacity to sustain economic growth. 

For the Philippines, this moment presents an opportunity to bring greater urgency and purpose to regional cooperation: strengthen preparedness for energy emergencies while accelerating the investments, infrastructure, and technologies needed for a more secure energy future. 

As ASEAN Chair, the Philippines will champion an agenda that connects immediate energy security with long-term resilience—advancing regional electricity connectivity, strengthening petroleum supply preparedness, diversifying energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and mobilizing investments that support innovation and jobs. 

The meeting week will begin with preparatory meetings of senior energy officials on 5 and 6 October, including the Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) Preparatory Meeting and relevant sessions with ASEAN Plus Three and East Asia Summit participating countries. These discussions will prepare key priorities and recommendations for consideration by the energy ministers. 

The ministerial meetings will bring together ASEAN energy ministers and their counterparts from ASEAN Plus Three and East Asia Summit participating countries to advance cooperation on energy security, regional connectivity, investment, and the energy transition. 

A key priority is advancing the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) through work toward operationalizing the Enhanced APG Memorandum of Understanding. Discussions will cover task force work plans, the proposed regional planning framework, and progress on a framework for submarine power cable development. 

Stronger electricity connections can help ASEAN Member States make better use of available energy resources, strengthen system resilience, and integrate more renewable energy. Progress on the APG can also open opportunities for investment, infrastructure development, and technical expertise across the region. 

The Philippines will also support progress toward ratification and operational readiness of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security (APSA), which provides a framework for coordinated regional action during serious petroleum supply disruptions. 

Philippine Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said recent pressures in international energy markets underscore the importance of strengthening national preparedness through effective regional cooperation. 

“Energy security is a shared challenge. What happens in global energy markets can quickly reach our shores, affecting the cost and availability of fuel, disrupting industries, and putting pressure on households. Our ASEAN Chairship is an opportunity to translate regional cooperation into practical arrangements that strengthen our collective ability to prepare for and respond to disruptions,” Secretary Garin said. 

Beyond emergency preparedness, AMEM44 will advance the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026–2030, linking energy security with cleaner and more diverse energy sources, energy efficiency, infrastructure development, and a just and inclusive energy transition. 

Held in parallel with AMEM44, the 26th ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF-26) will bring together government, industry, investors, financial institutions, technology providers, and development partners to help translate regional priorities into partnerships and investible projects. 

Hosted by the Philippines through the Department of Energy (DOE) and organized by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), AEBF-26 carries the theme “Clean Energy Unlocked: A Stronger ASEAN,” with the sub-theme “Driving Innovation and Investment Toward a Sustainable Energy Future.” More than 1,500 delegates from across the region and beyond are expected to participate. 

The Forum will feature policy dialogues, high-level roundtables, business engagements, and exhibitions on the ASEAN Power Grid, renewable energy, energy efficiency, financing, and investment. It will also feature the Philippines Energy Investment Forum, discussions on sustainable aviation fuel, the launch of the 9th ASEAN Energy Outlook, and regional energy management and certification initiatives. 

These engagements will connect policy direction with capital, technology, and expertise—helping build the projects and capabilities needed to secure energy supplies, create jobs, and support resilient communities. 

The Philippines will also host the 4th Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Ministerial Meeting, providing a further platform for cooperation on energy security and practical pathways toward decarbonization. 

Through these engagements, the Philippines seeks to channel the urgency of the present crisis into a stronger foundation for ASEAN’s future: practical cooperation that safeguards livelihoods, unlocks investment and innovation, and strengthens the region’s ability to withstand the next disruption. 

The measure of success will be how regional cooperation translates into reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy for our people, and stronger opportunities for shared prosperity. 

HWPL urges collective action for peace at 4th National Peace Convention

“What can I do, beginning today, to become a living legacy of peace?”

This was the call of John Rommel Garces, Chief Branch Manager of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) Philippines, during his welcome address at the 4th National Peace Convention at the University of the East Theatre in Manila, urging participants to move beyond discussing peace and take an active role in building it.

Around 1,000 representatives from government, education, religious organizations, youth and women’s groups, the media, civil society, and other sectors gathered under the theme “Be a Living Legacy of Peace.” Organized by HWPL Philippines in partnership with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF)-NCR, Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), DepEd Schools Division Offices of Cavite Province, Laguna, Southern Leyte and Navotas City, and the BARMM Parliament’s Policy Research and Legal Services (PRLS), the convention highlighted peacebuilding initiatives and opportunities for sustained cross-sector cooperation. 

“When we speak of a legacy, we often think of something we leave behind. But today, we are reminded that a legacy of peace is not something we create only for the future. It is something we must begin living today,” Garces said. Echoing HWPL Chairman Lee Man-hee’s call: "Family of peace, let us all take part in this work," Garces encouraged participants to turn their commitment into action and become part of building a lasting culture of peace. 

The discussions highlighted how different sectors can contribute to peacebuilding through academic research, women and youth leadership, peace education, local government action, and interfaith dialogue.

Dr. Nassef Manabilang Adiong of the BARMM Parliament’s Policy Research and Legal Services discussed efforts to document the Bangsamoro peace process and strengthen research on peace, governance, culture, and religion. Women’s and youth initiatives were highlighted by Erlinda Olivia Tiu of the National Federation of Women’s Clubs of the Philippines and Adzhar Madjid of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth, respectively.

In education, Dr. Antonio P. Faustino Jr. of the DepEd Schools Division Office of Cavite Province shared initiatives involving peace clubs, teacher capacity-building and efforts to address school violence. Ali Maruhom Jr. of NCMF-NCR emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue in fostering understanding among communities of different religious backgrounds.

Parañaque City Councilor Shannin Mae Olivarez-Bernardo also highlighted the city’s recent ordinance declaring January 24 as “HWPL Peace Day” and expressing support for the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW). The date commemorates the Mindanao Peace Agreement, a civilian-led peace agreement signed on January 24, 2014. HWPL advocates for the DPCW’s adoption by the United Nations as an international legal framework for sustainable peace.

The convention also introduced HWPL’s Peace Center, an open platform that provides opportunities to learn about different religions and engage in continued interfaith dialogue. Developed with lecturers representing Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism (Hare Krishna), and non-denominational Christianity, the platform offers weekly learning sessions for participants from different backgrounds.

The convention’s message was clear: peacebuilding is not only a long-term aspiration but a shared responsibility that can begin through concrete actions today. By working across communities, sectors and generations, participants were encouraged to become a “living legacy of peace.”

For more information, visit hwpl.kr or the HWPL Philippines Facebook page.

About HWPL

Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) is an international peace NGO in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC). Through international law, peace education, interfaith dialogue, and community engagement, HWPL works with governments, civil society, educational institutions, and religious leaders to advance sustainable peace worldwide. To learn more about its peace initiatives, visit www.hwpl.kr or follow HWPL Philippines on Facebook for updates on upcoming programs and activities. #todayph26

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.