Date: 9th September 2025
Manila, Philippines
IPC Delegation Holds Bilateral Meeting with the Member of IPC from the Parliament of Philippines H.E. Maria Rachel Arenas in Manila
On the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Road Safety Observatory (APRSO) Annual Meeting in Manila, the delegation of the International Parliamentarian Congress (IPC) held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Maria Rachel Arenas Member of Parliament from the Philippines, Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and a distinguished member of the IPC at the House of Representative in Manila.
The meeting was led by Senator Sitara Ayaz, Secretary General of the IPC, and was accompanied by Her Excellency Asima Rabbani, Ambassador of Pakistan to the Philippines and Ms. Mehk Butt, manager Communications IPC. The discussion focused on strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation between IPC and Philippine lawmakers, particularly in areas concerning public safety, regional collaboration, and the role of parliamentarians in advancing sustainable development goals.
During the meeting, the IPC leadership extended an official invitation to H.E. Arenas to participate in the upcoming Leadership Forum for Women Parliamentarians, scheduled to take place later this year in Florida, USA. Senator Sitara Ayaz highlighted the importance of enhancing women’s leadership within legislative bodies and creating space for global dialogue on gender-inclusive policymaking.
The meeting also served as an opportunity to commend the continued engagement of Filipino parliamentarians within IPC and to explore future areas of collaboration, including joint initiatives on road safety, climate resilience, and regional peacebuilding.
The International Parliamentarian Congress reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive dialogue and the active involvement of women leaders in shaping policy at both national and international levels.
