ASEAN parliamentarians have called for stronger regional cooperation and legislative coordination to address the growing convergence of drug trafficking and other transnational crimes during the 9th Meeting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs (AIPACODD), held virtually in Manila.
Opening the meeting, Deputy Speaker and Pangasinan Rep. Maria Rachel J. Arenas underscored the critical role of legislatures in translating regional commitments into enforceable policies and enduring institutions, noting that parliamentary cooperation is essential in confronting cross-border threats.
She welcomed delegates from Southeast Asia and stressed that the scale and complexity of regional challenges require sustained collaboration among ASEAN member parliaments.
“Your presence reflects a shared recognition that the challenges confronting our region cannot be addressed by any one nation alone. They require partnership, trust, and above all, collective resolve,” Arenas said.
Arenas also highlighted ASEAN’s history of cooperation, saying it becomes even more vital during periods of uncertainty, when coordinated responses are most needed.
She emphasized the responsibility of lawmakers in ensuring that agreements reached at the regional level are translated into stable policy frameworks.
“While governments, administrations, and circumstances may change, it is often through legislatures that commitments are transformed into enduring institutions, effective policies, and laws that stand the test of time,” she said, adding that lawmakers play a central role in safeguarding public trust and strengthening governance systems.
Arenas further called for a people-centered approach to drug-related issues, stressing that policy discussions must remain grounded in the realities of affected communities.
“Behind these challenges are families seeking security, communities striving for opportunity, and young people hoping for a future free from exploitation and harm,” she said.
Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith T. Flores, who chaired the meeting, echoed the call for stronger cooperation, warning that drug trafficking in Southeast Asia has become increasingly intertwined with broader transnational criminal networks.
Rep. Flores said the illicit drug trade continues to evolve, driven by expanding methamphetamine markets, the emergence of synthetic substances, and increasingly sophisticated trafficking methods.
He said these developments underscore the need for coordinated, forward-looking responses across ASEAN, noting that no country can address the problem in isolation.
Rep. Flores also emphasized AIPACODD’s role as a platform for legislative dialogue and policy exchange among ASEAN parliamentarians, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and sharing best practices.
He added that sustained collaboration is essential as member states confront increasingly adaptive and technology-driven criminal networks operating across borders.
The AIPACODD meeting forms part of preparatory engagements ahead of the 47th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly General Assembly in November 2026, which the Philippines will host under the theme “Parliaments Securing a Peaceful, Prosperous, and People-Centered ASEAN.”