SENATE PRESIDENT DRILON LEADS PHL DELEGATION TO 131ST ASSEMBLY OF INTER PARLIAMENTARY UNION 20 October 2014 - Senate President Franklin M. Drilon led the Philippine congressional delegation to the 131st Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly and Related Meetings held in Geneva from October 12 to 16. The other members of the Philippine congressional delegation are Senator Pia Cayetano, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, Senator Grace Poe, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, Representative Neil S. Tupas, Representative Neri Colmenares, and Representative Mercedes K. Alvarez. Senate President Drilon, who is also serving as Vice President of the IPU Executive Committee representing the Asia-Pacific Region, delivered the report of the Executive Committee at the opening plenary session of the IPU Assembly. In his report, Senator Drilon cited the numerous activities of the IPU, including the IPU regional conference on common principles in support of parliamentary development held in Manila last August 28 to 29. Other members of the Philippine congressional delegation were also actively engaged in the discussions of the IPU. Senator Poe and Cayetano and Representative Alvarez delivered interventions in the discussions of the women parliamentarians while Senator Pimentel and Representative Colmenares intervened in the meetings of the IPU human rights committee. Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong, the Philippine Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, and the other officers of the Philippine Mission, served as advisers to the Philippine Congressional delegation. The IPU has in its roster of members more than 160 parliaments worldwide. It holds meetings in October ever year in Geneva. END
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 07:28:05 +0000