To our First Lady Louise Araneta–Marcos; 

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique A. Manalo; 

Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr.;  

United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed;  

Ministers and participants from our community of nations;  

Members of the Diplomatic Corps;  

Colleagues in public service, our development partners, guests, and members of the press and the academe; 

Good morning.  

Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh. 

On behalf of the Philippine Government and our organizers, welcome to the International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security (ICWPS)!  

We prepared really well for this event, and I hope you take advantage of all the opportunities to engage with your fellow delegates throughout the next three days. 

Before proceeding, I would like to take a moment to remember those who have been most affected by the recent Tropical Storm Kristine or Trami. As of the evening of October 26, some 4.2 million Filipinos have been affected, especially in Bicol and CALABARZON regions. This includes women such as pregnant women and breastfeeding women and their babies among the vulnerable victims of the typhoon. We thank all of those who have extended help, including the private sector, and especially the global community and international organizations. Indeed, while all agencies have been fulfilling their respective tasks in disaster management and rescue and relief operations, this is a reminder for us to increase our efforts in climate action and sustainability. 

But dialogue is always a good start, and the reminders from Tropical Storm Trami only make this conference even more relevant.  

This gathering is especially significant as it is the first-ever ministerial level International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security.   

It has been two decades since the landmark United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, focusing on women, peace, and security, was established. The resolution called on us to commit to and execute a range of actions to increase women's representation and participation in conflict prevention and resolution, to advance respect for and protection of women’s rights, and to address women's security and broader needs in conflict-affected contexts.  

It is encouraging to see how our countries heeded the call. On our part, the Philippines, our Foreign Affairs Department has championed the WPS Agenda at various international fora. In fact, I had the opportunity to head the Philippine delegation at the 68th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women held in New York last March 2024 where I highlighted the notable strides our country has gained in advancing women’s rights. 

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity or OPAPRU has taken major steps in establishing peace in Mindanao, resulting in the passage of the landmark Bangsamoro Organic Law that has established the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), proving that dialogue is the better path to peace. It is important to note that BARMM, which will have its very first elections this coming May, has its own Bangsamoro Women Commission which promotes, advocates, and mainstreams Gender and Development by integrating gender initiatives in the region.  

And we at the Department of Budget and Management have developed a gender-responsive National Budget. We have the “Women's Budget” or the Gender and Development Budget in the General Appropriations Act, a policy directing all government agencies to allocate a minimum of five percent of their total annual budgets for gender programs, projects, and activities that align with the WPS Agenda.  

And of course, we have our Philippine Commission on Women which reviews, evaluates, and recommends measures to ensure the full integration of women for economic, social, and cultural development. 

Our Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 also recognizes the need to intensify efforts to advance economic opportunities for women through harnessing digital technologies. 

And the Cabinet of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has five female Ministers, including yours truly—the only Muslim Filipina in the Philippine Cabinet and also the first Muslim Filipina Budget Minister in our country. This reflects the substantial progress we have made in empowering women and enabling us to participate meaningfully in decision-making. It is also a testament to the President’s commitment to elevating women to more prominent roles as well as giving them greater voice especially within the government.  

Indeed, I am proud to report that we have ensured that the global imperative of advancing women, peace, and security initiatives did not fall on deaf ears. And that twenty-four years later, the Philippines remains steadfast in its commitment to championing women's empowerment and amplifying their roles in peacebuilding.  

These are just some of our key achievements in advancing the WPS Agenda. 

Now, we are eager to hear how the various delegates from all over the world are championing WPS in their respective countries. 

So as we gather today, may we not only learn from each other but inspire each other. Let us do what women do best: listen. That we may find out how we can support each other in advancing our advocacies in our respective countries, ensuring that our hard-earned lessons reach those who need them the most while also opening the door for us to discover and adopt innovative strategies from others that we haven't yet considered.    

At this time when women face non-traditional security concerns—such as threats to health security, cybersecurity, and climate change, among others—it is crucial for us to recognize that the future landscape of WPS is no longer confined within the traditional borders of countries and cultures.  

Together, let us create an enabling environment in our respective nations where women are empowered to become catalysts of positive and meaningful change that will not only promote gender equality but also lead to more comprehensive and effective responses to the complex peace and security issues of our time.  

Remember, when we women come together and put our minds into it, we can get through any storm and even dance in the rain. So let us put our minds and hearts together at this Conference and give women and peace a chance.  

Thank you very much and we look forward to our discussions in the next three days.  

Maraming salamat po! Mabuhay!  

Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.   

END