Manila, Sept. 29 -- The Philippines on Tuesday opened the 4th ASEAN Women Leaders' Summit (AWLS), bringing together government officials and development partners to advance women's leadership and turn regional commitments on gender equality into concrete action.

The three-day summit, themed "Women's Leadership for Inclusive Prosperity in the ASEAN Region," focuses on women's political, economic and social leadership as the Philippines chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026.

Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Chairperson and ASEAN Committee on Women Chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla said the gathering builds on the gains of three previous summits.

"We are brought together today by a singular shared conviction...