Manila, Sept. 29 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is calling on ASEAN member states to give women greater roles in decision-making, saying their leadership is essential to the region's security, resilience and prosperity.

Speaking at the 4th ASEAN Women Leaders' Summit in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday, Marcos said women remain underrepresented in ASEAN governments, describing this not only as a representation gap but also as a leadership gap.

"Women's leadership is not optional to our regional agenda. It is the core driver of our security, resilience and prosperity," Marcos said.

"This is not simply a gap in representation; it is a gap in leadership in whose voices shape the decisions that affect our region," he added.

Marcos, servi...