TWO Filipino lawmakers were elected on Saturday to key positions in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), marking a significant milestone for Filipino women.

Sen. Pilar Juliana 'Pia' Cayetano was elected by fellow IPU members to occupy a seat in the IPU's Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs representing the Asia-Pacific Group.

Meanwhile, Pangasinan Third District Rep. Maria Rachel Arenas was voted to the IPU's Standing Committee on Sustainable Development.

The senator's office on Sunday said the 'feat coincided with the celebration of Women's Month.'

'It's an honor to be elected Bureau Member of the IPU's Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs, representing the Asia-Pacific Group,' said Cayetano, who led the Philippine Senate delegation to the 146th IPU Assembly in Manama, Bahrain.

Cayetano was voted to the 18-member panel alongside Japan's Hitoshi Aoyagi. 'I thank our Senate president, Juan Miguel Zubiri, who wrote to the chairmen of Asean+3 and APG to drum up support for my candidacy,' she said.

'It was a twin victory for the Philippines, as Pangasinan Rep. Rachel Arenas was voted to the IPU's Standing Committee on Sustainable Development,' she said. 'The unprecedented election of two Filipinas to key IPU committees signals a vote of confidence in the leadership skills, not just of Filipinos, but of women as well, as the feat coincided with our celebration of Women's Month.'

Cayetano said she looks forward to articulating the agenda and concerns of the Philippines and Asia-Pacific nations before the UN.

Formed in 2007, the IPU's Committee on UN Affairs seeks to connect parliaments with UN activities and goals.

The panel is considered a 'unique platform' that allows Members of Parliament (MPs) to engage with senior UN officials and bridge the 'democracy gap' by communicating citizens' voices in the UN's global decision-making process.

The committee consists of an 18-member bureau that monitors and reports on the involvement of parliaments in UN activities in areas concerning sustainable development, peacebuilding, UN budgets and reform, and human rights.

Cayetano served as president of the IPU's Committee of Women Parliamentarians from 2008 to 2010 — the first Filipino and Asian to be elected to the position.

She currently leads the Asia and Pacific Regional Chapter of Unite Parliamentarians Network for Global Health.