Ths 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings in Cebu will happen this Thursday and Friday (May 7 and 8).
Malacañang reiterated on Tuesday, May 5, its readiness in ensuring the seamless and successful hosting of the said event.
In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro reported that all necessary systems are in place and undergoing final live testing and synchronization.
“Ang National Organizing Council ay nasa final phase na ng preparation para sa Philippine hosting of the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings. All strategic, operational, logistical, technical, and security preparations ay kumpleto na,” noted Castro. “At ang lahat ng systems are now undergoing final live testing and synchronization.”
She added, “Ang government, through the NOC and all participating agencies, stands 100 percent ready to deliver a secure and seamless world-class ASEAN Summit.”
Amid the ongoing energy crisis linked to the tensions in the Middle East, Castro said the government is implementing measures to mitigate its impact on the hosting.
This include using alternative arrangements such as a virtual meeting room system (VMRS) to ensure that agendas and plans proceed smoothly.
According to Castro, the VRMS, pioneered in Manila, uses technology to guide ASEAN member states. Out of 683 ASEAN-related meetings, 174 are face-to-face, while 173 are on deck to use VMRS.
“So, 73 face-to-face meetings done already at ang 30 virtual meetings done na rin daw, at ang 580 more meetings will be expected,” she noted.
Castro added that the administration expects the participation of the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) in the Summit.
The Palace Press Officer said energy security and a unified response to the impact of tensions in the Middle East will be among the key discussion points for ASEAN members.
IMC OPENING
Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Dave Gomez noted that it is already “all systems go” following opening of the International Media Center (IMC).
He said that with adequate facilities and infrastructure now in place, he is confident that the IMC, which will be used by journalists covering the summit and even by the leaders themselves, the facility can provide a responsive environment for accurate and effective reporting of local and international media.
“More than 500 journalists ang magko-cover ng event, based from the accreditation numbers namin. Beginning today, magdadatingan na ‘yung mga kaibigan natin from the international media,” said Gomez.
The PCO chief also thanked the National Organizing Council (NOC) for esnuring that the ASEAN Summit will run smoothly and on schedule.
Gomez also noted that the recent ministerial meetings focused on three key issues: energy security, food security, and safeguarding the safety of ASEAN nationals, which is a result of the conflict in the Middle East.
DISASTER RESILIENCE, ENERGY SECURITY AMONG TOP AGENDAS
Another issue to be tackled during the Summit is the safety of ASEAN nationals and resilience in responding to disasters within the region.
Regional disaster resiliency is set to be one of the major agenda items of the 2026 ASEAN Summit in Cebu, which will be chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as ASEAN member states commit to increased collaborative efforts to protect communities against natural calamities.
Gomez said ASEAN member states have committed to collaborative frameworks that enhance community-based early warning systems, rapid humanitarian response and support for affected populations.
This is to ensure that volcanic disasters like the recent Mayon Volcano restiveness do not undermine vulnerable communities but instead drive inclusive, people-centered resilience strategies among member states and across the region, Secretary Gomez said.
“Tulad ng nangyayari sa atin ngayon sa Mayon Volcano, pag-uusapan dito ‘yung disaster resilience ng bawat member states and paano sila magkakapagtulungan para ‘yung mga vulnerable communities ay hindi masyadong maapektuhan ng ganitong mga natural disasters,” he said.
Last March, the Philippines also proposed the Manila-ASEAN Strategic Protocol for Emergency and Comprehensive Transformation (Manila-ASPECT) Framework to heighten the regional bloc’s disaster response and to step up coordination.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, who chaired the 35th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting in Makati City, said the proposal is a strategic initiative to strengthen ASEAN’s disaster response and enhance regional coordination.
The Manila-ASPECT Framework provides ASEAN Member States with a standardized approach to improve regional interoperability, data sharing, logistics, and cross-border processes, supporting people-oriented and rights-based disaster response.
Aside from disaster resiliency, also part of the summit’s top agendas is energy security, especially with Asia bears the brunt of high fuel prices as a result of the current tension in the Middle East.
“With the impact of the Middle East tension, bearing heavily on Asia, upon the initiative of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the leaders have refocused the agenda to include discussions on energy security and a unified response to mitigate negative effects on individual member states,” the PCO chief added.
SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES
For her part, ASEAN 2026 National Organizing Council Director General for Operations Hellen De La Vega laid out the schedule of activities for the summit.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who chairs this year’s ASEAN, will meet with leaders of ASEAN member states — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam — for the biannual summit.
She said the meetings will be followed by the Special BIMP-EAGA Summit on the afternoon of May 7 at Shangri-La Mactan, which will be attended by leaders from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
The 48th ASEAN Summit will officially begin on May 8 with an opening ceremony at the newly constructed Mactan Expo located within Mactan Newtown in Lapu-Lapu City.
Leaders will hold their meetings and working lunch there before proceeding to Shangri-La Mactan for the Retreat Session.
President Marcos is then scheduled to hold a press conference at the IMC at 4:00 pm, while a gala dinner hosted by the President and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will cap the summit.
She also cited government efforts to ensure prudent use of resources, saying preparations are guided by austerity measures in line with a declared state of national energy emergency and energy conservation directives of President Marcos.
Despite constraints, ASEAN member states agreed on the need for in-person discussions to address urgent concerns, including the Middle East conflict and its impact on energy and food security, and safe mobility of ASEAN nationals.
“The President directed us to proceed with a bare-bones and business-like 48th ASEAN Summit focused on the pressing issues that needed to be addressed and without the need for much frills or fanfare,” De La Vega said.