He also mentioned the collective resolve of all Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in responding to the conflict in the Middle East.
On Friday (May 8), Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. made an opening statement at the 48th ASEAN Summit Plenary in Cebu.
During which, he thanked fellow leaders in the region for “answering the call” to gather at a critical moment, remarking the heightened geopolitical tensions caused by the conflict in the Gulf nations.
“Today, we gather to confront, with unity and resolve, the repercussions of the situation in the Middle East, and seek to advance our common commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity while ensuring that the benefits of our cooperation are felt by all our peoples,” Marcos stated.
He also said the conflict has already caused profound consequences across Southeast Asia, affecting economies, livelihoods, energy supplies, food security, and the welfare of ASEAN nationals abroad.
In addition, the conflict has also disrupted maritime and air transport routes, heightened risks to merchant and civilian vessels and aircraft, and affected the global flow of energy and essential goods.
The President then reaffirmed that ASEAN has a longstanding commitment to peace, and emphasized the shared positions of its 11 member states.
The countries have called for the immediate cessation of hostilities, peaceful settlement of disputes, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and the restoration of safe, unimpeded, and continuous transit passage in the Strait of Hormuz.
“It is in this spirit that we gather today to pursue concrete outcomes and forge a collective path,” said President Marcos.
THREE URGENT MATTERS
In the same address, Marcos mentioned the three interrelated priorities for ASEAN action: strengthening energy security, stabilizing food security, and protecting ASEAN nationals abroad.
On energy security, there is a need for a stronger regional coordination and preparedness to safeguard stable energy supplies and improve interconnectivity amid heightened global volatility.
PBBM also urged ASEAN to accelerate the development of alternative and renewable energy sources to shield regional economies from future shocks and address climate change.
The role of innovation and responsible applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in improving energy forecasting, strengthening grid management, and supporting the clean energy transition was also highlighted.
To address food security concerns, President Marcos noted that disruptions linked to instability in the Strait of Hormuz have already affected food prices and fertilizer supplies across the region.
“Our task is to ensure that ASEAN remains responsive, to strengthen and expand intra-ASEAN trade, and build the capacities to safeguard and fortify our food systems across the region,” the President said.
Marcos added that through digital innovation could help ASEAN anticipate shortages, improve agricultural productivity, and support responsive decision-making to better protect vulnerable communities.
He also emphasized the importance of safeguarding ASEAN nationals affected by the crisis, stressing that regional solidarity must be reflected through coordinated action to protect citizens wherever they may be.
“This means strengthening early warning systems, enhancing consular coordination, and ensuring the timely delivery of assistance,” he said.
Marcos also encouraged the prudent use of new technologies, including AI-enabled tools, to improve crisis response efforts anchored in human judgment and international law.
Marcos also underscored the importance of maritime cooperation, and expressed support for the proposed ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Maritime Cooperation, including the Philippine proposal to establish an ASEAN Maritime Centre to strengthen regional maritime coordination.
ASEAN WILL RESPOND TO CURRENT CHALLENGES WITH UNITY, WISDOM, AND RESOLVE
Marcos also highlighted that the bloc will respond with unity, wisdom, and resolve as it addresses present challenges particularly in the midst of the Middle East crisis.
“Our theme of ‘Navigating Our Future, Together’ has always held true for ASEAN, but now, more than ever, it is a principle that we must continue to share, an idea we must continue to embrace,” President Marcos said.
“If there is one lesson ASEAN has learned over the decades, it is that difficult times do not divide us. For ASEAN, challenges present us with opportunities that have further strengthened our resolve to work more closely, to listen more carefully, and to act more purposefully.”
In light of this developments, he said the Philippines recalibrated its hosting, strengthening its coordination as the respective Foreign, Economic, Agriculture, and Energy Ministers of member states met.
“That when circumstances are challenging, partnership is, more than ever, indispensable. And that even when the future appears uncertain, hope remains the responsibility of leadership,” he highlighted.
REGIONAL COORDINATION FOR EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTION PLANS
Marcos Jr. also called for stronger regional coordination and effective implementation of action plans by the 11 member-nations to better prepare for emerging global risks.
“We gather at a time of uncertainty—a time when events far beyond our region remind us once again of how deeply interconnected we are,” he said, noting that no nation is insulated from the ripple effects of conflicts and instability occurring in other parts of the world.
President Marcos warned that in an increasingly interconnected world, disruptions in one region can quickly spread across supply chains, financial markets, and the daily lives of people in Southeast Asia.
The President cited the recent oil-supply disruptions as an example of how external shocks can trigger a domino effect across economies, affecting business operations, employment, and household livelihoods.
“While the impact may differ from country to country in ASEAN at present, there is no denying that this disruption will have an impact on the future,” he said. “Even if the tensions de-escalate in time, the damage to critical infrastructure, vital systems, and trust in general will continue to be felt for years to come.”
President Marcos said such risks were already anticipated in ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future, which identified major power rivalries, supply-chain disruptions, and resource security issues as key challenges facing the region.
He noted that while these difficulties pose challenges, they also present opportunities for ASEAN to build a more resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centered community.
“It is therefore critical that we, as the Leaders of the ASEAN Nations, ensure that the concrete steps towards achieving these goals are supported and enacted,” he said.
LEAD-SAIL-RISE
Consistent with the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together,” Marcos said the country has advanced the LEAD–SAIL–RISE Framework, which aligns ASEAN’s three community pillars into a more coherent regional strategy.
Under the framework, LEAD reinforces a rules-based and resilient Political-Security Community, SAIL advances an integrated and innovation-driven Economic Community, and RISE promotes a people-centered and inclusive Socio-Cultural Community.
This framework is said to be intended to translate ASEAN’s long-term vision into coordinated action on peace, prosperity, and people empowerment.
The President also cited his discussions with fellow ASEAN leaders during earlier sessions, where they tackled energy security, food-supply stability, and the welfare of nationals working abroad, which he described as “immediate responsibilities” requiring collective action.
CEBU’S RICH HERITAGE
Meanwhile, Marcos also emphasized Cebu’s rich history as a pre-colonial trading hub and as a gateway to the Philippines.
The President said the province has achieved landmarks in history, such as the birth of Philippine international connectivity, the introduction of spiritual and cultural heritage, and the beginnings of a major regional hub.
“It is especially meaningful that we gather in this historic place. As a pre-colonial trading hub, the historic province of Cebu has served as a gateway to our beautiful country. Long before our modern borders existed, Cebu already stood as a crossroads of trade, ideas, and peoples,” the Chief Executive said.
He also looked back on ASEAN history that was made on the island a few decades ago.
“Twenty years ago, within these very grounds, leaders of our region signed the Cebu Declaration on the Blueprint of the ASEAN Charter which marked significant progress in transforming ASEAN’s cooperation framework into a stronger, more coherent institutional architecture laying the essential groundwork for the eventual signing of the ASEAN Charter in 2007,” the President stated.
“It is therefore a fitting place for our summit, providing us with a valuable opportunity to advance regional cooperation, economic resilience, and sustainability under the Philippine Chairship anchored on the theme, ’Navigating Our Future, Together.’ We once more find ourselves here in Cebu at a defining moment in our shared journey,” the Philippine Chief Executive added.