Cebu hosts ASEAN Leaders' Summit

Local

CEBU will host the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Summit this May, drawing around 3,000 delegates for one of the country’s most significant diplomatic gatherings this year.

Officials expect the summit to boost Cebu’s economy, tourism, and investment opportunities.

Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces said organizers, including the ASEAN Committee, chose Cebu after inspecting the province’s venues, surroundings, accessibility, and logistical capacity.

“They went through inspections and also kanang gitan-aw nila ang vicinity of Cebu and terms of venues and also the package of Cebu itself, so, they want to comeback because [the airport is near]. Logistics man gud na,” he said in an interview on Thursday, March 5.

The summit and related meetings will take place from May 5 to 9. Delegates from 11 ASEAN member states—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam—will attend.

Tourism Assistant Secretary Maria Angela Javier of the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit–National Organizing Committee said the event will host more than a thousand official delegates, another thousand attendees, and over a thousand international media representatives.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro met with Javier at the Cebu Provincial Capitol on Wednesday to finalize preparations.

Representatives from Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu cities, together with regional and provincial directors from national government agencies attended the meeting.

These includes the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of National Defense, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Office of Civil Defense.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will meet with ASEAN leaders during the summit, prompting organizers to prioritize participant safety and security.

Baricuatro cited Cebu’s hosting of the ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meetings in January as a “dry run” for the larger summit and expressed confidence in the province’s ability to conduct a safe and successful event.

“We are looking forward to hosting the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit,” she said.

She added that the provincial government will provide full support for the summit, which officials expect to bring significant positive impacts on the economy, tourism, and investment promotion.

Javier also noted that government agencies prefer Cebu as a venue for international meetings.

“Cebu is very popular with the agencies of the government. Everyone wants to hold their meetings in Cebu,” she said.

Cebu will also host several other high-level ASEAN meetings this year.

These include the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community meeting in July, ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Joint Committee meetings in July, ASEAN Treasury Forum in July, ASEAN Coordinating Task Force on Blue Economy and related meetings in August, ASEAN Transportation Ministers’ Meeting in November, the 16th Session of the ASEAN Community Statistical System in November, and the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementing Committee and related meetings in November.

Officials said they will implement traffic management plans, site enhancements, and inter-agency coordination to ensure smooth and secure staging of these events.

In Mandaue City, the local government is working with the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to expand public awareness about the ASEAN Summit 2026.

Mayor Thadeo “Jonkie” Ouano met with PCO officials led by Assistant Secretary Mariel Eduarte at City Hall on March 5 to strengthen coordination on a public information campaign.

The campaign will reach schools, barangays, and grassroots communities to inform them about the summit and its significance in promoting regional cooperation.

Officials said the campaign will showcase Mandaue City’s role in promoting tourism and regional economic opportunities while encouraging public participation.

Ouano said the city is collaborating with the Department of Education (DepEd) Mandaue City Division and the local Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) office to ensure communities understand ASEAN’s importance.(MyTVCebu)