Bare-bones but on track: Philippines confirms ASEAN summit will go ahead

National

“WE’RE pushing through.”

The Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN Summit is moving forward, President Marcos said, with a tighter, cost-conscious schedule aimed at tackling pressing issues in energy, food, and migrant workers.

The announcement follows calls to divert resources to support sectors struggling with rising fuel prices.

In an interview in Silang, Cavite, Marcos explained that he consulted fellow ASEAN leaders on whether the meetings should be postponed because of the ongoing oil crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict. He said the consensus was that coordination is more crucial than ever.

The President described the upcoming gatherings as a “bare bones ASEAN Summit,” signaling a streamlined approach focused on urgent regional concerns, a report by Philstar stated.

The 48th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit, scheduled for May 8–9 in Cebu, will be shortened to a day and a half.

Discussions will concentrate on energy security, food security, and the welfare of migrant workers.

Marcos stressed that the purpose of the summit is for leaders to coordinate on responses to global shocks and plan actions for the rest of the year.

Some lawmakers suggested trimming the budget for hosting the ASEAN summits from P12 billion to P10 billion and using the savings to assist vulnerable sectors.

Marcos confirmed that adjustments have been made, though he did not provide further details.

Regarding the November summit, he said there have been no discussions about consolidation, underlining the significance of the 49th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Manila, which will also include ASEAN dialogue partners.

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, chair of the ASEAN National Organizing Committee, said in a Philstar report that the President has ordered a “recalibration” of the country’s hosting, with non-essential activities scaled down to save costs and focus on core discussions.

In a memorandum sent Friday, Recto instructed that all preparatory meetings, from working groups to ministerial levels, will be conducted virtually and directed the Department of Foreign Affairs to hold diplomatic briefings to ensure messaging aligns with the streamlined agenda.

He added that the Philippines remains committed to ASEAN not merely as a platform for dialogue, but as a force for coordinated action and dynamic leadership in a time of crisis.

The 2026 summits will mark the Philippines’ fourth time hosting the ASEAN Leaders’ meetings.(MyTVCebu)