MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced Friday that the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Summit and Related Summits will go ahead in Cebu on May 8–9.
Marcos said the decision came after discussions with leaders from the other 10 ASEAN member states.
“I asked our counterparts whether, given the ongoing oil crisis and the Middle East conflict, we should postpone the summit. The unanimous view was that now is the time to coordinate our efforts,” he said. “Ipapatuloy natin ‘yung ASEAN Summit.”
The President described the meetings as streamlined, focusing on three key areas: energy supply, food security, and migrant workers.
“This summit is crucial for ASEAN to map out its actions for the remainder of the year, determine how member states can support each other, and establish a collective response to current global challenges,” Marcos explained.
Discussions will specifically address the supply and pricing of petroleum, the availability and cost of food, and the welfare of migrant workers across the region.
Marcos also confirmed that the 49th ASEAN Summit, set for Nov. 10–12 in Pasay City, is tentatively on schedule, noting its significance as a forum expected to host global leaders.
As the ASEAN chair in 2026, the Philippines is set to host 650 ministerial and senior official meetings.
Some Senate leaders had previously recommended postponing this year’s summit to ease economic pressures brought on by Middle East tensions and rising fuel costs. They estimated that delaying the event could save the government more than PHP17 billion, which could instead be redirected to cushion the economy.
ia/xf
