Cebu is preparing to welcome roughly 3,000 delegates this May for the 48th Leaders’ Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), positioning the province at the center of regional diplomacy.
The summit, slated for May 5 to 9, will gather heads of state, senior officials, policy experts, and international media for several days of discussions on regional cooperation, development, and economic integration. Officials say the event will also provide significant opportunities for Cebu’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
Preparations were highlighted during a March 4 coordination meeting at the Cebu Provincial Capitol, attended by Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro and Tourism Assistant Secretary Maria Angela Javier, representing the summit’s National Organizing Committee.
Local officials from Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City were present, along with representatives from multiple national agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of National Defense (DND), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
The participation of numerous agencies underscores the scale of planning needed to ensure a smooth, secure, and orderly event.
Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces said the expected attendees include more than 1,000 official delegates from the 11 ASEAN member states—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
In addition, over 1,000 media representatives and another 1,000 participants from related events are projected to arrive in Cebu.
The summit will include a meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and fellow ASEAN leaders to discuss pressing regional issues.
Security preparations are being heightened, with the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO 7) recommending a temporary suspension of permits for running events during the summit to prevent disruptions.
Beyond the main summit, Cebu will host several high-level ASEAN meetings later this year, including the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) meeting, the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Joint Committee sessions in July, the ASEAN Coordinating Task Force on Blue Economy, the ASEAN Transportation Ministers’ Meeting, and the 16th Session of the ASEAN Community Statistical System in November.
The province will also host sessions for the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementing Committee, which will bring together policymakers and technical experts to discuss economic cooperation and trade relations.
Empaces said Cebu was chosen after ASEAN organizers conducted site inspections, noting the province’s venues, airport connectivity, and transport infrastructure can support an event of this magnitude.
“Because they like Cebu,” he said of the committee’s decision.
Baricuatro expressed confidence in Cebu’s ability to host the summit successfully, pointing to the province’s experience with international gatherings, including the ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meeting held in January, which she described as a rehearsal for the larger summit.
Preparations are already underway, including coordination on traffic management, venue enhancements, and logistical planning across local government units.
Officials remain optimistic that the event will provide a boost to Cebu’s economy, particularly benefiting hotels, transport services, restaurants, and tourism-related businesses. (SBA)
