The 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in Cebu will unfold in tightly packed sessions beginning May 6, as regional leaders tackle security, energy, and economic concerns under the Philippines’ chairmanship.
ASEAN 2026 National Organizing Council Director General for Operations Hellen De La Vega on Tuesday presented the official schedule during the opening of the International Media Center at the Mactan World Museum in Lapu-Lapu City.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., chair of ASEAN this year, will meet with leaders of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam in a series of high-level engagements
De La Vega said Senior Officials’ and Ministerial Preparatory Meetings will run from May 6 to 7 at Dusit Thani Mactan and Shangri-La Mactan, running alongside coordination sessions ahead of the leaders’ summit.
A Special BIMP-EAGA Summit is scheduled on the afternoon of May 7 at Shangri-La Mactan, bringing together leaders from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines to discuss regional cooperation.
The main summit opens on May 8 at the Mactan Expo in Mactan Newtown, Lapu-Lapu City, where leaders will hold formal meetings and a working lunch before continuing discussions at Shangri-La Mactan for the Retreat Session.
Marcos is also scheduled to hold a press conference at the International Media Center at 4 p.m., followed by a gala dinner hosted by the President and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos.
De La Vega emphasized the role of media in shaping public understanding of ASEAN proceedings, especially amid shifting global conditions.
She said coverage of the summit helps connect regional decisions to public impact across ASEAN member states.
She also said preparations followed austerity measures in line with a state of national emergency and energy conservation policies, leading to a scaled-down but fully functional summit setup.
Despite logistical constraints, ASEAN members agreed on in-person discussions to address urgent issues, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and their effects on energy, food security, and regional mobility.
De La Vega said the President directed organizers to keep the summit focused and efficient.
“The President directed us to proceed with a bare-bones and business-like 48th ASEAN Summit focused on the pressing issues that needed to be addressed and without the need for much frills or fanfare,” she said.
Photo by Kaiser Jan Fuentes
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