This is how organizers describe the two-day ASEAN Summit here, where 11 heads of state are set to tackle, among others, the staggering impact of tensions in the Middle East.
Most of the leaders are arriving for the biannual summit on May 7 in time for preparatory meetings, as well as the Special BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area) Summit.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who chairs this year’s ASEAN Summit, is expected to arrive in Cebu on May 6, according to Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Cynthia Chan.
“Three heads of state are coming in through commercial flights,” she said. “In one of our meetings, I think Singapore is one of them. I was not able to get the two others.” The rest will arrive on private jets.
Leaders are expected to leave shortly after the gala dinner on May 8 at the Mactan Expo in Mactan Newtown.
Five hotels have been designated to host the delegations: Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa, Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan, JPark Island Resort and Waterpark, and Sheraton Mactan Cebu.
ASEAN members include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
Bare-bones
During a briefing at the International Media Center at the Mactan World Museum on May 5, ASEAN 2026 National Organizing Committee Director General Helen de la Vega said President Marcos directed organizers to proceed without “frills or fanfare,” focusing instead on pressing issues such as energy security, food supply, and regional mobility.
“Consultations with ASEAN member-states showed that the current situation calls for leaders to meet face-to-face to address urgent concerns, including the Middle East conflict and the resulting energy crisis,” she said.
As part of austerity measures, preparatory meetings were conducted online. More than 50 virtual meetings have already been held, with 174 more scheduled.
Challenges
Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez said the Middle East crisis remains the biggest challenge, prompting organizers to scale down preparations and refocus discussions.
Leaders are expected to tackle energy security and coordinate responses to mitigate economic disruptions across member-states.
Disaster resilience is also on the agenda, including stronger early warning systems, rapid humanitarian response, and community-based support mechanisms.
Weather watch
Two low-pressure areas outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility are expected to bring rain during the summit.
De la Vega said contingency measures are in place, citing the team’s experience managing events under typhoon conditions.
Schedule
Senior officials’ and ministerial meetings will be held on May 7 at Dusit Thani and Shangri-La Mactan.
The ASEAN Summit opens May 8 at the Mactan Expo, followed by meetings and a retreat session.
President Marcos will hold a press conference at 4 p.m., with a gala dinner hosted by the First Family to close the event.
Holiday
To ease traffic and ensure security, May 6 to 8 have been declared special non-working days in Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova under Proclamation No. 1238. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
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