President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines will push through with hosting the ASEAN summits in May and November 2026 on a ‘very bare-bones’ scale, focusing on energy and food security as well as migrant workers amid the Middle East conflict.
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday that the Philippines will proceed with hosting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summits in May and November amid calls to postpone them to redirect funds toward sectors hit by skyrocketing fuel prices from the Middle East conflict.
In an interview in Silang, Cavite, Marcos said he consulted ASEAN counterparts, who agreed to push through. “The consensus that we came to is that, it is precisely now that we must coordinate our efforts,” he told reporters, referring to the oil crisis from the war there. The summits will be shortened to a day and a half, centering on oil, food, and migrant workers.
The 48th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit is set for May 8 to 9 in Cebu with the 11 member-states, while the 49th runs November 10 to 12 in Manila, including dialogue partners. Marcos said the government has already reduced the hosting budget from P12 billion, responding to lawmakers’ calls to use savings for subsidies.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, ASEAN National Organizing Committee chair, issued a memorandum directing all preparatory meetings—from working groups and senior officials to ministerial levels—to be held virtually. “As host, we remain committed to our goal of ASEAN, not merely as a platform for dialogue, but as a force for coordinated action and dynamic leadership in a time of crisis,” Recto said.
This marks the Philippines’ fourth time hosting an ASEAN summit. Reports note Marcos declared a state of national energy emergency, as the region sources most energy from the Gulf affected by the hostilities.
