Council formed for Philippine hosting of ASEAN 2026

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has formed a council to organize the country’s hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit meetings in 2026.

In Administrative Order 17, Marcos constituted the ASEAN National Organizing Council to facilitate the planning, implementation and monitoring of programs, activities and projects for the hosting of the regional meet.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin was named chairman of the council, which will have three vice chairpersons – the foreign affairs secretary for ASEAN political community, the trade secretary for economic community and the social welfare secretary for socio-cultural community.

The secretaries of the interior, defense, public works, transportation, information and communications technology, tourism and budget departments and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) were appointed as members of the council.

The chief executives of local governments chosen to serve as the sites for the hosting of the conference may be invited as special members of the council.

The National Organizing Council is expected to submit for the President’s approval a master plan for the hosting of ASEAN 2026, which shall include the estimated budget and communication mechanisms.

It will also monitor the implementation of the work plans of its committees, submit periodic reports and perform other functions.

Also created for the event is the Office of the Director-General for Operations under the Office of the President.

The director-general for operations will be the head of the council’s executive committee, which was tasked to ensure that the programs, activities and projects needed to prepare for the hosting of ASEAN 2026 would run smoothly.

The committee will be composed of representatives from the foreign affairs, trade, social welfare, budget, public works, interior, defense, transportation, information and communications technology, tourism, finance and environment departments, the PCO, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Office of the Executive Secretary, the Presidential Management Staff, Office of the National Security Adviser, the Office of the Presidential Protocol and other agencies as may be deemed necessary by the council.

The executive committee will be assisted by seven committees in charge of security, peace and order and emergency preparedness response; infrastructure; transport and telecommunications; tourism, hospitality, tours, social events and site enhancement; finance, budget and procurement; business and investment promotion; media affairs and strategic communications.