By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Doubling down on his earlier expression of the country’s readiness to host the prestigious biannual summit, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. facilitated an inter-agency meeting at Malacañang this Monday to ensure thorough preparedness for the approximately 650 summits and meetings throughout the year.
This, as the Philippines officially assumed its chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2026, which he hopes will resonate with the masses.
At the forum attended by representatives from various government institutions, each agency presented its priority plans revolving around the welfare of the common folk, which include job creation, support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and enhanced digital services.
Moreover, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in Monday’s press briefing that regional peace and prosperity remain among the top priorities in this year’s hosting of the ASEAN Summit.
Castro told the media, “Nais din ng Pangulo na mabigyan ng focus ang pagtulong sa Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) para sa idadaos na BIMP-EAGA ng ASEAN Summit at iba pang mga mahahalagang paksa.”
The Southeast Asian nation earlier hosted the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) Retreat and the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Cebu last January.
The meeting was attended by Acting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum, and PCO Acting Secretary Dave Gomez, along with other government officials.
ASEAN is an 11-member bloc that unifies Southeast Asian countries to drive economic growth, sustainable progress, and enhance political ties to ensure peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
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