The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippine government “saved a lot” in hosting the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Cebu.
“As the President mentioned, preparations were really bare-bones,” Assistant Secretary Dax Imperial said.
Following a directive from Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to cut expenses amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Imperial said meetings were shortened and some were shifted to virtual platforms.
“For instance, instead of a longer summit this week, we shortened it. Preparatory meetings were also reduced. They were supposed to start on May 5, but working group discussions were shifted to online or video conferencing. That saved a lot of money,” he said.
In March 2026, calls to suspend the summit reached Marcos, but he rejected the proposal, saying it was the right time to proceed.
“Because of the war in the Middle East, would you like to postpone the ASEAN Summit? The consensus we reached is that it is precisely now that we must coordinate our efforts,” the President said.
In response to the directive, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto ordered a recalibration of the ASEAN hosting, scaling down non-essential activities to reduce costs.
Under the revised plan, around 650 meetings will be held online instead of in person.
Recto, who chairs the ASEAN National Organizing Committee, also directed the DFA to hold diplomatic briefings to align messaging and adjust substantive deliverables.
“A stripped-down ASEAN activity will still be able to achieve its goal of strengthening regional unity and forging a common response to mounting global challenges,” Recto said.
Marcos earlier outlined food security, energy stability, and the protection of migrant workers as the Philippines’ top priorities for this year’s summit.
Meanwhile, Malacañang declared a special non-working holiday in four local government units in Cebu from May 6 to 8, 2026, to give way for the summit.
