2026 Asean summits: PH preparations going ‘smoothly’ – Recto

MANILA, Philippines — Preparations for the Philippines’ hosting of the 2026 summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are going “smoothly,” Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said on Thursday.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been tapped to secure the summits, as well as around 650 related meetings throughout the Philippines’ chairmanship year, Recto told reporters in Camp Crame.

“So far, [it’s] going smoothly. It’s very challenging, other major departments involved, the PNP with the safety and security. So, I think they will be able to do it well,” he said.

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“[It’s] a huge task for everyone, but everyone is cooperating, so we are confident that we will be able to put up a good show so to speak,” he added.

Recto further said no threats to the summits have been monitored so far.

The Philippines currently has the chairmanship of Asean, a group of 11 member-states in Southeast Asia.

The 48th and 49th Asean Summits are scheduled for this May and October. They are expected to be held at the newly refurbished Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

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More recently, the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat kicked off on Thursday in Cebu. /dl