DILI, 08 May 2026 (TATOLI) — Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday called on Southeast Asian leaders to strengthen regional unity and cooperation as they opened the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, saying the bloc is meeting at a “defining moment” amid global uncertainty.
In his opening remarks at the Mactan Expo in Lapu-Lapu City, Marcos said the meeting in Cebu provided ASEAN leaders with a “valuable opportunity to advance regional cooperation, economic resilience, and sustainability” under the Philippine Chairship, anchored on the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together.”
Hee said that ASEAN is being tested by “profound uncertainty” and an increasingly complex global environment.
Marcos pointed to the impact of instability in the Middle East, saying it has challenged ASEAN to remain agile in the face of uncertainties which threaten lifestyles, livelihoods, and lives.
He said ASEAN citizens were looking to their leaders “not only for stability, but for reassurance and for hope.”
The Philippine leader said member states had been forced to adjust their approaches in recent months, including Manila’s decision to scale down parts of its chairship activities due to regional tensions.
“For the Philippines, we made the difficult decision to recalibrate our ASEAN Chairship hosting in response to the Middle East conflict through the scaling down of non-essential activities and shifting of applicable meetings from physical to virtual platforms,” he said.
Despite the adjustments, Marcos said the Philippines remained committed to ASEAN’s agenda. “The work of ASEAN must continue, not despite the challenges, but because the times demand our answers to those challenges for our peoples, for our countries, for ASEAN,” he said.
Marcos thanked ASEAN partners for their continued engagement, noting coordination across sectors including foreign affairs, economy, agriculture and energy.
“Joint meetings between the Political Security and Economic pillars were held to align our responses,” he said, adding that members had worked “to ensure that even amidst uncertainty, the work of building our ASEAN community continues.”
He said the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together” had become even more relevant, adding that “difficult times do not divide us.”
“For ASEAN, challenges present us with opportunities that have further strengthened our resolve to work more closely, to listen more carefully, and to act more purposefully,” Marcos said.
He stressed that “engagement remains essential” even in difficult moments, adding that “hope remains the responsibility of leadership.”
Marcos said the Philippines’ priorities for the summit align with its “three P’s: Peace and Security Anchors, Prosperity Corridors, and People Empowerment.”
Leaders from all 10 ASEAN member states gathered in Cebu this week for the opening of the 48th ASEAN Summit, hosted by the Philippines as chair of the regional bloc.
Among the participating leaders is Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, who arrived in Cebu on Thursday, May 7, ahead of the summit.
TATOLI
