JAKARTA, Indonesia — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. stressed the importance of letting Myanmar lead the efforts in resolving its domestic issues but said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must take the first step in promoting positive change in the region.

Marcos said this during the Retreat Session of the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits here on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

In his intervention during the Retreat Session, the President said the test of the regional bloc's relevance is its ability to facilitate the peaceful resolution of the political issues in Myanmar.

"One test of our relevance is our ability to facilitate a peaceful resolution in Myanmar," he said.

"We remain firm that the resolution to the Myanmar crisis should be Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led," he added.

Despite this, President Marcos said the Philippines will support the efforts of the ASEAN chair, currently Indonesia, to engage stakeholders in Myanmar.

"We reiterate that all efforts in Myanmar should be in line with the Five-Point Consensus and done in coordination with the Chair of ASEAN," he said.

According to Marcos, the significance of ASEAN on the global stage can only be sustained if it can show to the world that ASEAN continues to be a force for positive change.

"The first step in that positive change is the promotion and the maintenance of peace because as we speak for progress, that progress must be built on a strong foundation of peace. And so let us look at the threats to peace in our region," he said.

In their Five-Point Consensus in 2021, the ASEAN Leaders demanded the immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar and all parties shall exercise utmost restraint. They also pushed for constructive dialogue among all parties concerned aimed at seeking a peaceful solution in the interests of the people.

There will be a special envoy of the ASEAN Chair who shall facilitate mediation of the dialogue process, with the assistance of the Secretary-General of ASEAN. The special envoy and delegation shall visit Myanmar to meet with all parties concerned.

Meanwhile, the Leaders agreed that ASEAN shall provide humanitarian assistance through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre).

Maynmar was supposed to assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2026 but it reportedly waived its turn in the rotation due to its domestic situation and lack of preparations. The Philippines will step in as the ASEAN chair in 2026.