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All preparatory meetings for ASEAN Summits in PH ordered to be held online

Philippines | National

All preparatory meetings for ASEAN Summits in PH ordered to be held online

By Joseph Pedrajas

ASEAN Foreign Ministers (Photo from ASEAN PH)

ASEAN Foreign Ministers (Photo from ASEAN PH)

All preparatory meetings leading to the summit of all Southeast Asian leaders in Manila will now be held online, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2026 organizing council, ordered.

Recto, in a memorandum dated March 26, ordered all agencies involved in the Philippines' hosting of the ASEAN 2026 Summits and Related Summits to inform their foreign counterparts that their meetings will be conducted via teleconference, as President Marcos placed the Philippines, this year's host for the regional bloc, under the national energy emergency.

Copy of the Executive Secretary Ralph Rector's memorandum

Copy of the Executive Secretary Ralph Rector's memorandum

Recto's directive came as the President also announced the upcoming summits to be "barebones" that will roughly focus on rather pressing issues, such as the bloc's response to the oil crisis.

The Executive Secretary also directed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) "to conduct a diplomatic briefing" as well as "to incorporate appropriate messaging and changes for the expected outcome documents or deliverables, and to guide host agencies in ASEAN sectoral bodies on adjustments to be made or conveyed."

Beginning in January, the Philippines has already been hosting in-person meetings of ASEAN member states' senior officials—both from the diplomatic community and the government agencies—to tackle various issues affecting the region.

These officials have held talks in many parts of the Philippines, including Manila, Cebu, and Boracay Island.

Related Tags

ASEAN ASEAN 2026 Ralph Recto Executive Secretary Ralph Recto

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