Preparations for the country’s hosting of the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings next month are “on target,” Malacañang assured on Tuesday.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto confirmed he convened the ASEAN National Organizing Council on Monday to review final operational logistics for the event, which is scheduled to take place from November 15 to 17. The high-level gathering will host 20 heads of state and government alongside global business leaders to address pressing regional political, security and economic priorities.
“With 20 heads of state in attendance, this is a meeting with a million moving parts, from convoys to conferences, from agenda to attractions to be visited, from security to seat plans, so failure on our part is not an option,” Recto stated in a social media update.
The Executive Secretary noted that the organizing committee has systematically reviewed its operational checklist, covering both minor ceremonial logistics and major public infrastructure adjustments. “There is a long checklist of things to be done, and we have ticked almost all of them. This ranges from the minute, like the salubong sa tarmac, to the massive, which is the road traffic adjustments,” he added.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed that with the event only weeks away, organizational plans are virtually complete, though minor refinements remain ongoing.
“Iyung preparasyon na ito, habang hindi pa dumadating iyung event, pag may nakita pang mas i-improve ay ginagawa pa rin,” Castro said during a press briefing. (Regarding these preparations, in the time leading up to the event, if we spot anything that can be further improved, we continue to work on it.)
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the summit will welcome leaders from ASEAN member states and key dialogue partner nations, including the United States delegation led by President Donald Trump.
The DFA also confirmed that United Nations Secretary-General will attend the international gathering, specifically participating in the scheduled ASEAN-UN Summit proceedings.