Preparations for the Philippines’ hosting of the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits have reached 90 to 95 percent completion, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said following an interagency inspection of the Philippine International Convention Center.
The Nov. 6 walkthrough brought together Cabinet officials and members of the ASEAN National Organizing Council to review arrangements for the Nov. 15–17 gathering.
Recto, the council’s chair, attributed the progress to coordination among national agencies, uniformed personnel and local governments.
He said the remaining five to 10 percent involves preparations for contingencies such as weather and last-minute security arrangements.
The inspection was intended to check compliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directives and confirm that preparations were proceeding on schedule ahead of the President’s own inspection, according to the Office of the Executive Secretary.
ASEAN operations Director-General Hellen Dela Vega and Undersecretary Roy Cervantes led the walkthrough.
Participating officials included Trade and Industry Secretary Christina Roque, Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, and Information and Communications Technology Secretary Robert de Claro.
Budget and Management Secretary Kim De Leon and Presidential Communications Office Secretary Lino Cayetano also attended.
More than 20 leaders from ASEAN member states and dialogue partners are expected at the summit, with US President Donald Trump among those anticipated to attend.
Recto said the President and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos have been directly involved in overseeing preparations.
While acknowledging the organizing team’s progress, Recto urged continued work beyond the immediate summit arrangements. Roughly 100 meetings remain under the Philippines’ ASEAN chairship, he noted.
BNN Integrated News
