President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. arrived in Cebu on Wednesday evening for the Philippines’ hosting of the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, landing at the Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base at around 9:14 p.m.
The summit is being held in a scaled-down format after the government reduced costs and shifted many preparatory meetings online due to global uncertainties, with about 650 meetings transferred to virtual platforms.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto also ordered adjustments to hosting plans, including fewer in-person activities and the cancellation of non-essential events, while the Department of Foreign Affairs said the changes helped the government save funds.
Despite earlier calls to suspend the summit, Marcos pushed through with the hosting, emphasizing regional cooperation and prioritizing food security, energy stability, and migrant worker protection.
Malacañang declared a special non-working holiday in parts of Cebu from May 6 to 8 to facilitate the regional gathering.
Source: PhilNews24 | May 7, 2026
MARCOS ARRIVES IN CEBU FOR THE ASEAN 2026 GATHERING
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