Preparations in full swing for 2026 ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Manila

With just days before world leaders gather in Manila for the 49th ASEAN Summit, the Philippine government is stepping up preparations for the high-level event.

But as the country prepares to welcome thousands of delegates, the hosting also comes with disruptions for some communities and a hefty price tag — all amid a national energy emergency.

The Philippines is expecting more than 3,000 local and foreign delegates for the summit and related meetings, nearly a decade since it last hosted the regional bloc’s leaders and dialogue partners.

To make way for the high-level gathering, November 16 to 18 were declared special non-working days in Metro Manila.

The government has also been sprucing up key venues, with the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City serving as the main venue for the summit.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally inspected the preparations, conducting a final walkthrough of the PICC on November 10, just days before the event.

A temporary welcome arch bearing this year’s ASEAN theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together,” has also been installed near the venue, while banners and electronic billboards have been put up along major roads across the metro.

Marcos said the preparations were an opportunity to showcase Filipino talent and artistry to the world.

“This is a great opportunity for us to showcase, not just to Southeast Asia but to the entire world, the beauty of our country and the excellence of the Filipino people,” he said.

The President also appealed for public patience, acknowledging the inconvenience expected in the coming days.

“This is only temporary, so we ask for a little patience. I am confident that the benefits we will gain from the policies we agree on and the jobs that will be created will far outweigh these temporary inconveniences,” Marcos said.

But beyond the preparations, the summit has also brought disruptions to some small businesses and informal workers.

Along Diokno Boulevard, food stalls were covered from public view by large tarpaulins displaying artworks by National Artists.

Some vendors said they were asked to suspend operations for several weeks to accommodate the summit preparations.

One vendor said the closures would be a major financial setback, particularly for single mothers who depend on their daily earnings.

Ambulant vendors outside the Baclaran Church were also cleared as authorities prepared the area for the gathering.

Malacañang, however, assured the public that the Department of Social Welfare and Development had provided financial assistance and food packs to affected vendors.

Hosting thousands of delegates and hundreds of meetings also comes with a substantial cost.

The Marcos administration has allocated 22.9 billion pesos for the Philippines’ ASEAN hosting.

The Palace defended the budget, saying the amount does not necessarily represent actual expenditures and that the government would report how much was ultimately spent.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Philippines would be hosting more than 550 meetings, nearly double the 279 meetings held during the country’s previous ASEAN chairmanship in 2017.

Castro said the public should look beyond the budget and consider the scope of discussions and the outcomes of the meetings.

The allocation has drawn comparisons with previous Philippine ASEAN hostings under the Duterte and Arroyo administrations, which reportedly had budgets of more than three billion pesos and one billion pesos, respectively.

Security is also a major part of the preparations.

Strict protocols are in place, with exclusion zones established within the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex.

The Philippine National Police has deployed nearly 20,000 personnel to secure the summit and its delegates.

This comes as several progressive groups announced plans to stage demonstrations against the arrival of U.S. President Donald Trump and to denounce the controversial U.S.-led initiative known as Pax Silica.

An official from the ASEAN National Organizing Council appealed to protesters to hold their demonstrations after the country’s hosting duties, saying the Philippines should show respect to its visiting guests.

With the conclusion of the summit, the Philippines will turn over the ASEAN chairmanship to Singapore next year.

Marcos has called on Filipinos to unite in welcoming the delegates and ensuring the successful conduct of the summit, hoping the gathering will produce lasting benefits for the Philippines and the wider region as they confront shared challenges. – ANC, The World Tonight, November 12, 2026