ASEAN Response To West Asia Crisis To Top Summit Agenda In Cebu

MANILA, May 5 (Bernama-PNA) -- The leaders gathering for the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings in Cebu on Friday are expected to produce key deliverables that will help steer the region in addressing the impacts of the ongoing West Asia crisis, the ASEAN National Organising Council (NOC) said Tuesday.

Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported that ASEAN NOC Director-General Ma. Hellen De La Vega, in a briefing, said the leaders would focus on energy security, food security, and the safe mobility of all Southeast Asians abroad, among others.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Dave Gomez, during the same briefing, also said high on the agenda is disaster resilience.

“Disaster resilience is part of the agenda under which ASEAN member states commit to collaborative frameworks that enhance community-based early warning systems, rapid humanitarian response, and support for affected populations.

"This ensures that volcanic disasters like the one we have with the Mayon Volcano today do not undermine vulnerable communities but instead drive inclusive, people-oriented, people-centred resilience strategies among member states across the region,” he said.

The anticipated focus on this area also comes as the Philippines initiates a full government response to the ongoing unrest of Mayon Volcano in the Bicol region.

As the ASEAN chair, De La Vega said the Philippines would likewise continue to advance talks on economic resilience, peace and security, and people empowerment within the region.

Manila, she said, would maximise the summit to reinforce security norms and dialogue, regional stability, maritime cooperation, and digital transformation, while strengthening intra-ASEAN trade and investment linkages.

“These strategic priorities will contribute to a successful inaugural year for the ASEAN Vision 2045 under our chairship,” she said.

The summit proper will open on Friday, preceded by a series of ASEAN senior officials’ meetings from Wednesday to Thursday.

-- BERNAMA-PNA