The ASEAN chair, the Philippines, has scaled back plans for the upcoming summit next month, as well as its 2026 chairmanship activities, according to informed ASEAN sources.
The sources said that, due to the ongoing national energy emergency and shifting global energy conditions, the chair needs to adjust its entire ASEAN-related programme following a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. after Manila declared a State of National Energy Emergency on March 24.
For the ASEAN chair, the changes are aimed at conserving energy and responding to geopolitical pressures affecting global energy markets and regional economies.
According to the sources, under the revised plan, only two high-level meetings — the 48th ASEAN Summit and the BIMP-EAGA Summit — will be held in person in Cebu on May 7–8. Attendance will be limited, with each country expected to send only a small delegation.
In addition, several ceremonial events have been cut back. There will be no spouses’ programme, while the opening ceremony and gala dinner will be scaled down.
Other key engagements traditionally held alongside the summit, including interfaces with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC), youth representatives and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), have been postponed to the 49th ASEAN Summit, scheduled for November.
Preparatory activities have also been adjusted. A second site inspection in Cebu, originally planned for April, has been cancelled. A final inspection for ASEAN member states is now set for May 5, with further details to be announced.
Beyond the summit level, most ASEAN meetings under the Philippines’ chairmanship will shift to a virtual format as part of broader energy-saving measures. Manila is also calling for a second ASEAN special foreign ministers’ meeting on Friday to discuss the Middle East situation.
The scaling back reflects the growing impact of energy constraints on regional diplomacy and logistics, as governments across Southeast Asia grapple with higher costs and supply uncertainties linked to global geopolitical tensions.
Despite the changes, Manila said it remains committed to hosting a “focused and effective” summit, with priority given to core leaders’ discussions.
The Philippines assumed the ASEAN chairmanship for 2026 with an agenda centred on resilience and cooperation, but the latest adjustments underscore how external pressures, particularly in the energy sector, are reshaping the conduct of regional meetings.
