PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. has issued an order creating the National Organizing Council in preparation for the Philippines’ hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related meetings in 2026.
During the 43rd ASEAN Summit in September 2023, leaders of the regional bloc agreed that the Philippines will assume the chairpersonship of ASEAN and host the ASEAN summit in 2026 in the country. The last time the Philippines hosted the ASEAN Summit was in 2017.
“It is imperative to constitute a National Organizing Council to organize, manage, and supervise all major and ancillary programs, activities and projects related to the hosting of ASEAN 2026 in the country,” the President said through Administrative Order No. 17 that was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on March 25 and published in the Official Gazette on March 31.
AO 17 designates the Executive Secretary as the chairperson of the ASEAN National Organizing Council (NOC), with the Foreign Affairs secretary as vice chairperson for ASEAN Political Community, the Trade and Industry secretary as vice chairperson for ASEAN Economic Community, and the Social Welfare secretary as vice chairperson for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.
Members are the secretaries of the interior, defense, public works, transportation, information, tourism, budget departments, and the Presidential Communications Office.
Heads of local government units selected as sites for the hosting of the ASEAN in 2026 may be invited as special members of the council.
The tasks of the ASEAN NOC include formulating and submitting for the President’s approval a master plan for the country’s hosting of ASEAN 2026, which includes the estimated budget for the hosting of ASEAN 2026, and its related meetings.
All national government agencies and instrumentalities are directed, and all local government units are encouraged, to render support and assistance for the effective implementation of Administrative Order No. 17.
Initial funding requirements for the operationalization of the ASEAN NOC will be charged against available appropriations of the Office of the President and other member-agencies of the ASEAN NOC, subject to budgeting, accounting, and auditing laws, rules and regulations.
