PH to hold 3 ASEAN high-level forums this week —DSWD

The Philippines will hold three high-level Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) forums this week, focusing on family resilience, youth empowerment, and advance inclusive development for marginalized and vulnerable communities across the region.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the three meetings are:

•  40th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (SOCA) Meeting, where senior officials will review and harmonize key frameworks in support of our People Empowerment agenda.
•   High-Level ASCC Council Forum, which brings together ministers, senior officials, experts, youth leaders, and development partners to place people empowerment at the forefront of ASEAN’s forward trajectory.
•  35th ASCC Council Meeting, where regional ministers will formally adopt key frameworks and finalize priority social policies for Southeast Asia.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the meetings, which will be hosted through the country's chairship of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Pillar, emphasize the Philippines’ “RISE ASEAN” agenda, which supports “a truly ‘One ASEAN, One Response’ region.”

“Beyond these high-level meetings, the richness of the Filipino culture will also be highlighted through our curated gastronomic and heritage tours, and performances of traditional music and dance,” Dumlao said.

Among the expected attendees are ministers and heads of delegations from other ASEAN member-states such as Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor-Leste.

The Philippines assumed ASEAN chairmanship in 2026 following Malaysia's term.

As the 2026 ASEAN Chair, the DSWD said the country is taking an active role in shaping the regional agenda, engaging in high-level dialogues that are shaping cooperation in security, economic integration, and social development. — BM, GMA Integrated News