PH ready for possible weather disturbance amid ASEAN Summit 2026 -official

The Philippines is prepared to respond to any natural event that may happen during the conduct of the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in Cebu on May 7 and 8, 2026, an official said Tuesday.

In a press briefing, ASEAN 2026 National Organizing Council (NOC) Director-General for Operations Ma. Hellen De La Vega said they coordinate regularly with government agencies such as the Department of National Defense’s Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and PAGASA.

“All of these agencies responsible for whether it’s—I actually call them natural events, rather than natural calamities, because we want to be friends with these forces of nature,” De La Vega said, noting that they have a committee in charge of security and emergency preparedness.

“Here in Cebu, I think I can say confidently that we are ready for any contingency,” she added.

De La Vega made the assurance when asked about the country's preparations for potentially bad weather in the next few days.

State weather bureau PAGASA said early Tuesday that a Low Pressure Area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has a high chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.

The Philippines currently chairs ASEAN in 2026 with the theme "Navigating Our Future, Together," highlighting regional unity, resilience, and a commitment to a people-centered community, focusing on navigating challenges through collective action.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said more than 7,300 personnel were deployed to handle security and emergency response for the summit. —AOL, GMA News