Marcos declares special non-working holidays in Lapu-Lapu, Cordova for ASEAN Summit 2026

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has declared May 6 to 8 as special non-working holidays in Lapu-Lapu and Cordova, Cebu amid the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits this month.

This was announced by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro during a press briefing on Tuesday.

Castro said this would ease the traffic and ensure the safety of delegates for the ASEAN Summit.

She said that the government, through the National Organizing Council, as well as other participating agencies, stands 100% ready to deliver a secure, seamless, and world-class ASEAN Summit.

Amid the energy crisis linked to the tensions in the Middle East, Castro said the government is implementing measures to mitigate its impact on the hosting, including using alternative arrangements such as a virtual meeting room system (VMRS) to ensure that agendas and plans proceed smoothly.

Castro said the VRMS uses technology to guide ASEAN member states. Of 683 ASEAN-related meetings, 174 are face-to-face, while 173 are on deck to use VMRS. —KG/VBL, GMA News