PASAY CITY, Philippines – High on the agenda during the 49th ASEAN Summit are the ASEAN leaders’ review and implementation of the Five Point Consensus (5PC) on Myanmar; the establishment of an ASEAN Maritime Center; and the transboundary haze due to wildfires in Indonesia, among others.
In a press briefing at the International Media Center (IMC) in Pasay City on Friday, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary and ASEAN 2026 Spokesperson Dominic Xavier Imperial laid out the meetings and engagements, as well as the country’s priorities and deliverables under the Philippines’ Chairship.
“As we gather for the 49th ASEAN Summit and related summits, our engagements in the coming days will provide an opportunity to reflect on the achievements while continuing the momentum of the Philippines that it has set for ASEAN's long-term goals,” Imperial said.
According to Imperial, in preparation for the 49th ASEAN Summit, DFA Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro will convene the ASEAN Foreign Ministers on 14 November 2026 for their final meeting this year.
“Several items are high on the agenda, including the ASEAN leaders' review and decision on the implementation of the Five Point Consensus, the adoption of the concept note and terms of reference of the plan; establishment of an ASEAN Maritime Center and transboundary haze, among others,” Imperial revealed.
The 5PC is a peace plan adopted on April 24, 2021 by ASEAN leaders, including Myanmar junta chief Senior General Ming Aung Hlaing, at a special summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, to address the post-coup political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.
Meanwhile, the ASEAN Maritime Center is a regional hub that will serve as a central repository for maritime issues, policies and regional coordination.
The Philippines offered to host the facility, which stems from Philippine-led efforts to promote safe and open navigation, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
ASEAN leaders unanimously agreed and approved the establishment of the center during previous regional summits, the PCO added.
The transboundary haze in Southeast Asia, meanwhile, has caused severe air pollution, as well as respiratory illnesses in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand, due to massive forest and land fires in Indonesia, particularly across Kalimantan, Sumatra and Papua, worsened by El Nino weather conditions.
Singapore is now planning to amend its Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA), to strengthen its ability to investigate irresponsible burning, establish accountability, and strengthen enforcement against errant entities, according to its National Environment Agency.
It is now pushing to operationalize the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACC THPC) based in Indonesia, to address the issue.
Preparations underway for Leaders’ Summit
The foreign ministers will also convene for the 32nd ASEAN Political Security Council meeting, as well as the 39th ASEAN Coordinating Council meeting, to discuss the preparations for the 49th ASEAN Summit, Imperial shared.
“Secretary Lazaro will likewise chair the 39th ASEAN Coordinating Council meeting, where the meeting will discuss the preparations for the 49th ASEAN Summit and the consideration of various reports from the three community pillars. These discussions are important as they will shape the agenda of the leaders,” Imperial stated.
The 49th ASEAN Summit and related summits will run from November 15 to November 17, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. will chair the meetings.
On November 15, the program starts with the opening ceremony, followed by the plenary and retreat sessions of the leaders, and will culminate with the interface meetings with the ASEAN Interparliamentary Assembly or IPA, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, and ASEAN Youth.
The Plus One Summits will begin on November 16 and will continue until November 17.
On these dates, the ASEAN leaders will engage with dialogue partners, particularly Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, United Nations, and the United States of America, while on November 17, President Marcos, Jr. will also convene the 29th ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the 21st East Asia Summit.
“These engagements will seek to advance practical cooperation and constructive dialogue in addressing shared regional and global challenges, particularly amid evolving geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties,” Imperial stressed.
“The day will culminate with the ASEAN US Special Summit. At the closing ceremony, we will witness the ceremonial handover of the ASEAN Chairship to Singapore,” he added.
