Manila,November 20 (AseanAll) — Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, together with Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of the Philippines and Undersecretary Adonis P. Sulit of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) of the Philippines, led a briefing for the members of the Diplomatic Corps on the Philippines’ theme and priorities for its ASEAN Chairship in 2026 at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines Temporary Headquarters, Pasay City.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro (center), Trade Secretary Ma. Christina Roque (left) and Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Adonis Sulit (right) addressing questions of the Diplomatic Corps during the Open Forum. Photo credit:the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines
Lazaro presented the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” which reflects the Philippines’ commitment to steering ASEAN toward a peaceful, prosperous, and people-centered future. The Secretary also outlined the Philippines’ three strategic priorities for its Chairship: Peace and Security Anchors, Prosperity Corridors, and People Empowerment, which will guide ASEAN’s work across the Political-Security, Economic, and Socio-Cultural Pillars.
As the lead agency of the ASEAN Political-Security Community, Lazaro underscored the Philippines’ commitment to reinforcing peace and stability through norms and dialogue, fostering resilience against emerging security challenges, including climate-related risks, and promoting maritime cooperation grounded in international law and ASEAN Centrality. She shared that the Philippines will host the Commemorative Event for the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) and develop guidelines for mutually beneficial engagement with its High Contracting Parties. The commemoration of the TAC’s 50th Anniversary in 2026 is a vital opportunity to renew collective commitment to peaceful coexistence, promotion and protection of human rights, dialogue, mutual respect, multilateralism, and mutually beneficial cooperation in the midst of shifts in the geopolitical and socio-economic landscape.
For the ASEAN Economic Community, DTI Secretary Roque outlined the Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) for the chairship aimed at strengthening trade and investment linkages, accelerating digital transformation, integrating ASEAN’s MSME development agenda, leveraging the creative economy, and advancing sustainable and inclusive economies – as aligned with the ASEAN Economic Community Strategic Plan 2026-2030. Some notable PEDs highlighted include advancing negotiations for the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA), starting negotiations for the upgraded ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA), and signing of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) – the world’s first regional digital agreement. As ASEAN Chair, the Philippines will also aim to establish ASEAN Centres of Excellence for MSME and Creative Industries. DTI Secretary Roque added that she hoped the delivery of these PEDs will indeed bring ASEAN ‘closer together’ and ‘leave nobody behind’.
DSWD Undersecretary Sulit outlined the initiatives of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, focusing on empowering families and vulnerable groups, inclusive development and enhancing regional public health cooperation, promoting youth and innovation, and advancing food security and climate resilience – all of which are aligned with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. Priorities include establishing an ASEAN Network for Family Development to strengthen and nurture families as the bedrock of a resilient society, as well as people-centered and inclusive initiatives on the silver economy and social protection. DSWD also emphasized the integration of digital literacy and innovation for the youth with emphasis on AI and its ethical use, and the formulation of an ASEAN Strategic Plan on the Environment to accelerate action on environmental concerns such as climate change, biodiversity loss and transboundary pollution.
Members of the Diplomatic Corps engaged the Philippine officials on key regional issues, priorities, and deliverables during the Chairship year. A Media Briefing followed in the afternoon, where Secretary Lazaro addressed questions from the press on ASEAN Centrality and cooperation, regional priorities such as the Code of Conduct on the SCS, and the Philippines’ role as Chair in 2026.
At both briefings, Secretary Lazaro also introduced the new Philippine SOM Leader, Undersecretary for Policy Leo Herrera-Lim, succeeding Undersecretary Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, who now serves full-time as the Director-General of the ASEAN National Organizing Council.
The back-to-back briefings form part of the Philippines’ continuing preparations for its year-long leadership of ASEAN in 2026, during which the country will host over 650 high-level meetings and commemorative events across the three ASEAN pillars.
