Cebu tightens security as city houses ASEAN Summit ‘26

As Cebu hosts the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related meetings on May 6–8, security has been tightened, with personnel deployed across parts of Cebu City.

This measure comes as the annual summit brings together leaders from its 11 member states to address energy security, disaster resilience, and coordinated responses to shared challenges.

Although the summit is centered in Mactan Island, Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak said the city is prepared for any delegate spillover or emergencies without any delay, especially in its northern and southern areas.

“The hosting of the ASEAN event in Lapu-Lapu means that if there are any spillovers of delegates or members coming into Cebu—hopefully no emergencies—we can respond quickly since preparations are already in place,” Tumulak, the Chairman of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, shared with CDN Digital.

A major staging area now houses police, ambulances, and rescue teams ready for immediate deployment at the Cebu City Quarantine Center, near the Mandaue City border.

Col. Kim Molitas, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 spokesman for ASEAN, also said on April 28 that around 10,000 police officials are involved in managing traffic flow and public safety throughout the international gathering.

Meanwhile, a special non-working holiday has been declared in parts of Cebu on the same dates of the summit, specifically Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova, Cebu City, and Mandaue City, as these areas have been identified as key transport routes for ASEAN delegates.

Acting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, under the authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., signed Proclamation No. 1239 to support the summit and ensure public safety and efficient traffic management.

Temporary road closures are also scheduled for later this evening of May 6 to facilitate the swift movement of international delegations, the PRO 7 announced.

Lockdowns are to be implemented in two phases: from 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and from 8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., along routes from Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa.

A total gun ban was also enforced from May 4 to 11, covering the entire province and key cities to ensure security during the ASEAN Summit, with only on-duty law enforcement allowed to carry firearms.

The ASEAN Summit is the regional bloc’s highest decision-making body, bringing together Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Cebu last hosted the ASEAN Summit in January 2007, marking the first time in nearly two decades that it has once again held the high-level meeting.