President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to promote the Philippines’ priorities in the regional bloc through regional and multilateral cooperation in various areas as he will attend the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Indonesia this May, a foreign affairs official said on Friday.

During a pre-departure briefing in Malacañang, DFA spokesperson Ambassador Teresita Daza said the opening ceremony of the 42nd ASEAN Summit will be held on the morning of 10 May.

Daza added that President Marcos would also take part in the 15th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit to be convened on 11 May under the chairmanship of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“Here, the President during this meeting, the President will discuss developments and the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025 towards promoting economic development, strengthening connectivity, and the sustainable management of natural resources in the sub-region,” the DFA spokesperson said.

Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Angelito Nayan joined Daza in the briefing and said President Marcos would discuss several issues in the ASEAN regions.

The issues include long-term food and energy security, efforts toward economic recovery, combatting transnational crimes, upgrading of technical and vocational education and training, adopting climate and disaster resilient technologies and transitioning to renewable and alternative energy technologies, and the protection of migrant workers, among others.

Some 16 outcome documents being targeted to be issued, adopted, or noted during the meeting are expected after the meeting.

President Marcos’ participation in the summit, along with leaders of ASEAN member-states, is upon the invitation of Indonesia President Joko Widodo as this year’s ASEAN chair with the theme: “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.”
The ASEAN Summit provides a platform for ASEAN leaders to discuss and exchange views on critical regional issues and build consensus on matters of mutual interest and provide policy directions on ASEAN community-building efforts.

The ASEAN leaders will hold interfaces with the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly or the AIPA, the ASEAN Youth Representatives, ASEAN Business Advisory Council or ASEAN-BAC, High-Level Task Force on the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision.

Following the leaders’ decision on the application of Timor Leste for membership at the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summit in 2022, the ASEAN leaders are expected to adopt a roadmap on Timor Leste’s full membership in ASEAN at the Summit, Daza said.

The Prime Minister of Timor Leste, Taur Matan Ruak, is expected to attend the 42nd ASEAN Summit as an observer for the first time.