The Philippine National Police (PNP) is finalizing security protocols for a series of high-level ASEAN meetings scheduled to take place in Cebu later this month, officials said Thursday.

Acting PNP Chief Police Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered the Cebu Police Provincial Office and Police Regional Office 7 to ensure a heavy security presence for the ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meeting and the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Both events are set for the final week of January.

The summits coincide with the Sinulog Festival, one of the country’s largest cultural and religious celebrations, which already has thousands of officers deployed across the province.

“Our personnel in Cebu are not only focused on the Sinulog Festival but also on the upcoming ministerial meetings,” Nartatez said.

“I already directed the Regional Director of PRO7 to ensure there is enough deployment for the ASEAN Tourism and Foreign Ministers’ meetings, in addition to the deployment for the Sinulog Festival,” he added.

Nartatez said the PNP aims to use the events to demonstrate that the Philippines is a safe destination for international dignitaries and tourists.

While the PNP remains on heightened alert, Nartatez noted that intelligence units have not detected any specific security threats to the summit or the festival. He urged the public to cooperate with authorities to maintain order during the busy period.