The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) activated a specialized emergency task group Friday to coordinate security and disaster response for the Philippines’ hosting of the 2026 Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and more than 200 related diplomatic meetings.

The Joint Task Group Emergency Preparedness and Response was formally mustered during a ceremony at the Lapu-Lapu Grandstand in Camp Aguinaldo. The unit draws together personnel and resources from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

During the launch, the group demonstrated its operational readiness and ability to respond to security contingencies and medical emergencies. Officials said the task force is designed to ensure a coordinated, whole-of-government approach as thousands of international delegates arrive throughout the year.

The Philippines’ 2026 chairmanship involves a heavy calendar of 208 meetings. High-level consultative sessions begin this month in Cebu City, including the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Retreat from 25 to 29 January and the ASEAN Tourism Forum from 26 to 30 January.

Meantime, the 48th ASEAN Summit is scheduled for 8 and 9 May in Mactan, Cebu. Later in the year, the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila from 10 to 12 November. That event is expected to draw heads of state from both within Southeast Asia and from global partner nations.

Defense officials noted that the task group will manage the complex logistical and safety requirements of these events to ensure the smooth conduct of the summits across multiple regions.