Some 120 ASEAN representives held a dialogue on Cultural Heritage Protection to strengthen regional cooperation in safeguarding Southeast Asia’s cultural heritage at the Clark Marriott Hotel in Clark Freeport Zone from 22 to 24 June 2026.

These 120 representatives include senior government officials, cultural heritage experts, museum professionals, and law enforcement representatives from ASEAN member states, Timor‑Leste, the ASEAN Secretariat, Philippine cultural agencies, and partner institutions.

Representing CDC President and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera, Security Services Group Vice President PMGen. Lina Sarmiento (Ret.) and Tourism Promotions Division Manager Elenita Lorenzo, joined ASEAN delegates and cultural leaders during the dialogue’s closing ceremony, reaffirming CDC’s support for initiatives that advance cultural heritage protection and regional cooperation.

Organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) under the leadership of Chairperson Dr. Eric Zerrudo, the ASEAN Regional Dialogue: Building Foundations for Cooperation in Cultural Heritage Protection provided a platform for exchanging implementation experiences, addressing institutional and operational challenges, and identifying priority areas for future collaboration.

The event aligns with CDC’s Arts, Culture, and Heritage Strategy Map, which supports Clark’s role as a hub for cultural exchange and tourism. Initiatives include the Clark Museum Public Exhibition Program, Historical Walking Tours, the revival of the Happening on the Green Festival, partnerships with cultural institutions, and the recent unveiling of the Mt. Pinatubo 35th Anniversary Commemorative Marker.

The ASEAN Regional Dialogue is a various rotating, high-level diplomatic and sectoral forums hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to foster consensus on critical issues like cultural heritage, human rights, and transnational security.

The forum targeted the unique vulnerabilities of Southeast Asian history, emphasizing that while each nation's heritage is distinct, they all share common operational and institutional threats. It built directly upon established ASEAN–Italy cooperation networks to mirror successful global models of preservation and law enforcement collaboration.