ASEAN Tourism Ministers meeting eyes regional development

Tourism leaders from across Southeast Asia convened at the Museo del Galeón on Tuesday for the second Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, reaffirming commitments to integrate regional trade, culture and travel.

Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Bernardita Angara-Mathay highlighted the region’s shared maritime history, urging member states to position Southeast Asia as a unified tourism destination.

Parallel to the ministerial meeting, delegates launched the inaugural ASEAN Tourism Investment Showcase to present regional infrastructure projects.

The event forms part of the ASEAN Sustainable and Resilient Tourism Investment Outlook 2030, a key deliverable under the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship developed with support from the Asian Development Bank.

At the nearby Philippine International Convention Center, Tourism Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso led the ASEAN Tourism Ministers Retreat, focusing on updating regional agreements, expanding digital integration, and strengthening transport connectivity with Timor-Leste.

In a related development, the Department of Labor and Employment issued a wage advisory Wednesday detailing premium pay guidelines for Metro Manila workers during the upcoming 49th ASEAN Summit.

Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino confirmed that employees working during the special non-working days declared from 16 to 18 November will receive an additional 30 percent of their basic wage for the first eight hours, with additional premium rates applying to overtime and rest-day shifts.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. designated the three-day period as special non-working days in the National Capital Region under Proclamation No. 1447 to manage traffic flow and enhance security measures for visiting international delegations.