Philippines’ Marcos says May ASEAN summit will centre on oil, food and migration issues amid regional energy crisis.
MANILA: President Ferdinand Marcos said an upcoming ASEAN summit will focus on managing the economic shocks from the Middle East war.
The streamlined May 8-9 meeting will centre on issues of oil, food and migration, Marcos told reporters.
He said he consulted other members about postponing the summit amid a regional energy crisis before deciding to proceed.
“It is a bare bones ASEAN Summit… We will be talking about three main subjects — about the supply of petroleum and petroleum products, about the supply … and the price of food, and migrant workers,” Marcos said.
He stressed the need for leaders to discuss mutual aid and a unified ASEAN position on these shocks.
Marcos declared a state of “national energy emergency” on Tuesday, citing risks to the Philippines’ fuel supply.
The import-dependent nation has seen fuel prices hit historic highs since the US-Israeli war with Iran partially closed the Strait of Hormuz.
The conflict has also affected millions of ASEAN guest workers living in countries caught in the crossfire.
It was unclear if other priorities like Myanmar’s civil war or a South China Sea code of conduct with China would be discussed.
