President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. convened key government agencies to ensure the Philippines is fully prepared to host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit this year, Malacañang said Monday.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President met with Cabinet officials whose agencies play direct roles in ASEAN-related preparations, including Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Trade Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, and Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum, among others.

“Pilipinas, ASEAN-ready na (The Philippines is now ASEAN-ready)!” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.

During the meeting, Marcos directed agencies to pursue measures that would deliver concrete economic gains not only for the Philippines but also for the ASEAN region, Castro said.

Marcos also emphasized the need to focus on development support for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), particularly in relation to the upcoming BIMP-EAGA activities under the ASEAN framework. (PNA)