The Philippines says contingency plans for accidents and medical emergencies are already in place for the 49th ASEAN Summit and related summits in Manila, which run from 15 to 18 November.

Potenciano Camba, deputy director general of the ASEAN 2026 National Organizing Council, said a joint task force for emergency preparedness and response is headed by the Office of Civil Defense, working with the Department of Health, the Bureau of Fire and other government agencies.

He also assured the public that air, sea and land security is being ensured as ASEAN leaders and delegates begin arriving in Manila in the coming days.

Leaders from across the region

The summit will be attended by leaders from all 11 ASEAN member states — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam — along with dialogue partners including the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, Russia and Canada.

The main venue is the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. The Philippines holds the ASEAN chairmanship for 2026, and the summit is the centrepiece of its year in the role.

Mr Camba appealed to Filipinos to unite behind the hosting, saying the honour of the country was at stake and calling on the public to show the spirit of cooperation known as bayanihan.

Road closures and flight changes

Manila residents should expect heavy security, road closures and traffic disruption before and during the summit. The government has declared 16 to 18 November special non-working days in the National Capital Region.

Partial road closures around the convention centre and the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex began on 24 October, with full closures in place from 9 to 20 November.

Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have cancelled or rescheduled many domestic and international flights to and from Manila between 14 and 18 November, and some groups have announced protests during the summit, according to a security alert issued by the US Embassy in the Philippines.

The alert covers Metro Manila, particularly Pasay City, including the convention centre, the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex, Roxas Boulevard and Ninoy Aquino International Airport. It warns of heavy security, road closures and traffic disruption across the capital before and during the summit, with full closures around the venue in place from 9 to 20 November.

"We are involving, mobilizing all the government agencies to support our hosting of the ASEAN Summit and to ensure that we conclude this peacefully," Mr Camba said.