ASEAN Ministers Meet in Manila to Address Energy and Security Concerns

“Especially at a time when we face multiple crises, from rising oil prices to security concerns and the approaching El Niño, ASEAN needs to act as one,” said Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Japan Today reported.

Southeast Asian foreign ministers began meetings in Manila on Saturday as the regional bloc sought a coordinated response to surging energy costs, security tensions, and an approaching El Niño.

The Philippines is chairing the weekend of diplomacy that culminates in the November 15 to 17 ASEAN summit. Leaders will hold talks with counterparts from major powers including the United States, China, and Japan.

Discussions cover the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict, Myanmar, the South China Sea, and transboundary pollution. The gathering also coincides with the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits hosted by the Philippines.

Fuel costs squeeze Southeast Asian economies

Import-dependent Southeast Asian economies are grappling with higher fuel costs that have squeezed households and businesses and added to inflation pressures. The crisis has exposed the limits of regional energy security, with proposals for a shared oil stockpile still under study, according to Japan Today.

A summit on the Asia Zero Emission Community, a Japan-led framework aimed at achieving energy security, economic growth, and decarbonization at the same time, will be held the following week. United States President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend the summit.

Trump said he was unlikely to order new military strikes on Iran after appeals from countries including Qatar. Energy markets found some relief in these remarks, although anxiety persists regarding potential renewed hostilities and interruptions to petroleum shipments.

For ordinary workers, the impact of the conflict has been immediate. Lito Albino, a 50-year-old jeepney driver, appealed to Trump to help end the conflict.

“No one truly wins in a war. It is the poor and marginalized people like us who suffer the most,” Albino told Japan Today.

ASEAN Summit affects hundreds of flights

A total of 322 domestic and international flights are affected by the ASEAN Summit from November 13 to 19. The Civil Aeronautics Board issued an advisory identifying 264 domestic and 58 international flights across several airlines that could face restrictions and adjustments.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon assured passengers they could request full refunds, free rebooking, or travel credits if their flights were canceled or rescheduled. Passengers do not have to pay additional fees or penalties.

“These are the things that we are assuring you of, government as well as the airlines—you are assured of either free rebooking, all penalties waived, walang penalty ‘yan, walang rebooking fee, walang kahit ano,” Dizon said, according to The Filipino Times.

Travelers also encountered heavy traffic around Ninoy Aquino International Airport ahead of the long weekend.

“Considering the importance of ASEAN for our country, we needed to take additional security measures to ensure…everything is secured coming from this center” De Claro told reporters.

ASEAN reviews Myanmar crisis response

The nation of Myanmar will provide a litmus test for ASEAN’s capacity to uphold a unified stance regarding the ongoing crisis stemming from the 2021 military coup. Leaders are expected to review the implementation of the bloc’s five-point consensus, Philippine foreign ministry spokesperson Dominic Xavier Imperial said at a press conference on Friday.

Their decision will be reflected in a negotiated document to be issued after the summit, Japan Today reported. Ever since the armed forces removed Aung San Suu Kyi and her democratically chosen administration from power, Myanmar has suffered continuous instability, sparking a civil war that has resulted in an estimated 100,000 fatalities and forced over 3.5 million people to flee their homes, according to United Nations figures.

The South China Sea will feature in discussions with China. Negotiations on a long-delayed Code of Conduct are about 70 percent complete, Imperial said.

Protests and economic divergence

Laborers, students, and leftist organizations are anticipated to stage demonstrations during Trump’s arrival, demanding a halt to the Middle East hostilities alongside the cancellation of the American-backed Pax Silica. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan rejected Malacañang’s public statement asking groups to show courtesy during the summit, stating they would hold protests before, during, and after the event.

Progressive groups also assailed the worsening economic situation. Philippine unemployment rose to 5.4 percent, making it the highest among its Southeast Asian neighbors, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority cited by Bulatlat.

The Philippines also recorded a GDP growth rate of 2.1 percent, compared to higher figures in neighboring countries such as Malaysia at 5.3 percent, Singapore at 5.4 percent, Indonesia at 5.5 percent, and Vietnam at 10 percent, according to Bulatlat.