Photo courtesy of PNP.
Authorities have deployed more than 7,300 personnel in Central Visayas ahead of the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit scheduled on May 7 to 8 in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
Philippine National Police chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. led the deployment on Saturday and conducted inspections of key areas through aerial and ground visits.
The inspections were used to assess readiness, review deployment arrangements, and check coordination among units assigned to secure venues, transport routes, and related facilities.
Security coverage includes venue protection, traffic management, convoy assistance, coastal and airspace monitoring, emergency response, and other operational requirements.
The deployment is under Task Group Central Visayas, composed of personnel from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, the Department of Health, the Office of Civil Defense, and other agencies.
Authorities said preparations were based on coordinated planning among participating agencies and existing protocols for large-scale events.
Foreign delegations are expected to arrive starting May 5 and leave by May 12, with activities concentrated in Lapu-Lapu City.
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro earlier said Cebu had reached advanced stages of preparation, with emergency systems in place and key summit activities set at Mactan Expo as the country hosts ASEAN in 2026.