Marcos declares special non-working holiday in Lapu-Lapu, Cordova for ASEAN Summit

Key facts

• President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Proclamation No. 138 declaring May 6-8, 2026 as special non-working days in Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova, Cebu.
• The holiday is to facilitate the Philippines' hosting of the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings.
• The summit's leaders' meeting is scheduled for May 7-8, with delegations from 11 ASEAN member states expected.
• Key summit activities will be held at the newly constructed Mactan Expo in Mactan Newtown, Lapu-Lapu City.
• Under DOLE rules, employees who work on special non-working days earn 130% of their daily rate, or 150% if it falls on a rest day.
• A gun ban and firearm permit suspension in Cebu begins May 4, 2026.
• Road closures will be limited to convoy movements and reopened immediately after, according to local officials.

Holiday declared to secure ASEAN Summit

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared May 6, 7, and 8, 2026, as special non-working holidays in Lapu-Lapu City and the municipality of Cordova in Cebu province, clearing the way for the Philippines to host the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings. The proclamation, numbered 138, was announced by Palace Press Officer Claire Castro during a briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday. She stated that the measure is intended to ease traffic and ensure the safety of summit participants. The official copy had not yet been uploaded to the Official Gazette website as of the briefing.

Final phase of preparations complete

According to the ASEAN National Organizing Council (NOC), the country is in the final phase of preparations for the summit. Castro declared that all strategic, operational, logistical, technical, and security preparations are now complete, with all systems undergoing final live testing and synchronization. 'The government of the Philippines and the NOC, together with all participating agencies, stand 100 percent ready to deliver a secure, seamless, and world-class ASEAN Summit,' Castro added. The summit will bring together heads of state from 10 other ASEAN member countries, with Marcos chairing the event.

Local preparations and traffic management

Nagiel Bañacia, head of the Lapu-Lapu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said preparations in the city have been underway since December, including extensive information campaigns and traffic management planning. Bañacia noted that road closures would be limited to convoy movements and would be reopened immediately after. Delegations from all 11 ASEAN member states are expected to concentrate in Lapu-Lapu City, where key summit activities will take place, including meetings at the newly constructed Mactan Expo in Mactan Newtown. A gun ban and firearm permit suspension in Cebu begins on May 4, adding another layer of security.

Labor rules for special non-working days

Under Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) policies, the 'no work, no pay' principle applies to employees who do not work during the special non-working days, unless a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement grants payment. Employees who work on these days earn 130 percent of their daily rate for the first eight hours. If the special day falls on an employee's rest day, the rate increases to 150 percent. These provisions aim to balance the economic impact on workers with the need for operational continuity during the summit.

Broader context of ASEAN hosting

The Philippines' hosting of the 48th ASEAN Summit underscores its role as chair of the regional bloc for 2026. The summit is a major diplomatic event, drawing attention to Cebu as a hub for international meetings. The declaration of special non-working holidays is a common practice in the Philippines to minimize disruption during large-scale events. Similar holidays have been declared in other cities and municipalities across the country for May 2026, as part of a broader list of special non-working days. The focus on Lapu-Lapu and Cordova reflects the concentration of summit activities in those areas.

Outlook and next steps

With all preparations reportedly complete, the focus now shifts to the actual conduct of the summit. The success of the event will depend on seamless coordination among security, traffic, and logistical teams. The holiday declaration is expected to reduce congestion and allow residents and businesses to plan accordingly. As the summit approaches, further announcements on road closures and security measures are anticipated. The government's readiness, as emphasized by Castro, will be put to the test when the leaders gather on May 7 and 8.

The bottom line

• President Marcos declared May 6-8, 2026 as special non-working holidays in Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova, Cebu for the 48th ASEAN Summit.
• The holiday aims to ease traffic and ensure security for summit participants, with preparations complete and systems undergoing final testing.
• Delegations from 11 ASEAN member states will attend, with key meetings at the Mactan Expo in Lapu-Lapu City.
• Employees who work on these special days earn 130% of their daily rate (150% if on rest day), while non-working employees follow 'no work, no pay' unless otherwise stipulated.
• A gun ban and firearm permit suspension in Cebu begins May 4, and road closures will be limited to convoy movements.