Government opens ASEAN media hub, stresses role of press in regional unity

Acting Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez on Tuesday highlighted the significance of media in keeping ASEAN citizens informed on Southeast Asia's response to shared regional challenges, including the effects of the Middle East crisis.

Speaking at the opening of the ASEAN 2026 International Media Center (IMC) at the Mactan World Museum in Cebu, Gomez said the facility serves not only as a workspace but also as a strategic hub to support journalists covering the 2026 ASEAN Summit, one of the region’s major gatherings this year.

“As we open this Media Center today, we extend our full cooperation and gratitude. The success of the summit’s public communication depends significantly on your professionalism and dedication,” Gomez said.

“We are confident that, with your help, the key messages of unity, progress, and collaboration from Cebu will resonate strongly in your respective organizations and outlets.”

He added that ASEAN media outlets will play a key role in bringing summit discussions, decisions, and the broader spirit of regional cooperation to audiences across Southeast Asia and beyond.

Gomez also noted that in light of tensions in the Middle East and their spillover effects in Asia, ASEAN leaders, on the initiative of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., have adjusted the summit agenda to include discussions on energy security and coordinated responses to mitigate impacts on member states.

Disaster resilience has likewise been included, with ASEAN countries committing to strengthen community-based early warning systems, rapid humanitarian response mechanisms, and support for affected populations, “ensuring that disasters like the one we have with Mayon volcano do not undermine vulnerable communities,” he said.

“Through your reporting, the world will understand the outcomes on regional peace and security, economic integration, sustainable development, and our shared commitment to ‘Navigating Our Future, Together,’” Gomez added.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, meanwhile, said the province is fully prepared to host the ASEAN Summit and is hopeful it will strengthen trade and economic ties. She also thanked the media for helping share Cebu’s story.

Baricuatro said the event is expected to boost partnerships, attract investments, and promote sustainable tourism and long-term economic growth.

“To our ASEAN partners, we welcome you not just as guests, but as collaborators in building a more dynamic and inclusive region,” she said.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Cindi Chan also emphasized the media’s essential role in bridging high-level discussions among leaders and the wider public across Southeast Asia. She noted the city’s efforts to position itself as a hub for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.

The IMC, described as a strategic facility, is equipped with workstations, high-speed internet, charging stations, briefing rooms, and technical support to enable reporters to file stories efficiently.

It also includes broadcast booths for pool feeds, live reporting positions, and a centralized Master Control Room for signal distribution.

The center further provides spaces for briefings, interviews, and access to official documents such as fact sheets and updates, with media liaison officers on standby to assist with accreditation, scheduling, and logistics.