Cebu: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. arrived here on Wednesday evening for the Philippines' hosting of the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit. The plane carrying Marcos landed at the Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base at around 9:14 p.m., ahead of key meetings with regional leaders under the country's ASEAN chairship. According to Philippines News Agency, the summit in Cebu is being conducted under a scaled-down format, following a directive from the President to cut costs amid ongoing global uncertainties triggered by the conflict in the Middle East. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) noted that the government 'saved a lot' by shortening the summit duration and shifting a significant number of preparatory and working-level meetings to virtual platforms. DFA Assistant Secretary and ASEAN 2026 spokesperson Dominic Xavier Imperial stated that preparatory meetings originally scheduled to begin earlier this week were reduced, with several discussions held via video conferencing. Execut ive Secretary Ralph Recto, who chairs the ASEAN National Organizing Committee, also ordered the recalibration of hosting plans, including the transfer of around 650 meetings online and the scaling down of non-essential activities. Despite calls earlier this year to suspend the summit, Marcos rejected the proposal, emphasizing the need for regional coordination amid global challenges. The President earlier identified food security, energy stability, and the protection of migrant workers as the Philippines' priority agenda for the summit. Malacañang has declared a special non-working holiday in Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Cordova town from May 6 to 8 to facilitate the conduct of the regional gathering.