ASEAN 2026: Traffic advisories, road closures, and other things to know
The Philippines is set to host the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in November, with preparations expected to affect traffic, road access, and air travel in Metro Manila.
The summit will take place from Nov. 16 to 18 at various venues across Metro Manila, primarily at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
As it will bring together leaders and delegates from ASEAN member states and partner countries, security preparations and temporary adjustments have been made to road access and airport operations.
If you're planning to commute, drive around Metro Manila, or travel by air in November, here's what you need to know:
Nov. 16 to 18 declared special non-working days in Metro Manila
Malacañang has declared Nov. 16 to 18 as special non-working days throughout the National Capital Region.
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Under Proclamation No. 1447, the suspension of work aims to help ease traffic congestion and allow authorities to ensure the safety and security of summit participants.
Road closures and traffic restrictions in Pasay
As the PICC will serve as the main venue for the summit, the Pasay City government has announced temporary road closures around the area as part of their preparations.
According to the Pasay Traffic and Parking Management Office in Action, partial road closures are scheduled from Oct. 24 to Nov. 9, while total road closures will be implemented from Nov. 9 to 20.
The affected areas include the surroundings of the PICC, Pedro Bukaneg St., Vicente Sotto St., Buendia Avenue, J.W. Diokno Blvd., Atang Dela Rama St. and Magdalena Jalandoni St.
They also recommended avoiding Macapagal Blvd., World Trade Center area, Diokno Blvd., and other parts of Roxas Blvd. as severe traffic may take place.
Designated bus lanes will also temporarily be converted into ASEAN Lanes to prioritize the passage of official vehicles and delegations participating in the event.
"Upang maiwasan ang abala, mahalagang maglaan ng sapat na oras sa pagbiyahe, gumamit ng alternatibong ruta, at sumunod sa mga tagubilin ng mga awtorisadong tauhan," the agency emphasized.
Employees working within the affected areas may be allowed to enter or pass through the restricted zones when they present a valid company ID. However, this is still subject to the security rules to be implemented.
Possible flight adjustments
Air travelers should also prepare for possible changes to their flight schedules during the summit period.
In an advisory, the Civil Aeronautics Board directed airlines to coordinate with airport authorities and notify affected passengers as early as possible of any cancellations or schedule changes.
"Air passengers are likewise advised to closely monitor the status of their flights, including any official government and airline advisories for travel updates and coordinate directly with their airlines for any alternative options, the agency said.
Passengers are also encouraged to allot extra time for their trips to the airport, considering possible traffic congestion, road closures, and enhanced security measures that may affect check-in, security screening, and other airport procedures.
Cebu Pacific previously released an advisory on flight cancellations on select domestic and international routes from Nov. 14 to 18.
The affected domestic routes include flights between Manila and Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, Cauayan, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Laoag, Legazpi, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, Virac, and Zamboanga.
Meanwhile, affected international routes include Manila to Bangkok, Brunei, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Sapporo.
The airline has since notified their passengers of this change and they have been reaccommodated to the next available flights.
All Southeast Asian heads of state are expected to attend this year's summit, except for Myanmar, which will be represented by the permanent secretary of its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. US President Donald Trump has also been confirmed to attend the summit.
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