ASEAN to set up maritime center based in PH

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MANILA – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is set to establish its own maritime center in the Philippines, which will serve as a regional hu...

MARITIME CENTER. Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro holds a press conference at the International Media Center in Pasay City after chairing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Saturday (Nov. 14, 2026). She said the ASEAN is set to establish its own maritime center in the Philippines, which will serve as a regional hub for the bloc’s maritime-related initiatives. (Photo by Joyce Rocamora)

MANILA – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is set to establish its own maritime center in the Philippines, which will serve as a regional hub for the bloc’s maritime-related initiatives, said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday.

At the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Pasay City, top ASEAN diplomats adopted the concept note and terms of reference for the proposed ASEAN Maritime Center.

“We haven’t really decided on the other issues concerning this, but this is a very important result of our chairmanship,” Lazaro said.

Among its functions is to serve as a knowledge hub and support platform on maritime-related initiatives and issues in accordance with the priorities identified by the ASEAN member states.

Asked whether China could participate in the center's activities, Lazaro said this would depend on how the institution develops, noting that its structure and operations had yet to be established.

“[If the question is] if China is involved, then it is now part of the process that is evolving. The Maritime Center has not yet been set up, it has just been approved,” she said.

“There’s a whole series of legal instruments to be signed,” she added.

The future center, she said, is envisioned to cover the entire blue economy from academe to port authorities.

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