ASEAN rewrites charter for first time in nearly 20 years

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

PNA file photo by Darryl John Esguerra

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu – Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Friday adopted the Cebu Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Charter, marking the first revision to the bloc’s charter since it was signed in 2007.

At a press conference following the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. described the development as a significant milestone for both ASEAN institutional reform and the full integration of Timor-Leste into the regional bloc.

“Another significant outcome was the adoption of the Cebu Protocol to Amend the Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,” Marcos said.

“This marks the first amendment to the ASEAN Charter since its signing in 2007,” he added.

The amendment comes nearly two decades after ASEAN leaders signed the charter in Cebu, which formally transformed ASEAN into a rules-based regional organization with legal personality.

Marcos said the protocol reflects ASEAN’s continuing evolution “as a stronger and more inclusive regional community.”

ASEAN officials earlier said the amendment supports Timor-Leste’s full integration into the bloc after it formally became ASEAN’s 11th member in October 2025.

The President also noted ASEAN’s progress across the Political-Security, Economic, and Socio-Cultural Community pillars as the bloc begins implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

The long-term roadmap seeks to position ASEAN as an “epicenter of growth” in the Indo-Pacific region over the next two decades.

The 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu gathered leaders from Southeast Asia amid growing regional focus on economic resilience, geopolitical stability, energy security, and institutional cooperation.