MANILA – The Philippines will support efforts to establish a unified visa system among ASEAN member countries, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco announced Thursday ahead of the Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN summit and related meetings in 2026.

“As early as the very first ASEAN meeting that I attended as Tourism Secretary, I expressed the Philippines’ desire to benefit from a unified ASEAN visa,” she said in a media briefing in Makati City on Thursday.

“But of course, this is entirely up to the agreements of the nations. We maintain our stance in terms of desiring an ASEAN visa without compromising national security.”

Frasco previously noted in May that other Southeast Asian countries also showed interest in a unified visa scheme, which is inspired by the European Schengen visa and the Gulf Cooperation Council’s joint visa.

She expressed hope that the topic would be revisited as the Philippines assumes the ASEAN chairmanship in 2026.

Meanwhile, the official said preparations are underway for the overall Philippine hosting of the ASEAN meetings next year.

“The Philippines hosting of the ASEAN in 2026 will be a very big boost to tourism for the country, and on the side of the Department of Tourism, we are very excited that the very first ASEAN meetings will be about tourism, with the ASEAN Tourism Forum slated to be held at the end of January 2026,” she said. (PNA)