ILOILO City – This city successfully hosted the 49th Meeting of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration without a single security incident, with Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) declaring the three-day international gathering from Feb. 25 to 27 as peaceful and orderly.
Police Brigadier General Josefino Ligan, regional director of PRO-6 and commander of the ASEAN 2026 Site Task Group (STG) Iloilo, credited extensive preparations and tightly coordinated security operations for the smooth conduct of the high-level meeting attended by 88 delegates from member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The conference gathered senior officials and participants to advance initiatives aimed at strengthening regional economic integration, placing Iloilo City in the international spotlight.
Ligan said security measures covered venue and hotel protection, route and traffic management, and round-the-clock monitoring through the Multi-Agency Coordinating Center.
Police assistance desks were also set up to provide immediate support to delegates, while PRO-6 deployed its drone-based monitoring system under Project Dapay to enhance real-time situational awareness and operational readiness.
“The peaceful and incident-free conduct of this important gathering reflects the professionalism, dedication, and discipline of all personnel of ASEAN 2026 STG Iloilo, as well as the strong support and cooperation of partner agencies, local government units, and the community,” Ligan said.
“Their collective effort and shared commitment to public safety were instrumental in the overall success of the event.”
Authorities said the successful security coverage further strengthens Iloilo City’s reputation as a dependable and secure venue for high-level international conferences, as preparations continue for future ASEAN-related events in Western Visayas./PN
