President Marcos said the Philippines will push for the conclusion of a binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea when it hosts the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in 2026. In the final part of Episode 3 of his podcast released on Friday evening, Aug. 8, the President noted the urgency of clear rules in the region, especially since the “hottest part” of the West Philippine Sea is on the Philippine side. “We will certainly try because it is very, very important,” he said when asked if the Philippines would take bigger and more concrete steps to advance the Code’s conclusion.

Geducos, A. C. B. (2025, August 9). Marcos to push for binding sea code. Manila Bulletin, p. 1, 10.