Philippines urges ASEAN to strengthen crisis coordination amid Iran war

Foreign minister says bloc needs greater 'institutional readiness'

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro opens an ASEAN foreign ministers meeting on May 7 in Cebu, ahead of the bloc's 48th summit the next day. © Reuters

CEBU, Philippines -- ASEAN needs to strengthen its crisis coordination in the face of the outsized impact of the global energy crisis on the Southeast Asian bloc's members, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro urged as she opened two days of meetings of regional ministers and leaders.