Creation of Philippine Space Agency sought

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Loren Legarda proposed the creation of the Philippine Space Agency which will address the country's issues related to space science and technology applications.

The senator filed Senate Bill 1259 or "An act establishing a Philippine Space Development Policy and creating the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), defining its purpose, appropriating funds therefor and for other purposes."

The proposed policy will serve as the country's primary strategic roadmap for space development, Legarda said.

"It must be considered that the Philippines is lagging behind its neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore, each having Space Agencies with satellites devoted on telecommunications or earth monitoring," Legarda said.

The senator noted that many Filipino space scientists opted to serve in space agencies abroad due to lack of local support in the field.

"Space programs and development are not limited to sending astronauts to space or engineering space crafts and technologies, but they, in fact, address basic needs in our daily lives such as the application of global navigation satellite systems which directly affects industries, transportation management, national security, health management, and the expansion of scientific and engineering resources," the senator said.

The proposed Philippine space development policy will focus on six key development areas:

• national security and development
• hazard management and climate studies
• space research and development
• space industry and capacity building
• space education and awareness
• international cooperation

The PhilSA will be established as the central government agency addressing issues on space science and technology applications.

The agency will be the primary policy and administrative entity of the executive branch of the government in promoting the national space program.

It will be an attached agency of the Office of the President and will be headed by a director general.

Under the proposed measure, a sum of P1 billion will be appropriated as initial operating fund for the PhilSA, taken from the budget o the Office of the President, Department of Science and Technology and Department of National Defense.

"The Philippine Space Policy will focus on space applications that can preserve and enhance the country’s national security and promote development that is beneficial to all Filipinos, and on conducting research and development endeavors in vital areas of space science, technology and allied fields," Legarda said in a statement. — Patricia Lourdes Viray