President Marcos Calls for People-Centric Philippine Space Agenda

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  Published in Science and Technology on Friday, November 21st 2025 at 19:56 GMT by philstar.com
      Locale: PHILIPPINES

Space Science and Technology Must Serve the People – President Marcos’s Call for a “People‑Centric” Philippine Space Agenda

On a sunny afternoon in Manila, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. addressed a gathering of scientists, engineers, and policymakers at the newly inaugurated Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) headquarters. In a speech that drew on his own background as a former astronaut‑candidate, the president underscored the imperative that “space science and technology must serve the people.” The remarks were widely reported by the Philippine news network MSN, which highlighted the President’s vision for a “people‑centric” space strategy that dovetails with national development goals and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

1. Why Space Matters for the Philippines

The President began by framing the Philippines as a country that is “perpetually exposed to natural hazards” – from typhoons and earthquakes to rising sea levels and marine erosion. He emphasized that the Pacific’s “Ring of Fire” places the archipelago at a high risk of climate‑induced disasters. For the first time, he linked this vulnerability to the nation’s nascent space program, arguing that Earth‑observation satellites and related technologies can be the “lifeline” that enables early warning, damage assessment, and efficient allocation of resources during crises.

He cited the 2019‑2020 typhoon season, where the DOST‑PhilSA collaboration produced near‑real‑time satellite imagery that helped the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) coordinate rescue operations and deliver relief supplies more quickly. The President lauded this as a tangible example of space tech “serving the people” and called for a larger, more sustained investment in satellite launches, data analytics, and community‑based disaster preparedness.

2. The Current Philippine Space Landscape

In his overview of the national space landscape, Marcos highlighted several key initiatives that the government has launched in the last decade:

Marcos pointed out that while the Philippines has made “commendable progress,” it still lags behind regional peers in terms of launch capacity and data commercialization. The President called for a “comprehensive space policy” that would guide investment, partnerships, and workforce development for the next decade.

3. A “People‑Centric” Policy Blueprint

President Marcos unveiled a draft policy framework that seeks to align space technology with five core national priorities:

1. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) – Enhanced early‑warning systems, real‑time damage mapping, and post‑disaster recovery.
2. Agricultural Productivity – Precision farming through satellite‑derived soil moisture and crop‑health indices.
3. Environmental Conservation – Monitoring deforestation, illegal mining, and marine pollution via high‑resolution imagery.
4. Scientific Research & Education – Scholarship programs, university partnerships, and a national “Space Academy” for youth.
5. Economic Development – Commercializing satellite data, fostering a local space‑tech industry, and securing foreign investment.

In line with this blueprint, the President announced a P1.2 billion (≈US $20 million) budget increase for the DOST‑PhilSA in the next fiscal year. This funding will be earmarked for:

• Building a second launchpad capable of handling heavier payloads.
• Expanding the satellite constellation to include small‑satellite (CubeSat) missions.
• Training a workforce of 300 new space engineers by 2028.

Marcos also highlighted the role of public‑private partnerships (PPPs). He cited the joint venture between the DOST and the Philippine Space Exploration Programme (PSEP), a consortium that includes local telecom firms, universities, and international space agencies such as NASA and ESA. The President urged local companies to “leverage their technological expertise and local knowledge” to build an ecosystem that can supply satellite‑based services to remote barangays.

4. International Cooperation and Regional Leadership

Marcos underscored the Philippines’ desire to become a regional leader in space technology. He referenced the Asia‑Pacific Space Cooperation (APSC) framework and the Global Space Office (GSO), both of which aim to promote open data sharing and collaborative missions among member nations.

During the speech, the President emphasized that the Philippine Space Agency has already signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with NASA’s Earth Science Division and ESA’s Copernicus Programme. These agreements grant Filipino researchers access to high‑resolution satellite imagery and data analytics tools that can improve everything from disaster forecasting to water‑resource management.

Marcos also mentioned the International Space Station (ISS) as a training ground for Filipino astronauts. He announced a new scholarship program that would send three Filipino cadets to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for joint training, with the goal of launching the first Filipino‑born astronaut by 2035.

5. A Call to Action for the People

In closing, President Marcos urged the Filipino public to become “active participants” in the space agenda. He suggested:

• Citizen science initiatives: Mobile apps that let users upload images of local environmental changes, which are then cross‑verified with satellite data.
• Educational outreach: Partnerships with schools to integrate space science into the K‑12 curriculum, including hands‑on projects like building small CubeSats.
• Community engagement: Local “space hubs” that provide real‑time data to farmers, fishermen, and disaster‑prone communities.

The President concluded, “When we look up at the stars, we must remember that our destiny on Earth depends on the technology we create to protect and prosper it. Space science and technology are not just lofty pursuits; they are the lifelines that keep our families safe, our farms productive, and our nation resilient.”

6. Bottom Line

President Marcos’s speech, as reported by MSN, represents a milestone in the Philippine space narrative. By framing space science as a tool that must “serve the people,” the president has shifted the country’s space agenda from an academic curiosity to a developmental priority that tackles disaster risk, food security, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. The next decade will be pivotal in determining whether the Philippines can harness the power of the cosmos to meet the pressing needs of its millions of citizens.