written by: Ang, Rendel B
The creation of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has been approved by the house of Representatives on December 5, 2018. It is under the House Bill No. 8541, also known as the Philippine Space Development Act with the goal of addressing space science and technological issues on a nationwide scale. Having 207 affirmative votes, the bill will also serve as a medium in the country becoming space-capable and space-fairing in the next decade through the Philippine Space Development and Utilization Policy (PSDUP) which functions as the country’s main strategic roadmap.
The bill will focus on Space Science and Technology Application (SSTA) which is the application of space science, engineering and other allied fields of scientific principles.
Moving Forward
📷The Philippine Space agency’s approval was paved by the launching of Diwata-1, Diwata-2 and MAYA-1 micro satellites, emphasized by Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Rowena Cristina Guevara. It served as a giant leap in the progression as Dr. Guevara stated that "With this milestone, we are now able to receive information that can be translated to the enhancement of our capabilities in weather forecasting, disaster management and preparedness, national security, industry building, research, education and international cooperation."
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Pena stated in a press conference several things in which the upcoming space agency research in the country some of the keypoints which he stated are as follows: “national added security, improvised hazard management, progressive climate studies, refined space research, and modernized farming and environmental monitoring".
The First Step
Although the Senate is still having its own deliberation even with an unanimous vote on third and final reading, plans for the project are already underway as Secretary De la Pena has stated that the first 10 years of operation will have a proposed budget of 24 billion pesos in its establishment. The land the bill provides will have at least 30 hectares of land area from Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga and Tarlac. The area of lands are under the administration of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and will be allocated as the official site of PhilSA.
The Project’s Potential
Optimism that a space agency would contribute to the nation-building and growth of the country was expressed by Executive Director Enrico Paringit of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) with an established projected captured market of $1.5 billion in the next 10 years through the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), a 0.57 percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) share and over 2,200 direct employments to come.
References:
Cervantes, F. M. (2018, December 4). House Moves for Creation of PH Space Agency. Philippine News Agency. Retrieved from http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1055728
Diangson, L. (2018, December 5). House Approves the Creation of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA). YugaTech. Retrieved from https://www.yugatech.com/news/house-approves-the-creation-of-the-philippine-space-agency-psa/#sthash.DrIWSN4P.dpbs#Czu0JTQ0ZmmTp9G4.97
Kyodo News (2019, January 31). Philippines Ready for Own Space Agency: DOST. ABS-CBN News. Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/31/19/philippines-ready-for-own-space-agency-dost
Tumampos, S. (2019, February 3). $1.5 Billion Market Seen Once PHL Space Agency is Created. BusinessMirror. Retrieved from https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/02/03/1-5-billion-market-seen-once-phl-space-agency-is-created/#
Umali, T. (2019, February 7). Philippine Space Agency to Contribute to the Country’s Economy. OpenGov Asia. Retrieved from https://www.opengovasia.com/philippine-space-agency-to-contribute-to-the-countrys-economy/
Yang, A. (2018, October 31). DIWATA-2 is successfully launched into space. In Medias Res. Retrieved from https://inmediasresofficial.wordpress.com/2018/10/31/diwata-2-is-successfully-launched-into-space/
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