Philippine Space Agency

Last updated

Philippine Space Agency
PhilSA Logo with text (vertical).png
PhilSA Logo
Agency overview
AbbreviationPhilSA
FormedAugust 8, 2019;4 years ago (2019-08-08)
Type Space agency
Headquarters UP Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines (de facto)
New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, Philippines (de jure)
Administrator Joel Marciano Jr., Director-General
Primary spaceport None
Owner Office of the President
Employees50 (July 2021) [1]
Annual budget₱847.66 million (2023) [2]
Website philsa.gov.ph

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) is the national space agency of the Philippines.

Contents

The unified space agency is defined by the Philippine Space Act (Republic Act No. 11363) which was signed into law on August 8, 2019, by President Rodrigo Duterte, [3] intended to manage and operate the decentralized space program of the Philippine government, which was handled by various agencies of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

History

Background

Prior to the creation of the agency, the Philippine space program had two primary challenges:

  1. insufficient funding; and
  2. lack of a centralized agency to manage the space program. [4]

In the absence of a formal space agency, the DOST funded the National Space Development Program to set up the foundations of a future space agency. [5] Several government agencies under the DOST had previously maintained the country's space program; namely the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). [6] [7] [8] The DOST and the Manila Observatory crafted a 10-year masterplan in 2012 to make the Philippines a "space-capable country" by 2022. [9] The scientists involved in the program's planning gave the media a copy of a draft bill written by Deocaris which they submitted to AGHAM Partylist Rep. Angelo Palmones of the 15th Congress (July 26, 2010 – June 6, 2013) for the enactment of what is to be known the "Philippine Space Act of 2012" (House Bill No. 6725). [10]

In 2014, the country started a micro-satellite program where local engineers developed and produced the Diwata-1, Diwata-2 and Maya-1, which were all subsequently launched into space via foreign facilities. All three satellites were a success.

Legislative history

The Philippine Space Agency was proposed to be established through legislation particularly through the 17th Congress (July 25, 2016 – June 4, 2019)'s "Philippine Space Act of 2016" (House Bill No. 3637) [11] and "Philippine Space Act" (Senate Bill No. 1211). [12] On November 27, 2018, The House of Representatives passed the alternative bill, the "Philippine Space Development Act" (HB No. 8541), [13] on the 2nd reading. "The bill also provides for a Philippine Space Development and Utilization Policy (PSDUP) that shall serve as the country’s primary strategic roadmap for space development and embody the country’s central goal of becoming a space-capable and space-faring nation in the next decade." [14] DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña was in favor HB 8541. [15]

In December 2018, HB 8541 was approved on the third and final reading with 207 affirmative votes with no votes against or abstentions. Under the bill, the agency was to be attached to the DOST. The bill also creates the Philippine Space Development Fund to be used exclusively for its operation. The astronomical space-related functions of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and DOST will also be transferred to the Philippine Space Agency, under the bill. [16]

The "Philippine Space Act" (Senate Bill No. 1983) was passed with 18 senators approving for the proposed legislation's passage with no negative votes in May 2019, [17] hence dedicating ₱1bil from the current fiscal year's appropriation with subsequent funding from the General Appropriations Act, plus an additional ₱1bil from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) with ₱2bil released annually. [18] The Bicameral Committee ratified HB 8541 on June 4, 2019, placing the space agency under the Office of the President. The proposed legislation (a harmonization of HB 8541 & SBN 1983) was due for signing into law by President Rodrigo Duterte. [19] The Senate info-page for Senate Bill 1983 reports presentation of the harmonized bill to the Presidential Malacañang Palace on July 9, 2019. [20]

Formation

Duterte signed the "Philippine Space Act" (RA 11363) on August 8, 2019, and a copy was released to reporters on August 13.

In signing the new law, Duterte recognized the “urgent need to create a coherent and unified strategy for space development and utilization to keep up with other nations in terms of space science and technology.” thus established the agency [21] [22]

Press conference on the establishment of the Philippine Space Agency, August 14, 2019. Philippine Space Agency establishment PC.jpg
Press conference on the establishment of the Philippine Space Agency, August 14, 2019.
President Rodrigo Duterte signs the Philippine Space Act (RA 11363), August 2019 Duterte establishing the Philippine space agency.png
President Rodrigo Duterte signs the Philippine Space Act (RA 11363), August 2019

Following the Space Act's signing into law, DOST Secretary Dela Peña has written to the Office of the President to initiate the drafting of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the space agency. [23]

The first head of Philippine Space Agency, Joel Marciano Jr. was appointed on December 5, 2019, by President Duterte. [24]

Although by law, PhilSA should hold its main office in Clark, [14] the space agency decided to temporarily hold office in Quezon City at least until 2021. [25] The space program started by the DOST in 2014 will also be transitioned to PhilSA. [26]

Organization

The Philippine Space Council is the agency's principal advisory body. It is proposed that at least 30 hectares (74 acres) will be allocated as PhilSA's headquarters and main research facility in an official site within the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga and Tarlac with a target completion date of 2022. Additional facilities (launch sites, research and development) are also to be established in the future. [14] The PhilSA announced in October 2021 that its headquarters, the National Space Center, would be built at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. [27]

The agency is mandated to focus on six areas — national security and development, hazard management and climate studies, space research and development, space industry capacity building, space education and awareness, and international cooperation.

President Bongbong Marcos presides over the 6th Philippine Space Council meeting, December 19, 2022. Philippine Space Council meeting, December 2022.jpg
President Bongbong Marcos presides over the 6th Philippine Space Council meeting, December 19, 2022.

Philippine Space Council

The Philippine Space Council is the primary advisory body to the Director General. The council is headed by the President of the Philippines, who leads the council as its chairperson. [28] The following is the composition of the space council: [29]

Activities and program

According to the Department of Science and Technology, the Philippines already possesses enough infrastructure to run a dedicated space agency. Since 2010, it has spent ₱7.48 billion (or $144 million) for space research and development, aided 5,500 scholars, trained more than 1,000 space science experts, and established 25 facilities in various parts of the Philippines. It has also developed six small-scale satellites (Diwata-1, Diwata-2, Maya-1, Maya-2, Maya-3, and Maya-4 [30] ) and had them launched and deployed to space. [31] [32] While the immediate goals of the agency will not involve launching rockets like with its United States and Japan counterparts National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), it is planned that the agency would pursue such goals in the long term. [32]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panfilo Lacson</span> Filipino politician and former Philippine Police Chief

Panfilo "Ping" Morena Lacson Sr. is a Filipino former politician and police general who served as a Senator for three terms: from 2001 to 2013 and from 2016 to 2022. He was the Director General of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from 1999 to 2001, and was a candidate in the 2004 and 2022 Philippine presidential elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Science and Technology (Philippines)</span> Executive department of the Philippine government

The Department of Science and Technology, is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the coordination of science and technology-related projects in the Philippines and to formulate policies and projects in the fields of science and technology in support of national development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippines–Russia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Philippines–Russia relations are the bilateral relations between Russia and the Philippines. Both countries are full members of APEC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Win Gatchalian</span> Filipino politician and businessman

Sherwin Ting Gatchalian, known as Win Gatchalian, is a Filipino politician and businessman serving as a Senator since 2016. A member of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), he previously served as the Representative of Valenzuela's 1st district from 2001 to 2004 and from 2013 to 2016. He was the Mayor of Valenzuela from 2004 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Office of the President of the Philippines</span> Philippines government agency

The Office of the President of the Philippines, is an administrative, advisory, and consultative government agency that aids the president of the Philippines in performing their duty as head of state and chief of the executive branch of government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine space program</span>

The space program of the Philippines is currently maintained by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) together with various agencies under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The space program includes space research and development, and is funded through the National SPACE Development Program (NSDP) by the DOST and received an initial budget of ₱1 billion in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diwata-1</span> Philippine microsatellite

Diwata-1 also known as PHL-Microsat-1 was a Philippine microsatellite launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on March 23, 2016, and was deployed into orbit from the ISS on April 27, 2016. It was the first Philippine microsatellite and the first satellite built and designed by Filipinos. It was followed by Diwata-2, launched in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PEDRO Center</span>

The Philippine Earth Data Resource and Observation Center, also known as the PEDRO Center is an organization tasked in operating satellite ground stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidency of Rodrigo Duterte</span> Philippine presidential administration from 2016 to 2022

Rodrigo Duterte's six-year tenure as the 16th President of the Philippines began on June 30, 2016, succeeding Benigno Aquino III. He was the first president from Mindanao, the first president to have worked in all three branches of government, and the oldest to be elected. He won the election amid growing frustration with post-EDSA governance that favored elites over ordinary Filipinos. His tenure ended on June 30, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fortunato de la Peña</span> Filipino engineer and government official

Fortunato "Boy" Tanseco de la Peña is a Filipino engineer and professor who served as the Secretary of Science and Technology in the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte from 2016 to 2022. Before he assumed leadership of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), he was the Undersecretary for Scientific and Technological Services from 2001 to 2014. Except for his brief retirement from 2014 to 2016, he has been with the department since 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diwata-2</span>

Diwata-2 or Diwata-2B is a Philippine microsatellite launched on October 29, 2018. It is the first satellite launched under the STAMINA4Space program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PHL-Microsat</span> Satellite program of the Philippines

The Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Microsatellite (PHL-Microsat) was a satellite program carried by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) of the Philippines in cooperation with the Tohoku and Hokkaido Universities of Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine national identity card</span> National identity card of the Philippines

The Philippine Identification System ID, also known as the Philippine Identification Card or simply the national ID, is the official national identity card for Filipino citizens worldwide and foreign permanent residents in the Philippines. The document is a significant part of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), the national identification system to be implemented by the Philippine government.

The Space Technology and Applications Mastery, Innovation and Advancement is a space technology program by the Philippine government. It is considered as the successor program to the Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Microsatellite (PHL-Microsat) program, a cooperation between the Philippine government and Japanese universities to develop microsatellites. The program is funded under the Department of Science and Technology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development</span> Executive department of the Philippine government

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, abbreviated as DHSUD, is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the management of housing and related development in the Philippines. The department is led by the Secretary of Human Settlements and Urban Development, as appointed by the President of the Philippines and confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. The secretary would be assisted by three Undersecretaries and three Assistant Secretaries, that would be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Secretary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Mapa</span> Filipino economist and statistician

Claire Dennis S. Mapa is a Filipino economist and statistician. He is the National Statistician and Civil Registrar General (NSCRG) of the Philippine Statistics Authority with a rank of Undersecretary as appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte. He succeeds Lisa Grace Bersales whose tenure ended on 22 April 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Marciano Jr.</span>

Joel Joseph Sacro Marciano Jr. is a Filipino engineer, academic and the first and current Director General of the Philippine Space Agency, a government agency under the Office of the President in charge of the Philippines' national space program.

The Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment (MULA) is a planned Filipino satellite. Upon completion it will become the largest Filipino-made satellite.

References

  1. ↑ "Philippine Space Agency aims to foster local space era opportunities". ABS-CBN News. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  2. ↑ "General Appropriations Act FY 2023-Volume I-B Philippine Space Agency" (PDF). Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  3. ↑ Parrocha, Azer (August 13, 2019). "Duterte signs law creating Philippine Space Agency". Philippine News Agency . Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  4. ↑ de Guzman, Chad (March 23, 2018). "PH takes small steps, as it aims for giant leaps in space technology". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on April 22, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  5. ↑ Tumampos, Stephanie; Resurreccion, Lyn (October 29, 2018). "PHL flying high–into space". BusinessMirror. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  6. ↑ Luces, Kim (October 15, 2013). "Reaching for the stars: Why the Philippines needs a space program". GMA News. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  7. ↑ Cinco, Maricar (November 7, 2012). "Gov't space agency pushed". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  8. ↑ Pineda, Oscar (March 10, 2013). "Country needs to upgrade weather detection gear". Sun Star Cebu. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  9. ↑ Usman, Edd (March 29, 2015). "PH to become 'space-capable' in 10 yrs, according to DOST". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  10. ↑ Usman, Edd K (December 14, 2012), Planetary Scientists Launch Space Movement, Philippine Department of Science and Technology[ permanent dead link ]
  11. ↑ "Philippine Space Act of 2016" (PDF). 17th Philippine House of Representatives. September 15, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  12. ↑ "SBN-1211: Philippine Space Act". 17th Congress of the Philippines#Senate. September 15, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Philippine Space Development Act" (PDF). 17th Philippine House of Representatives. November 5, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  14. 1 2 3 "House okays PH Space Dev't bill on 2nd reading". Philippine News Agency . November 27, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  15. ↑ Arayata, Ma. Cristina (February 1, 2019). "DOST execs note importance of Space Agency creation". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  16. ↑ Roxas, Pathricia Ann V. (December 4, 2018). "Philippine space development bill gets House nod". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  17. ↑ Cervantes, Filane Mikee (May 20, 2019). "Senate approves creation of PH Space Agency". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Senate approves creation of PH Space Agency". Philippine News Agency . May 20, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  19. ↑ Tumampos, Stephanie (June 4, 2019). "Philippine Space Agency, ready for President Duterte's signature". BusinessMirror. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  20. ↑ "SBN-1983: Philippine Space Act Leg. History". 17th Congress of the Philippines#Senate. June 30, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  21. ↑ Parrocha, Azer (August 13, 2019). "Duterte signs law creating Philippine Space Agency". Philippine News Agency . Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  22. ↑ Esguerra, Darryl John (August 13, 2019). "Duterte signs law creating Philippine Space Agency". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  23. ↑ Arayata, Maria Cristina (August 16, 2019). "DOST chief wants OP to initiate drafting of Space Agency's IRR". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Duterte appoints first head of Philippine Space Agency". CNN Philippines. January 7, 2020. Archived from the original on January 9, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Where is PhilSA Located?". Facebook. Philippine Space Agency. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020. The PhilSA is currently setting up shop and will be based in Quezon City, at least until 2021. Alt URL
  26. ↑ "PH's Maya-2 launched into space: DOST". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Space agency site to rise in New Clark City". BusinessWorld. October 14, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Philippines breaks new ground with own space agency". Japan Times. Kyodo. August 17, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  29. ↑ Ronnicque, Neyzielle (August 15, 2019). "Philippine Space Agency signed into law". DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  30. ↑ "Maya-3 and Maya-4 CubeSats launched to International Space Station". DOST-ASTI. August 31, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  31. ↑ Silver, Andrew (August 19, 2019). "The Philippines creates its first space agency". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-019-02485-9 . Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  32. 1 2 "Philippines ready and able to create its own space agency, minister says". The Japan Times. Kyodo. February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.