SENATOR Loren Legarda proposed the creation of a Philippine Space Agency not to send hungry Filipino astronauts to space but to focus on applications and technologies that will enhance national security and help Filipinos in their daily lives.
In filing Senate Bill No. 1259, Legarda proposed the creation of the PSA and a National Space Development and Utilization Policy which will serve as the country’s primary strategic roadmap for space development.
She said this will also embody the country’s goal of becoming a space-capable and space-faring nation within the next decade.
“It is unfortunate that due to lack of local support to this field, many of our globally-competitive Filipino space scientists have instead opted to serve in space agencies abroad,” said Legarda.
She also said space programs and development are not limited to sending astronauts to space and engineering space crafts and technologies.
“Space programs and development 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, climate studies and disaster risk management, and the expansion of scientific engineering resources,” said Legarda.
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.
Through the PSA, the country will develop and utilize space science and technology applications to enhance its hazard management and disaster mitigation strategy.
She said this will also ensure the nation’s resiliency to climate change and create a robust and thriving space industry to support the country’s space program through private sector involvement and cooperation and establish a sustainable pool of trained space scientists, engineers and communicators.
These people will be critical for the country’s future space program and will increase public awareness on its value and benefits.
Through this, she said the Philippines to become a key player in the Asean and global space community by providing significant contributions and capabilities on space science and technology applications.
The Department of Science and Technology was reported to be pushing for the creation of a national space agency that will consolidate all space-related research and development ventures of various government agencies and boost the country’s capability to become a space technology hub in Southeast Asia.
Science Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said space technology was a multisectoral concern in the country that now requires a centralized organization to address needs in national security and development, disaster mitigation, hazard management and climate studies.