Sep 10 – The Philippines is taking steps to strengthen its technological self-reliance by expanding the use of space-based data for agriculture, disaster management, environmental monitoring and national security.
At the centre of these efforts is the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), which is developing the Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment, a 130-kilogram satellite designed to support precision agriculture, coastal security and disaster risk management. PhilSA is also implementing the PINAS project, which seeks to expand the use of space data among local government units and civil society organisations.
The country’s growing space ambitions have also received political backing. During his recent State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced plans to establish a national gateway spaceport in Cagayan province. The proposed facility is intended to expand the Philippines’ aerospace capabilities and strengthen the sector’s contribution to economic growth, regional security and infrastructure development.
PhilSA is also laying the foundations for domestic launch capabilities. In partnership with South Korea’s Perigee Aerospace, the agency plans to launch its first liquid-fuelled sounding rocket carrying a Philippine payload. The suborbital mission is expected to provide valuable experience as the country works towards developing a commercial spaceport.
The agency is further working with the European Union to establish a Copernicus Mirror Site, which will enhance access to satellite data for climate monitoring and environmental resilience.
As the Philippines develops these capabilities, India could emerge as a valuable strategic partner for technology exchange, research and capacity building.
Collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) could give the Philippines access to India’s experience in cost-effective engineering, satellite development and space applications, while creating opportunities for cooperation between two emerging spacefaring nations in the Global South.
India’s space programme has gained international recognition for delivering ambitious missions at relatively modest costs. ISRO successfully landed Chandrayaan-3 near the Moon’s south polar region and has developed a range of missions focused on Earth observation, communications, planetary exploration and solar science.
India is now pursuing an ambitious long-term space programme under its Space Vision 2047 framework. Key priorities include the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, which aims to send Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit, as well as planned missions to Venus, lunar sample-return objectives and a proposed crewed lunar landing by 2040.
India’s growing private space sector also offers lessons for the Philippines.
One example is Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based company founded in 2018 by former ISRO scientists. The company developed the Vikram family of rockets for satellite launches and in 2022 successfully launched Vikram-S, India’s first privately developed suborbital rocket.
The emergence of companies such as Skyroot reflects India’s broader shift towards greater private-sector participation in space. By opening the sector to private companies and encouraging investment, India has sought to accelerate innovation, commercialisation and the development of domestic launch capabilities.
Partnership with India
For the Philippines, India’s experience offers several practical lessons.
First, PhilSA could adopt elements of India’s frugal innovation model, which focuses on achieving sophisticated technological outcomes through cost-effective engineering and the development of domestic industrial capabilities.
Building local manufacturing capacity for satellites, electronics and launch systems would gradually reduce dependence on expensive foreign imports while creating new opportunities for Philippine companies and researchers.
Second, the Philippines could draw from India’s experience in developing a public-private space ecosystem. Partnerships between government agencies, universities and private companies could help accelerate the development of the proposed Cagayan spaceport and create a domestic commercial launch industry.
India’s applications-first approach also provides a useful model. Demonstrating clear benefits from space technology in agriculture, land management, disaster response, climate monitoring and maritime security can help build public and political support for wider investment in the sector.
The Philippines and India already have a foundation for closer cooperation through agreements on outer-space collaboration between PhilSA and ISRO. Building on this relationship could open opportunities for joint satellite development, Earth observation data sharing, scientific research and technical training.
The two countries could also explore cooperation in launch services and the development of space infrastructure, potentially combining India’s experience in launch systems and satellite manufacturing with the Philippines’ strategic location in the Indo-Pacific.
