Eyes in the sky: Satellites now hunt flood control anomalies

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

Government corruption investigators are getting a boost from orbit, with the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) providing satellite imagery to support the Office of the Ombudsman’s investigation of flood control projects.

PhilSA said it has been contributing space data to increase transparency and accountability in government, with the satellite images forming part of that effort.

The disclosure was among the updates aired at the ninth Philippine Space Council (PSC) meeting, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. presided over on June 2.

Marcos used the session to set plans to strengthen the country’s space capabilities through satellite development and the wider use of space data.

Flood control infrastructure has emerged as a focal point of the government’s anti-corruption efforts, drawing scrutiny over alleged irregularities in how projects were funded and built.

As Head Secretariat and Presidential Adviser on Space Matters, PhilSA Ad Interim Director General Gay Jane P. Perez reported on the progress of the Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment (MULA) satellite, billed as the Philippines’ most advanced satellite to date.

MULA could launch in April 2027 aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-20 mission.

Data from MULA will support agriculture, maritime monitoring, disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), and national security applications.

The satellite is now fully built and undergoing space environment testing in the United Kingdom to verify that it meets technical and mission assurance requirements.

Should the tests reveal any anomalies, these will be resolved and the satellite re-tested — an iterative process that may result in adjustments to the development schedule.

The Council approved the development of a MULA constellation as a national priority, producing more MULA satellites through a license that allows the Philippines to rebuild MULA locally.

“PhilSA proposes to build a MULA constellation, composed of follow-on satellites developed and integrated domestically, to secure long-term continuity and improved availability of Earth observation data for government users. This will anchor the maturation of a Philippine space industry, and establish a nationally owned and operated Earth observation capacity commensurate with the country’s strategic requirements,” Perez said, explaining that multiple satellites would allow more frequent revisits and provide impetus for local satellite manufacturing.

The Council also approved a resolution to establish a Philippine geostationary telecommunications satellite, intended to provide a reliable and resilient communications network and a critical backup to terrestrial networks during emergencies.

The satellite is meant to ensure public safety, connectivity, and the continuity of critical government services.

The country is also targeting the launch of its first liquid-fueled rocket by early next year from Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan.

The launch will demonstrate a domestic propellant supply chain, as well as safety procedures and launch authorization for local rocket launches.

These activities are initial steps toward the establishment and operation of a Philippine spaceport.

With the Pacific Ocean to its east and its proximity to the equator, the Philippines is well positioned for safe and secure rocket launch and recovery operations, which officials said could reduce costs, improve launch efficiency, and create opportunities for future space activities.

Aligned with the President’s directive to ensure accessible and effective use of satellite data through sustained partnerships, the Council passed a resolution harmonizing satellite data requirements, streamlining the use of satellite-derived data for national infrastructure planning, programming, monitoring, and evaluation.

The Council further adopted a national response protocol on space debris, citing the global increase in space vehicle launches.

An interagency technical working group (TWG) on orbital debris, led by PhilSA and composed of multiple national agencies, will continue handling debris-related matters and developing national policies and protocols aligned with international standards.

Council Co-Vice Chair and Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. attended the meeting, joined by House science and technology panel chair Rep. Julio A. Ledesma IV; Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan; Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cris Aldeguer-Roque; and Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Rhoel A. Aguda.

Also present were representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs, through Undersecretary Maria Andrelita S. Austria; the Department of Finance, through Undersecretary Maria Edita Z. Tan; the Department of National Defense, through Undersecretary Fabian M. Pedregosa; the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through Undersecretary Augusto D. dela Peña; and the Department of Agriculture, through Assistant Secretary Allen Kristopher A. Anarna.

The PSC was created under the Philippine Space Act, or Republic Act 11363, and is the principal advisory body for coordinating and integrating policies, programs, and resources related to space science and technology applications.

Under the law, the Council approves the implementation of Philippine space policies in accordance with international conventions, ensures the appropriate allocation of resources to support PhilSA’s mandate, and approves the strategic directions and decisions for the agency’s implementation.