PhilSA taps space data to protect Palawan, Tubbataha reefs

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The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has formalized strategic partnerships with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) and the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) to enhance the use of space science, technology, and applications in advancing environmental protection, sustainable development, and evidence-based policymaking in Palawan.

The agreements were signed on February 13, 2026, in Puerto Princesa City through separate five-year Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) at the PCSD Building with PCSD Executive Director Atty. Teodoro Matta, TMO Protected Area Superintendent Angelique Songco, and PhilSA Director General Gay Jane P. Perez, Ph.D., represented by Space Information Infrastructure Bureau (SIIB) Director Ariel C. Blanco, Ph.D.

Under the MOA with PCSD, PhilSA will generate land use, land cover (LULC) and benthic or marine habitat maps free of charge, which are useful in monitoring environmental health and assessing damage when necessary. PCSD, for its part, will help validate the maps generated by PhilSA using data on the ground.

The partnership builds upon the successful conduct of the PhilSA Integrated Network for Space-Enabled Actions (PINAS) Workshop in Palawan in 2022, which laid the groundwork for strengthened cooperation in the region. Launched in October 2022, PINAS is an active network of Local Government Units (LGUs), institutions, and individuals working toward sustainability using space data.

Workshops have been held in Iloilo City, Palawan, Ilocos Region, Aklan, Mindoro, Davao, Zamboanga, Cebu, Bataan, Bulacan, and Bukidnon. Interested LGUs and organizations may join the PINAS Network here.

The partnership builds upon the successful conduct of the PhilSA Integrated Network for Space-Enabled Actions (PINAS) Workshop in Palawan in 2022, which laid the groundwork for strengthened cooperation in the region.

Launched in October 2022, PINAS is an active network of local government units (LGUs), institutions, and individuals working toward sustainability using space data. Workshops have been held in Iloilo City, Palawan, Ilocos Region, Aklan, Mindoro, Davao, Zamboanga, Cebu, Bataan, Bulacan, and Bukidnon. Interested LGUs and organizations may join the PINAS Network here (https://www.facebook.com/PhilSpaceAgency/posts/pfbid02V5r6s117EMJbfuzA9VQXBR47FbFLcpbPN7rEkUGT14h67qvT66N3qE7RCCp5hB6Yl).

In a separate MOA, PhilSA and the Tubbataha Management Office formalized their collaboration to conduct benthic/marine habitat and bathymetry mapping to help in the science-based management of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a cradle for marine biodiversity.

The agreements include capacity-building efforts to enable PCSD and TMO personnel to effectively utilize space-borne data for environmental habitat monitoring and management beyond the duration of the partnership.

Parallel to the MOA signing, PhilSA also conducted PINAS Symposiums at Western Philippines University (WPU) and Palawan State University (PSU), and field surveys in Balabac, Palawan to collect ground-truth or validation data for mapping initiatives.

Activities included drone image acquisition for high-resolution mapping of benthic areas, crops, and land cover, as well as underwater video and echosounder tows. The data gathered will create more accurate seagrass, coral, forest, and crop maps to support agriculture and sustainable development planning.

Through these partnerships, PhilSA continues to advance the integration of space-enabled solutions in environmental conservation efforts, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable development and science-based governance in the Philippines.

PhilSA was created in August 2019 under Republic Act No. 11363, or the Philippine Space Act, as the central government agency that plans, develops, and promotes the national space program in line with the Philippine Space Policy. It is an attached agency of the Office of the President for purposes of policy and program coordination.