The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has formalized new strategic partnerships with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development and the Tubbataha Management Office to strengthen the use of space science and satellite data in environmental protection, sustainable development, and policy planning in Palawan. The agreements were signed on 13 February 2026 in Puerto Princesa City, marking a significant step toward integrating advanced geospatial technologies into local conservation strategies.
The memoranda of agreement were signed during a formal ceremony attended by PCSD Executive Director Teodoro Matta, TMO Protected Area Superintendent Angelique Songco, and PhilSA Director General Gay Jane P. Perez, who was represented by Space Information Infrastructure Bureau Director Ariel C. Blanco. The five-year agreements outline joint initiatives designed to improve environmental monitoring through satellite-derived maps and ground validation efforts.
Under the partnership with PCSD, PhilSA will produce land use and land cover maps, as well as benthic or marine habitat maps, at no cost. These tools will help authorities track environmental conditions, detect ecological changes, and assess damage from natural or human-induced events. In return, PCSD will provide field data to validate satellite-generated outputs, ensuring accuracy and reliability for planning and policy use.
The collaboration builds on earlier groundwork established through the PhilSA Integrated Network for Space-Enabled Actions, or PhilSA Integrated Network for Space-Enabled Actions, which was launched in 2022 to connect local governments, institutions, and stakeholders using space-based data for sustainability initiatives. The network has conducted capacity-building workshops across multiple regions of the country, fostering technical skills and encouraging local adoption of satellite-supported decision-making.
In a separate agreement, PhilSA and the Tubbataha Management Office will jointly conduct specialized mapping activities for Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a globally recognized marine sanctuary. These efforts will include benthic habitat and bathymetric mapping to support science-based management of the protected area, widely known as one of the richest marine biodiversity sites in the world. The initiative aims to provide detailed spatial information that can guide conservation measures, enforcement planning, and ecological assessments.
Capacity-building is a central component of both agreements. Personnel from PCSD and TMO will undergo training to effectively use satellite-derived information and geospatial tools so they can continue applying these technologies even after the formal partnerships conclude. The approach ensures that local agencies develop long-term technical capability rather than relying solely on external support.
Alongside the signing ceremonies, PhilSA conducted symposium sessions at Western Philippines University and Palawan State University, as well as field surveys in Balabac. These activities gathered ground-truth data to validate satellite imagery, including drone-captured aerial images and underwater video and echosounder measurements. The information collected will be used to produce high-resolution maps of seagrass beds, coral reefs, forests, crops, and land cover, which are essential for agricultural planning, coastal management, and sustainable development initiatives.
Through these partnerships, PhilSA is advancing its mission to integrate space-enabled solutions into national and local environmental programs. By combining satellite technology with on-site data collection and local expertise, the agency aims to strengthen evidence-based governance while supporting conservation efforts in ecologically vital regions such as Palawan.