The Philippines is a step closer to the realization of having its space agency.
Dr. Rogel Mari Sese, one of the very few astrophysicists in the country, announced the sponsorship by Sen. Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV to the Senate plenary this past week of Senate Bill 1983, or the “Act Establishing the Philippine Space Development and Utilization Policy and Creating the Philippine Space Agency, and for other Purposes.”
In an interview with the BusinessMirror, Sese said, “Though it took a long time, we are one step closer to establishing our own Philippine Space Agency and our Philippine Space Development and Utilization Policy.”
Coauthored by Sen. Loren B. Legarda and Sen. Vicente C. Sotto III, together with the Committees on Science and Technology, and Finance, the bill is also known as the Philippine Space Act.
Public reception
In his sponsorship speech, Aquino, the chairman of Senate Committee on Sciernce and Technology, said based on respondents in an online poll, “a lot of them said that we need to solve the problems on the Earth first before we look up to outer space.”
“Yet, with the immense capability and benefits of space applications through a solid space program,” the senator said in Filipino that he was convinced to push for the approval of the bill.
He said the space program “can improve disaster management, enhance the lives of Filipino farmers, speed up our Internet and telecommunication systems, and help us build more livable cities.”
Sese said Filipinos can aim to further utilize space science and technology “by addressing and improving our national security, disaster management, communication, agriculture, environmental monitoring, science, industry and transportation through the Philippine Space Act.”
Space agency and development policy
The Senate bill laid out the policies to address pressing national concerns, such as safeguarding the territory and sovereignty of the country.
Another is “to support and commit to the development, application and utilization of science and technology that will foster patriotism and nationalism, and accelerate social progress.” This includes the development of space technology and applications to the advantage and benefit of Filipinos.
The proposed law promotes space agency as “a sovereign right in the promotion of national security toward the attainment and protection of national interest.”
It said that there is an urgent need to create a strategy for space development and utilization “to keep up with other nations in terms of space science and technology.”
Sese noted that this must realized by the country’s policy-makers. He said the Philippines urgently needs to enhance space capabilities and catch up with regional neighbors.
“In this day and age, developing countries like Indonesia, Nigeria and Bangladesh are already venturing into using space capabilities to address various socioeconomic issues,” Sese added.
The proposed law also aims for the official representation of the Philippines in international space linkages, and that the country should ensure that it abides by the international space treaties and principles as mandated by the United Nations.
Bright future
Sese sees the future of the country’s space agency as bright.
“We hope that after Senator Aquino’s sponsorship of the PhilSA [Philippine Space Act] bill in the Senate plenary, it will be similarly discussed in the plenary of the House [of Representatives]. We hope our legislators, together with other agencies and the general public, would support and prioritize the passage of this crucial and timely bill,” Sese said.
The astrophysicist is hopeful that the bill will be signed into law before the year ends.
The House counterpart of the Senate bill is also being tackled.
“The Congress [House] version was recently passed by the Committee on Appropriations and is currently being scheduled for plenary discussion,” Sese explained the status of the House Bill 3637, which was introduced by Reps. Erico Aristotle Aumentado and Seth Frederick Jalosjos in 2016.
“If these bills are passed by both houses, they can proceed to the bicameral legislative [committee] and then, finally, to the president,” Sese explained. President Duterte has to sign it within 30 days or it lapses into law.
Proponents of the Philippine Space Act are crossing their fingers.
Image credits: Stephanie Tumampos