PhilSA Partners with Palawan and Tubbataha to Strengthen Environmental Protection with Space Technology

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has taken a major step in advancing environmental protection in Palawan through strategic partnerships with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) and the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO).

These collaborations aim to harness Space Science, Technology, and Applications (SSTA) to produce high-precision maps that support sustainable development, environmental monitoring, and data-driven policymaking.

[L-R] PhilSA SIIB Director Ariel C. Blano with TMO Protected Area Superintendent Angelique Songco and [Far Right] PCSD Executive Director Atty. Teodoro Matta during the MOA signing.

The agreements were formalized on February 13, 2026, in Puerto Princesa City, with separate five-year Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) signed at the PCSD Building. Key signatories included 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 detailed land use, land cover (LULC), and benthic (marine habitat) maps free of charge. These maps will help monitor environmental health and assess potential damage to terrestrial and coastal ecosystems. PCSD will provide ground-level data to validate the maps, ensuring accuracy and relevance for local planning and conservation efforts.

This partnership builds on the success of the PhilSA Integrated Network for Space-Enabled Actions (PINAS) Workshop held in Palawan in 2022. PINAS, launched in October 2022, is a network connecting Local Government Units (LGUs), institutions, and individuals to advance sustainability initiatives using space data. Workshops have also been conducted in Iloilo City, Ilocos Region, Aklan, Mindoro, Davao, Zamboanga, Cebu, Bataan, Bulacan, and Bukidnon.

In a parallel agreement, PhilSA and TMO formalized cooperation to conduct benthic and bathymetry mapping in the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its rich marine biodiversity. This collaboration will strengthen science-based management and conservation of Tubbataha’s coral reefs and marine ecosystems.

Both MOAs include capacity-building programs to equip PCSD and TMO personnel with the skills to use space-based data for long-term environmental monitoring and habitat management, extending the benefits of the partnership well beyond its five-year term.

Alongside the MOA signing, PhilSA conducted PINAS Symposiums at Western Philippines University (WPU) and Palawan State University (PSU), complemented by field surveys in Balabac, Palawan. These surveys gathered ground-truth data through drone imaging, underwater video, and echosounder tows. The collected data will improve the accuracy of seagrass, coral, forest, and crop maps, providing essential insights for agricultural planning, habitat protection, and sustainable development initiatives.

Through these groundbreaking partnerships, PhilSA is reinforcing the role of space technology in environmental conservation, demonstrating the potential of science-driven solutions to support sustainable development and evidence-based governance across the Philippines.