PhilSA inks new Space Data agreements to guide Palawan, Tubbataha Reef protection

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) formalized new partnerships with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development and the Tubbataha Management Office to expand the use of space data for environmental protection in Palawan.

Why It Matters: Palawan and the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park are among the country’s most ecologically important areas. Using satellite and space-borne data can improve environmental monitoring and support science-based decisions.

The agreements were signed on February 13, 2026 in Puerto Princesa City through separate five-year Memoranda of Agreement. Signatories included PCSD Executive Director Teodoro Matta, TMO Protected Area Superintendent Angelique Songco, and PhilSA Director General Gay Jane P. Perez, represented by Space Information Infrastructure Bureau Director Ariel C. Blanco.

Under the agreement with PCSD, PhilSA will produce land use and land cover maps, as well as benthic or marine habitat maps, at no cost. These maps will help monitor environmental conditions and assess damage when needed. PCSD will validate the outputs using on-ground data.

The partnership builds on the PhilSA Integrated Network for Space-Enabled Actions or PINAS, launched in October 2022. The network connects local government units and institutions that use space data for sustainability efforts. Workshops have been conducted in several regions including Palawan, Iloilo, Ilocos, Davao, and Cebu.

In a separate agreement, PhilSA and the Tubbataha Management Office will carry out benthic and bathymetry mapping to support science-based management of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its marine biodiversity.

The agreements also include capacity-building activities to train personnel from PCSD and TMO in using space-borne data for long-term habitat monitoring and management.

Alongside the signing, PhilSA held PINAS symposiums at Western Philippines University and Palawan State University. Field surveys were also conducted in Balabac, Palawan, including drone image collection, underwater video, and echosounder tows. The data will be used to produce more accurate maps of seagrass, coral, forests, and crops to support agriculture and sustainable development planning.

With these new agreements in place, how can space data further strengthen environmental protection efforts in Palawan and Tubbataha?