The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), together with the Permanent Mission of the Philippines in Vienna, participated in the 63rd Session of the Legal Subcommittee (LSC) of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) held in Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria, from 15 to 26 April 2024.
Space Industry and Strategic Business Development Director Rolando P. Martinez and Space Policy and Legal Affairs Division Attorney Jessica Joy U. Bendoy delivered national statements during the Legal Subcommittee of the UN COPUOS session.
63rd SESSION OF THE LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE
PHILIPPINE STATEMENT
AGENDA ITEM NO. 4 “GENERAL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS”
delivered by
ROLANDO P. MARTINEZ
DIRECTOR IV
SPACE INDUSTRY AND STRATEGIC BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BUREAU
PHILIPPINE SPACE AGENCY (PhilSA)
Thank you, Mister Chair.
Our delegation would like to express our congratulations and gratitude to Ms. Nomfuneko Majaja of South Africa for her leadership and exceptional work in steering this Committee that led to the successful conduct of the previous sessions.
The Philippines wishes to congratulate you on your election as Chair, Mr. Santiago Ripol Carulla, of the Legal Subcommittee for 2024 to 2025. You are assured of the delegation’s full support and our active participation in the proceedings of the Committee.
Our delegation also wishes to express our appreciation to the United Nations Offices of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), headed by its Director Ms. Aarti Holla-Maini, for the excellent preparations and planning in convening this subcommittee meeting.
Mr. Chair and distinguished Delegates,
The Philippines aligns itself with the statement delivered by Her Excellency, Laura Gil, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Colombia on behalf of the members of G-77 and China and we wish to make the following remarks in our national capacity.
The Philippines reiterates its commitment to ensure that the country abides by the international space treaties and principles promulgated by the United Nations. We support initiatives toward the universalization of the treaties to ensure a safe, stable, and sustainable space environment and to guarantee that outer space activities be conducted for peaceful purposes.
Since its establishment in 2019, the Philippine Space Agency or PhilSA has been spearheading the ratification and accession efforts to abide by the basic rules and norms established for peaceful uses of outer space. These efforts are integral in implementing the Philippine National Space Program under the Philippine Space Act.
We are pleased to inform the Subcommittee that the ratification and accession to the Registration and Liability Conventions are now in the concluding stages of processing in the Office of the President of the Philippines. Our efforts to ratify and accede to these two treaties demonstrate the Philippines’ strong commitment to a rules-based order in outer space and to promote the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space that will benefit current and future generations.
To illustrate our commitment to these conventions, the Philippines has also taken effort to furnish the UN Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space with information for the registration of our satellites, in conformity with the General Assembly Resolution 1721 B (XVI) of 20 December 1961. We have also developed a platform for our national registry of space objects in parallel with our efforts to accede to the Registration Convention. We encourage all States to do the same, guided by the principles of transparency and sustainable use of outer space.
The Philippines through PhilSA continues to conduct and participate in various capacity building activities to advance awareness and develop capabilities in space technologies and applications and become adept at space law and policy. PhilSA’s capacity-building initiatives include providing scholarship opportunities, conducting educational outreach, and public awareness campaigns. These activities engage Filipinos to enhance appreciation and elevate competencies and involvement in outer space activities that is crucial in laying the foundation for a future-ready space program that will contribute to socio-economic growth. This will be further discussed in the Delegation’s intervention at Agenda Item No. 6.
Mr. Chair,
With a growing number of states and private entities implementing various space activities, existing legal framework governing these activities needs to be assessed and revisited to adequately address the unique challenges that come with the growing capabilities of space technology.
The importance of a legal structure for various space activities to complement and supplement the existing legal framework governing outer space activities is a necessity. We commit to the work of the Subcommittee and of the UN COPUOS in advancing such models and mechanisms. Our Delegation will expound on this in our intervention at Agenda item 9.
As the Philippines supports the view that activities in outer space should be inclusive, we advocate in the same way that the international legal framework for activities in outer space should address all states’ concerns. You can count on the full cooperation of the Philippines as you lead us forward on the work of the Legal Subcommittee.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
63rd SESSION OF THE LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE
PHILIPPINE STATEMENT
AGENDA ITEM NO. 6 “STATUS AND APPLICATION OF THE FIVE UNITED NATIONS TREATIES ON OUTER SPACE AND WAYS AND MEANS INCLUDING CAPACITY-BUILDING TO PROMOTE THEIR IMPLEMENTATION”
delivered by
ROLANDO P. MARTINEZ
DIRECTOR IV
SPACE INDUSTRY AND STRATEGIC BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BUREAU
PHILIPPINE SPACE AGENCY (PhilSA)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The Philippines reaffirms its commitment to abide by the international space treaties as we adopt the generally accepted principles of international law as part of our laws; and adhere to policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations.
We recognize that the benefits and advantages we derive by virtue of our membership in the family of nations have corresponding responsibilities and obligations towards other States. Thus, it is our inherent responsibility as a member of the global space community to significantly contribute towards ensuring a safe, stable, and sustainable space environment when conducting space activities.
We are pleased to inform the Subcommittee of the updates on our current efforts to ratify and accede to the United Nation treaties on outer space.
Being the proponent agency for the ratification of the international space treaties, the Philippine Space Agency or PhilSA has already secured the necessary support of relevant government agencies for the ratification of Liability Convention and Registration Convention. In close coordination with our Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the ratification papers are now with the Office of the President of the Philippines and are in the concluding stages of processing.
We are pleased to inform the Subcommittee that we have also commenced preliminary activities to ratify and accede to the Outer Space Treaty and Rescue Agreement.
As we are working on the ratification of the UN space treaties, we have conducted activities to prepare its implementation. We have developed a platform for our national registry of space objects in parallel with our efforts to accede to the Registration Convention. We conducted a planning workshop in December 2023 to develop response protocols for space vehicle launches (SVL) and orbital debris re-entry (ODR), providing insights into the development of national policies and protocols. The outputs of the scenario planning workshop serve as the foundation for the development of response protocols and mechanisms, ultimately resulting in a nationally coordinated approach to responding to the risks posed by space vehicle launches and orbital debris re-entry.
Mr. Chair,
To promote and raise awareness about the implementation of the international space treaties, we participated in the Regional Technical Advisory Mission conducted by the UNOOSA in Japan earlier this year. The Regional TAM convened emerging space actors from the Asia and the Pacific region to contribute to capacity-development in the field of space law and policy, focusing on the topic of Authorization and Supervision of Space Activities. The Philippines is also looking forward to hosting another country-specific TAM in collaboration with UNOOSA and with the strong support of the government of Japan. In this regard, we express our appreciation to UNOOSA and the government of Japan for making the TAM possible.
Other efforts to promote and raise awareness includes the publication of a children’s book entitled ‘Si Tala at ang Kanyang Lakbay Kalawakan” (Tala and her journey to space) that promotes the appreciation of the UN Outer Space Treaties regarding the principle of responsible and sustainable spacefaring to a young audience. We are exploring the possibility of translating the book into various languages to reach a wider international audience.
In closing, the Philippines pursues the ratification of the UN Outer Space Treaties and enters into international collaborations in support of our central goal of becoming a space-capable and space-faring nation in good faith.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
63rd SESSION OF THE LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE
PHILIPPINE STATEMENT
AGENDA ITEM NO. 9 “GENERAL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ON POTENTIAL LEGAL MODELS FOR ACTIVITIES IN THE EXPLORATION, EXPLOITATION, AND UTILIZATION OF SPACE RESOURCES”
delivered by
ATTY. JESSICA JOY U. BENDOY
ATTORNEY III
SPACE POLICY AND LEGAL AFFAIRS DIVISION
PHILIPPINE SPACE AGENCY (PhilSA)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Distinguished colleagues,
The Philippine recognizes the growing number of countries and private entities investing in space exploration, and that space science and technology ecosystem are rapidly evolving. We are aware of the potential benefits that these activities have on space resource utilization but also understand the risks and challenges that come with it.
Addressing these challenges necessitates the enhancement of existing cooperation frameworks that can keep up with the advancements in space exploration, its use of space resources, and its potential environmental impacts.
Chair,
We strongly advocate the enhancement of the existing legal frameworks to facilitate the exploration, exploitation, and utilization of space resources responsibly and sustainably. The framework must be comprehensive and provide clear guidelines and protocols for countries, entities, and organizations operating in space and at the same time outline the necessary steps and precautions to advance the sustainability and peaceful use of outer space while maximizing the potential benefits to humanity. Also, it must be developed through a collaborative and participatory effort in a tripartite governance model – involving the government, private entities, and civil society – to ensure that they are inclusive and reflective of the diverse perspectives and interests of all.
As an emerging space-capable nation, the Philippines will continue to actively participate and cooperate in the enhancement of existing frameworks to ensure that they are fair and beneficial for all parties involved. We are ready, willing and able to join conversations and dialogues, through the Working Group on Legal Aspects of Space Resources Activities under this Subcommittee and other similar platforms, to identify areas where these frameworks must be put in place.
We call on all Member States to continuously participate in efforts to enhance our existing legal frameworks which should be inclusive, transformative, and beneficial to all humanity.
Lastly, we emphasize the importance of working in harmony with the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee so that our frameworks will be in unison with scientific and technological advancements along and in compliance with the existing and future legal mechanisms.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.