The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), together with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), participated in the 64th 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 05 to 16 May 2025.
PhilSA Director General Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano, Jr., and DFA Office of United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO) Acting Director Atty. Johaira Wahab-Manantan delivered national statements during the LSC UN COPUOS session.
64th SESSION OF THE LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STATEMENT
AGENDA ITEM NO. 3 “GENERAL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS”
delivered by:
JOEL JOSEPH S. MARCIANO, JR., Ph.D.
Director General
Philippine Space Agency
Thank you, Mister Chair.
The Philippines would like to take this opportunity to express our support to your Chairmanship and commend the excellent work in the planning and preparations for this 64th session of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
We recognize the Subcommittee’s role in fostering frameworks that ensure the responsible and sustainable use of outer space, and we appreciate the discussions in this session.
We also express our deep appreciation to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) under the leadership of Director Aarti Holla-Maini, for their continued efforts in holding these activities.
Mr. Chair,
The Philippines remains steadfast in our commitment to upholding treaties and principles promulgated by the United Nations. We emphasize that outer space activities must be conducted exclusively for peaceful purposes and in accordance with international law.
In May 2024, the Philippines reinforced this commitment by acceding to the Registration Convention. Following this accession, we conducted a forum on the Philippine Accession and Implementation of the Registration Convention, engaging stakeholders from relevant industries to ensure its effective implementation. We are complying with national procedures to accede to the Liability Convention, Outer Space Treaty and Rescue Agreement.
In this regard, we would like to highlight the capacity-building activities by the Philippines. We place great importance on building national capacity in space science and technology. Thus, we are committed to developing a highly capable cadre of professionals, researchers, and policymakers who can contribute to advancing our national space initiatives.
On November 04 to 06, 2024, a Space Law Technical Advisory Mission (TAM) to the Philippines was conducted. We extend our gratitude to UNOOSA, the government of Japan, and all the experts who participated in person and online. These country-specific missions are crucial in advancing our understanding and implementation of international space law at the national level.
In regional cooperation, we are pleased to announce that the 31st Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) will be held in Cebu, Philippines, from November 18 to 21, 2025 with the theme of “Empowering the Region through Space Ecosystems in Action”. We look forward to welcoming regional delegates for discussions on space cooperation, capacity-building, and technological advancements. Further, the 7th International Space Forum – Southeast Asian Chapter, co-organized by the International Astronautical Federation and the Italian Space Agency, will be hosted by the Philippines later this year, providing another important venue for regional cooperation on space.
Our involvement in these forums underscores our commitment to regional collaboration and promoting inclusive participation in space activities. In addition, we are proud to share that we are currently in the process of crafting our National Space Industry Development Plan, which will guide capacity-building initiatives, infrastructure development, and space industrialization policy formulation to foster a safe, robust, and competitive domestic space industry.
Once again, we invite everyone to the launching of our book “Si Tala at ang Kanyang Lakbay Kalawakan” translated in English as “Tala and Her Journey Through Space” at a side event on May 14, 2025, from 1:00 to 1:45 pm, at the UN M5 Conference Room. We encourage you to join us, engage with fellow attendees, and obtain your own copy of the book.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
64th SESSION OF THE LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STATEMENT
AGENDA ITEM NO. 5. “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:
Atty. Johaira Wahab-Manantan
Acting Director, DFA-UNIO
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Since this is our first intervention, we wish to take the opportunity to extend our condolences for the passing of Ambassador Andrzej Misztal and recall his important contributions to the work of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies.
We also wish to welcome Djibouti and Latvia to the Committee. Chair, since our last meeting, we have worked tirelessly to complete our ratification process of the Registration Convention. We are pleased to report that in May of last year, the Philippines formally acceded to the Registration Convention.
To mark this milestone, the Philippines hosted a forum during Philippine Space Week in August of last year, focusing on the domestic implementation of the Convention in a whole-of-society approach. The event brought together key government and private stakeholders to deepen understanding of international legal frameworks and their impact on national space policy and industry.
The Philippines is also in the process of setting up a website to serve as the official Philippine registry of space objects, which we will launch during Philippine Space Week in August of this year.
In line with Article II of the Convention, we will be sending formal communication to the United Nations in this regard.We note that even prior to accession, the Philippines has been submitting updates on Philippine space objects—and we will continue to do so in the spirit of transparency and cooperation.
In addition, the Philippines is also in the midst of domestic processes toward the ratification of the Outer Space Treaty and the Rescue Agreement.
Mr. Chair,
The Philippines has also taken active measures in building domestic capacities for implementation and compliance with our treaty commitments, as well as fostering domestic constituencies for the peaceful uses of outer space.
As part of these efforts, the Philippines hosted the Space Law Technical Advisory Mission in November 2024, aimed to strengthen our legal and regulatory infrastructure for space activities.
This initiative was in partnership with UNOOSA and the Government of Japan, and we extend our sincere appreciation to them for their support.
As mentioned by Director Holla-Maini in her remarks yesterday, the Philippines has also published a bilingual children’s book on space law, “Si Tala at ang Kanyang Lakbay Kalawakan” (entitled in English: “Tala and Her Journey Through Space”).
Mr Chair, “TALA” is the Filipino word for ‘star.’
We will launch this book at a side event on 14 May 2025, from 1:00 to 1:45 PM, at Conference Room M5. We warmly invite all delegates to attend and receive a copy.
In closing, allow us to reaffirm that the Philippines continues to pursue ratification of the UN space treaties and to build international partnerships, as part of our sincere commitment to becoming a responsible, space-faring nation.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
64th SESSION OF THE LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STATEMENT
AGENDA ITEM NO. 9 “GENERAL EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND VIEWS ON LEGAL MECHANISMS RELATING TO SPACE DEBRIS MITIGATION AND REMEDIATION MEASURES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE WORK OF THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE”
delivered by:
Atty. Johaira Wahab-Manantan
Acting Director, DFA-UNIO
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
In line with our commitment to becoming a spacefaring and space-capable nation within the next decade, the Philippines upholds the foundational principle of “Due Regard”—not merely as a voluntary norm, but as a legal obligation of all spacefaring nations—to ensure the long-term sustainability, safety, and security of space activities.
Consistent with Article IX of the Outer Space Treaty, we also commit to avoiding harmful contamination and adverse changes to the Earth’s environment. We are implementing space debris mitigation and remediation measures to the greatest extent feasible.
The proliferation of space debris poses real and growing threats to both the space environment and the Earth upon re-entry.
To address these, the Philippines integrates the Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines and the Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities (or the LTS Guidelines) in the design, mission planning, and operations of our satellites.
These include limiting debris release, minimizing potential for break-ups during operational phases, limiting the probability of accidental collision in orbit, and preventing intentional destruction, consistent with the safe, secure, sustainable and peaceful uses of outer space.
Mr. Chair, during our 62nd session, we informed this Subcommittee about the establishment of a Technical Working Group on Orbital Debris Protocols. This TWG coordinates the development of national strategies and protocols for launch and re-entry risk management.
As an update, a workshop was recently conducted in the Philippines to assist the TWG in its work by identifying risks and mitigation measures and establishing a response mechanism for space vehicle launch and orbital debris reentry.
We also wish to share that regionally, under the ASEAN Subcommittee on Space Technology and Applications, the Philippines and Thailand are co-leading the ASEAN Space Situational Awareness/Space Traffic Management Project—a key initiative to build regional capacity and promote the role of regionalism alongside multilateralism in advancing space science and technology.
Finally, in line with the LTS Guidelines, the Philippines adheres to the principle of Intergenerational Responsibility, a doctrine enshrined in no less than the Constitution of the Philippines and our jurisprudence.
This doctrine affirms the right to a balanced and healthful ecology, including in outer space. It compels us to manage and utilize space resources sustainably, preserve the space environment, and ensure that its benefits are shared equitably across present and future generations.
Mr. Chair, we believe that a critical aspect of intergenerational responsibility is mitigating space debris.
The Philippines recognizes that our proactive efforts today in debris mitigation and remediation are essential for the future of space exploration. Through these initiatives, we contribute meaningfully to global dialogue on sustainable space practices and set an example of responsible orbital stewardship.
These foundational actions are crucial to ensuring that future generations can safely access and benefit from space—underscoring our commitment to intergenerational responsibility and the preservation of outer space for peaceful exploration and shared progress.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
64th SESSION OF THE LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STATEMENT
AGENDA ITEM NO. 10 “GENERAL EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON NON-LEGALLY BINDING UN INSTRUMENTS ON OUTER SPACE.”
delivered by:
Atty. Johaira Wahab-Manantan
Acting Director, DFA-UNIO
Mister Chair,
We support the development of non-legally binding instruments as essential tools for fostering cooperation, enhancing transparency, and promoting responsible behavior in outer space. We are committed to advancing these instruments through meaningful dialogue and action. Importantly, we emphasize the need for good-faith compliance with COPUOS guidelines, which serve as practical standards for a safe and secure space environment.
While we recognize the importance of legally binding instruments such as treaties, we are also mindful of the time required for their negotiation and entry into force. In the interim, non-binding instruments offer a practical path forward. They set shared norms, facilitate cooperation, and lay the groundwork for future legal commitments.
In the Philippine experience, the Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, the Long-Term Sustainability Guidelines, and relevant UN resolutions provide important references in shaping our national frameworks, informing practices, and guiding satellite design, mission planning, and operations.
Mister Chair,
The Philippines actively participated in the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on reducing space threats through norms, rules, and principles of responsible behaviors. During the discussions, we emphasized the importance of the principle of “due regard” in Article IX of the Outer Space Treaty and highlighted its relevance in guiding responsible behavior in outer space activities.
The principle of “due regard” serves as a foundational element in building norms and behaviors that promote transparency, trust, and cooperation. It underscores the duty of conducting international consultations in good faith, demonstrating openness to address the concerns of other states, and a willingness to compromise for the greater good.
We welcome continued discussions on this principle, including at the upcoming symposium co-organized by the International Institute of Space Law and the European Centre for Space Law, on “Due regard in outer space: Current legal implications.” Held on the sidelines of this session, the symposium offers a timely platform to deepen our shared understanding and explore its practical application.
The Philippines also participated in the Group of Governmental Experts on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space. We recognize that space security is integral to space safety. We support the GGE’s recommendation to consider elements of a legally binding instrument on space security, which we view as complementary to COPUOS efforts in promoting responsible conduct through non-binding norms.
We remain committed to the ongoing discussions within the OEWG on PAROS, which we see as a vital platform for shaping practical, consensus-based measures to strengthen space security and sustainability.
In closing, Mister Chair,
the Philippines reaffirms its strong support for the development—and above all, the implementation—of non-legally binding instruments. As we continue to shape the global governance of outer space, cultivating a culture of compliance, transparency, and cooperation is essential. These instruments, when consistently observed, provide a solid foundation for future legally binding commitments.
Thank you, Mister Chair.