The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), together with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), participated in the 68th Session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) held in Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria, from 25 June to 02 July 2025.
PhilSA Space Information Infrastructure Bureau Director Dr. Ariel C. Blanco, PhilSA Space International Cooperation Division Chief Mr. Kritzman Caballero, and DFA Office of United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO) Acting Director Atty. Johaira Wahab-Manantan delivered the Philippine national statements during the UN COPUOS session.
68th SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STATEMENT
AGENDA ITEM NO. 4 “GENERAL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS”
delivered by:
Dr. Engr. ARIEL C. BLANCO
Director for Space Information Infrastructure Bureau
Philippine Space Agency
Mr. Chair,
The Philippines extends our deep appreciation to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) for the preparation of this year’s 68th Session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS). Our delegation would like to thank Mr. Rafiq Akram of Morocco for his leadership and work in chairing this Committee. We also take this opportunity to thank Director Aarti Holla-Maini and the Secretariat for the preparations made for this session.
Since this is the first time our delegation is taking the floor for this session, the Philippines welcomes Latvia and Djibouti as new members of the UN COPUOS. Our growing number signifies the clear role of the Committee in discussing and promoting the peaceful use of outer space.
Mr. Chair,
We remain committed to strengthening existing frameworks that safeguard the space environment. In support of rules-based international order, we advocate for the peaceful use of outer space, the prevention of arms race in outer space, and the long-term sustainability of space activities. As space technology advances, we share a collective responsibility to uphold these principles by actively engaging with relevant treaties.
Mr. Chair and distinguished delegates,
The Philippines has made milestones towards strengthening our space ecosystem:
- In the upstream segment, the Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment (MULA) satellite is under development and set for launch in 2026. It will capture up to 139,000 sq. km. of imagery daily to support the regular updating of land use, agriculture, water resources, and infrastructure maps.
- In the downstream sector, the Philippines and the European Commission, through the National Copernicus Capacity Support Action Programme (CopPhil), launched the Copernicus Data Centre—the first Copernicus Earth observation data storage and processing facility in Asia.
- On the bilateral and multilateral front, we signed cooperation agreements last year with the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) and the Polish Space Agency (POLSA). The Philippines will host the International Space Forum at the Ministerial Level – Southeast Asian Chapter in December 2025 and the 31st Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) on 18 to 21 November 2025. We invite Member States to attend and participate in these events.
Mr. Chair,
Under the ASEAN Subcommittee on Space Technology and Applications (ASEAN SCOSA), the Philippines and Thailand are jointly leading the ASEAN Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Traffic Management (STM) project. Through regional cooperation, we aim to establish a shared understanding and framework that will guide us in a regional and collective effort in SSA/STM. We need to exhaust all existing mechanisms in addressing the issue of space debris, which continues to challenge and threaten our space infrastructure. We call on States to refrain from committing any irresponsible behavior and continue to abide by the existing norms and principles in outer space.
In closing, Mr. Chair,
As we chart our path forward, we must continue to push the boundaries of knowledge and continue to utilize diplomacy for meaningful dialogue. Each of us must continue to contribute to a secure, peaceful, and sustainable use of outer space—governed by the rule of law, which is aligned with scientific and technical advances for the present and future generations.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
68th SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STATEMENT
AGENDA ITEM NO. 8 “SPACE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT”
delivered by:
Mr. KRITZMAN G. CABALLERO
Chief of Space International Cooperation Division
Philippine Space Agency
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The Philippine delegation warmly congratulates you on your leadership and affirms our full support for a successful session.
The Philippines reaffirms its commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) through space science and technology applications (SSTA), in close cooperation with the international community.
According to the 2024 Sustainable Development Report, the Philippines advanced six places in its global ranking. Guided by the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028, which integrates all facets of the SDGs, we remain committed to maximizing the full potential of Earth observation (EO) satellites and remote sensing data to strengthen key sectors such as agriculture, climate change, environmental protection, and disaster risk reduction and management.
The Philippines continues to build resilience against the frequent and intensified impacts of natural disasters and takes pride in the progress of our Data Allocation and Operational Information (DALOI) project. In 2024, we distributed 21,294 satellite images and maps, with 52% of end-users coming from national government agencies involved in national security, development, hazard management, and climate studies—enhancing timely, data-driven decision making.
We launched the Space Data Dashboard to seamlessly integrate space data from multiple sources, offering an intuitive, user-friendly interface with free download capabilities for hazard and climate-related outputs. It enhances access to satellite data for decision makers, researchers, and the public, supporting evidence-based progress toward the SDGs.
Mr. Chair,
The Philippines remains committed to the responsible and sustainable use of outer space, upholding the UN Guidelines for its long-term sustainability.
We support the Conference Room Paper of the United Arab Emirates on their “Proposal for Establishment of an Expert Group on Space Situational Awareness (SSA).” We believe that the Expert Group will meaningfully complement the ongoing efforts of the LTS Working Group by advancing operational coordination, data standardization, and technical interoperability of space activities.
At the regional level, the Philippines will continue collaborating with partners in the ASEAN to explore mechanisms, reduce externalities, and improve information flow in enhancing the regional collaboration on SSA and Space Traffic Coordination (STC).
Mr. Chair,
The Philippines, being a megadiverse archipelago, expresses support to UNOOSA and France’s Space4Ocean Alliance, reflecting a collective action and commitment to expand emergent space capabilities for long-term solutions to secure the sustainable future of marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
Looking ahead, our delegation recognizes the importance of this Committee as an effective platform for fostering new pathways of international cooperation. As a committed and responsible spacefaring nation, the Philippines reaffirms its support for the continued exchange of best practices and the advancement of safe, sustainable, and inclusive approaches to space development. Such efforts are truly indispensable as we collectively navigate the rapidly evolving space environment with accountability, foresight, and shared purpose.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
68th SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STATEMENT
AGENDA ITEM NO. 11 “SPACE AND CLIMATE CHANGE”
delivered by:
Director JOHAIRA C. WAHAB-MANANTAN
Office of the United Nations and International Organizations
Department of Foreign Affairs
Chair,
The Philippines is honored to deliver its first intervention under this agenda item.
Outer space must be used not only peacefully, but responsibly and equitably, for the benefit of the Earth’s climate, ecosystems, and people.
As a climate vulnerable country, we rely on space science technology and its applications, and space data in responding to the climate emergency, and we have shared our national experiences in this regard in our interventions.
We would like then to take this opportunity to broaden the conversation and consider the sustainability of outer space activities in the context of climate change.
Not all space activities happen in outer space, and not all their consequences are reserved there.
Long-term space sustainability must therefore include consideration of the climate and environmental impacts of space activities on Earth, not just in orbit.
This includes the emissions footprint of launches, atmospheric re-entry, the ground infrastructure, fuel production, and industrial supply chains that support the space sector.
If the space industry were to remain at today’s level, current estimates suggest that its contribution to climate and ozone impacts may be limited.
But the space sector is expanding rapidly, in launch frequency, constellation size, and innovation; and the full extent of the climate implications of its growth remains under study.
We are for instance unable to predict long term impacts of scaled-up space flights.
This knowledge gap poses a real governance challenge.
Consistent with the principle of due regard, States must work together to ensure that the rapid development of outer space technologies does not outpace our understanding of their climate consequences.
Sustainability must be embedded across the entire lifecycle of space activities, from design to launch to deorbit, and include the element of transparency in environmental reporting.
We commend the work and contributions of the Working Group on Long Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities.
We also encourage this Committee and its Member States to consider the climate footprint of space operations on Earth, in atmosphere, and in orbit, and how they may be integrated into existing and future frameworks under the COPUOS agenda.
It is our view that sustainability is incomplete if it excludes the climate impact. The principle of due regard must extend beyond the safety of space operations to include their effects on the Earth system, including the climate system, which is a shared interest of all of humanity.
Thank you, Chair.
68th SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STATEMENT
AGENDA ITEM NO. 15 “SPACE 2030”
delivered by:
Director JOHAIRA C. WAHAB-MANANTAN
Office of the United Nations and International Organizations
Department of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Chair,
The Philippines firmly believes in the crucial role of space tools in attaining the global development agenda and is committed to achieve the Space2030 Agenda as a driver for sustainable development.
The Philippines continues to contribute to the Space2030 Agenda through national initiatives, including capacity building in space data utilization, educational opportunities in space science and technology applications (SSTA), use of remote sensing for agriculture and climate resilience, and international cooperation to advance space activities.
The Philippines would also like to report its contribution to the existing international and regional mechanisms, programs, projects, and platforms to implement the said Agenda. To date, we have:
- Continued to work with members of the Space for Climate Observatory (SCO) in utilizing SSTA for climate action and disaster risk reduction and management. Particularly, through our accredited projects under SCO, we were able to contribute to SDG 3: Zero Hunger, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 13: Climate Action. These accredited projects include the Drought Early Warning in the Philippines (DEW-PH), the Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), and the National Copernicus Capacity Support Action Programme (CopPhil-BLUEHAB) between the Philippines and the European Union;
- In April 2024, the Philippines, in collaboration with UNOOSA, jointly organized a Workshop on the Applications of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to strengthen national capacities and promote knowledge exchange in GNSS technologies; and
- In February 2025, a workshop titled Land Cover and Land Use Changes in Southeast Asia: Regional Environmental Impacts and Synthesis was held in Iloilo City, Philippines, in collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Mr. Chair,
The Philippines highlights the value gained from the “Space Law for New Space Actors” project, particularly the successful Technical Advisory Mission held in Manila in November 2024. We express our sincere appreciation to UNOOSA and the Government of Japan, and underscore the importance of such initiatives in advancing the Space2030 Agenda.
Overall, the Philippines reiterates its commitment in pursuing the Space2030 Agenda by further contributing to the four (4) overarching objectives and implementation plan. We underscore the importance of international cooperation in this pursuit.
We would like to advocate and call for continued inclusivity of these UNOOSA initiatives to all countries, regardless of their economic status and space capabilities. We also call for other Members States, particularly those with major space capabilities, to conscientiously implement the Space2030 Agenda.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
