The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), in partnership with the University of Antique (UA), successfully conducted the PhilSA Integrated Network for Space-enabled Actions towards Sustainability (PINAS) Workshop from 02 to 03 July 2025 in Sibalom, Antique.

Participants from the local government units (LGUs), regional government agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and UA faculty members and students joined the symposium and training.

PhilSA Deputy Director General for Space Science and Technology (DDGSST) Gay Jane P. Perez, Ph.D. and Deputy Director General for Space Operations, Infrastructure, and Industry (DDGSOII) Denis F. Villorente highlighted the Agency’s initiatives on strengthening the Philippine space ecosystem. They emphasized the value of partnerships in ensuring the socio-economic benefits of space science and technology applications are realized. They were joined by UA President Pablo S. Crespo, Jr. who delivered the welcome remarks and underscored the importance of this collaboration for development.

Hon. Antonio “AA” Legarda Jr., Representative of the Lone District of Antique, delivered the opening remarks and welcomed the conduct of the PINAS Workshop in Antique. He emphasized the potential to empower Antiqueños particularly in disaster risk reduction, planning, and other practical, science-based applications.

Senator Loren Legarda, through a keynote address delivered by Congressman AA Legarda, emphasized that space science must serve as a vital public good—accessible and beneficial to every Filipino. She highlighted the importance of making space technologies work at the community level, and reflected on her vision behind the law’s passage, “When I authored the Philippine Space Act, my goal was simple: to make space technology not the abstract, but the everyday.”

She further stressed the importance of inclusivity in science and innovation, “Space-based technologies must be accessible to ordinary people. This is why initiatives like PINAS are transformative. They democratize once distant technologies, bringing them closer to the communities that need them most.”

To further support local initiatives, participating institutions received a geospatial data package that included satellite imagery, land cover classification maps, historical flood extent maps, and other relevant datasets. These resources are intended to complement and enhance their ongoing programs in areas such as disaster risk reduction, environmental monitoring, and land use planning.

Participatory mapping workshop

Participants were introduced to various applications of space data and engaged in interactive sessions to map out challenges in their respective localities. They also identified corresponding actions to address these issues using geospatial solutions. To further build their capacity, a hands-on session on field data collection using the ODK Collect application was conducted, enabling them to gather and upload data for field validation.

Planned collaborations between PhilSA and Antique

The PINAS Workshop in Antique was made possible following a meeting between PhilSA and Senator Loren Legarda in December 2024, where shared priorities on science-based community resilience and local development were discussed.

Building on the momentum of the workshop, PhilSA and UA are set to formalize a long-term partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) later this year. The MOA will focus on collaborative efforts in space education and public awareness, research and development, and community-based initiatives that harness SSTA.  This will address localized concerns in Antique, such as agricultural monitoring, environmental conservation, land use planning, and disaster risk reduction and management.  

As part of this growing collaboration, a bamboo planting activity will also be jointly organized by PhilSA and UA. The event will take place at the UA Bamboosetum in Aningalan, San Remigio, highlighting UA’s ongoing research on bamboo.

Launched in October 2022, PINAS is an active network of institutions and individuals working toward sustainability using space data. Workshops have been held in Iloilo City, Palawan, Ilocos Region, Aklan, Mindoro, Davao, Zamboanga,  Cebu,  Bataan, and Bulacan. Online meetings are also conducted with various regions to introduce the PINAS Project, serving as the foundation for future collaborations. Interested individuals and organizations may join the PINAS Network here.

Check out the photo highlights below: 

Dr. Pablo S. Crespo Jr., President of the University of Antique delivers the welcome remarks.

Congressman Hon Antonio Legarda Jr. of the Lone District of Antique delivers the opening remarks.

PhilSA presents a satellite image of Antique as a token of appreciation for the support extended to the PINAS Workshop.

PhilSA DDG Gay Jane P. Perez deliver a presentation on the PhilSA’s role in national development and the Space Value Chain.

Dr. Jelyn Alentahan, VP for Research, Extension, and Innovation of UA present how the University of Antique can utilize space data for its projects.

PINAS Project Leader Princess Angela Young presents the project and its goals.

PhilSA DDG for Space Operations, Infrastructure, and Industry deliver the closing remarks for the first day of the PINAS Workshop in Antique.

Director Ariel C. Blanco presents how PhilSA and UA can continue collaborating on research and capacity building activities.

Participants of the PINAS Workshop and Symposium during day 1.

PINAS Workshop participants during day 2.