Philippine Space Agency

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), successfully hosted the 9^th Joint Project Team Meeting (JPTM) of Sentinel Asia from 05 to 07 November 2024 at the Novotel Manila Araneta City in Cubao, Quezon City.

With the theme “Harnessing Satellites and Collaboration for Regional Disaster Resilience,” JPTM2024 brought space agencies, disaster management agencies, universities, and international organizations from across the Asia-Pacific region to explore innovative disaster management strategies—highlighting the role of space technology in disaster response and preparedness.

PhilSA Director General Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano, Jr. emphasized the importance of marshaling space capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region to enable swift responses, informed decision-making, and effective recovery efforts during his keynote message. He then highlighted the importance of collaboration through the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and best practices among participants for collective success.

PhilSA Director General Dr. Marciano, Jr. Introduces the concept of #YamangKalawakan, or Space Wealth, to the attendees of JPTM2024 as part of his keynote message.

Sentinel Asia is a collaborative initiative that harnesses Web-GIS mapping tools, Earth observation (EO) technologies, and near-real-time data sharing for regional disaster management and resilience—providing disaster information across the Asia-Pacific region to support communities affected by hazards. This initiative includes the STEP-3 plan which expands Sentinel Asia’s activities to further cover all aspects or phases of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

During his welcome remarks, Dr. Ariel Blanco, Director of the PhilSA Space Information Infrastructure Bureau, highlighted the significant role Sentinel Asia has played in disaster risk reduction and management over the years. He also stressed the importance of collaboration in leveraging the power of space technology to responsibly and effectively mitigate disaster risks to build a more resilient Asia-Pacific region.

Dr. Blanco, Director of Space Information Infrastructure Bureau (SIIB), gives the welcome remarks on behalf of PhilSA.

The three-day meeting consisted of four (4) sessions and 10 training workshops that provided opportunities to learn about the research works conducted by Sentinel Asia members. The JPTM2024 also reviewed Sentinel Asia’s progress and achievements, discussed innovative strategies for implementing the STEP-3 plan, and provided insightful training and knowledge-sharing sessions for capacity building.

PhilSA Deputy Director General for Space Science and Technology Dr. Gay Jane Perez gives her closing remarks to formally close this year’s JPTM in the Philippines.

Dr. Gay Jane Perez, PhilSA Deputy Director General for Space Science and Technology, closed the event by calling for continued collaboration and innovation and urging everyone to actively pursue partnerships across public and private sectors—aiming to advance technologies that not only respond to but proactively anticipate the impact of climate change and extreme weather events on communities.

This year’s meeting marks a milestone in the partnership between PhilSA and JAXA. reaffirming the critical role of space technology in disaster resilience. As an international platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and best practices among the participants, Sentinel Asia’s specific goals include strengthening disaster preparedness and early warning systems, minimizing loss of life and property, and enabling effective disaster response and recovery measures.

The Joint Project Team (JPT), established to promote Sentinel Asia, is open to space communities, disaster management organizations, and regional/international organizations involved in disaster information-sharing activities. Currently, there are 123 JPT members, including 104 organizations from 30 countries or regions and 19 international organizations. The Philippines, through PhilSA, is a Data Provider Node (DPN) member of Sentinel Asia, providing satellite imagery for disaster response from the Diwata-2 and NovaSAR-1 satellites.

The next JPTM will be held in Thailand in 2025.

Check out the highlights below:

Day 1 of JPTM2024 at the Monet Ballroom of Novotel Manila Araneta City

Dr. Shiro Kawakita, Acting Executive Secretary of Sentinel Asia, gives his welcome remarks on behalf of JAXA.
Mr. Goro Takei, Deputy Executive Secretariat of Sentinel Asia, gives an overview of the recent activities of Sentinel Asia, as well as a report of the Steering Committee and APRSAF-29.
Opening the presentation by new members, Mr. Imran Khan from the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM) in Bangladesh gives a presentation on “Institute of Water Modelling and its potential role as a DAN in Sentinel Asia.”
Mr. Sonam Lhamo from the National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) in Bhutan gives a presentation on “Bhutan and use of Sentinel products.”
Ms. Ofa Ema Petulisa Masiwawa from the National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) in Tonga gives a presentation on “Satellite Imagery as a Tool for Informed Disaster Risk Management: NDRMO Tonga’s Path Forward.”
Under the presentation on good practices or expectations of Sentinel Asia, Mr. Noel Borlongan of PhilSA gives a presentation on “Oil Spill Monitoring from Space.”
Ms. Jezleer Montajes of the Manila Observatory–Philippines gives a presentation on “Optimizing the Microsoft Planetary Computer for Emergency Observation and Mapping (EO/M).”
Mr. Fren Marlon Peralta from Xavier University–Ateneo de Cagayan also gives a presentation on “Optimizing the Microsoft Planetary Computer for Emergency Observation and Mapping (EO/M).”
The special session titled “Space for DRRM: The Philippine Perspective,” was joined by the following panelists: Mr. Paolo Jonas Alan, Information Technology Officer and Assistant Division Chief from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD); Dr. Marcelino Villafuerte II, Deputy Administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA); Dr. Rolyn Daguil, President of Caraga State University; Dr. Arturo Daag, Associate Scientist from the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS); Engr. Christine Marie Oca, Science Research Specialist from PhilSA; and Ms. Cara Patricia Canlas, Science Research Specialist from PhilSA.
Mr. Ulan Abdybachaev from the Central Asian Institute for Applied Geosciences (CAIAG) in Kyrgyz gives a presentation on the “Events occurred in Central Asia in 2024” virtually.
Dr. Yenni Vetrita from the Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN) in Indonesia gives a presentation on “The 2024 disaster cases in Indonesia.”
Mr. Joshan Maharjan from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology in Nepal gives a presentation on “Flood impact analysis based on SAR image in Kanchanpur district.”
Mr. Vu Huu Liem from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) in Vietnam gives a presentation on “Using ALOS 2 satellite image data combined with geographical data for flood monitoring in Vietnam.”
Dr. Virany Sengtianthr from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) in Lao PDR gives a presentation on “Lao PDR Country Report, Status of Space Technology Application for DRR in Lao PDR.”
Mr. Kaliopate Tavola from the South Pacific Commission (SPC) in Fiji gives a presentation on “Pacific Post Disaster Support Facility (Sentinel Asia Use Case).”
Mr. Jumpei Takami from the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) gives a presentation on the “Recent activities by UN-SPIDER and Changes in Satellite Data Procurement and Application Systems.”
Mr. Takanori Miyoshi of JAXA gives a presentation on “New Perspective on Space-Based Disaster Management Cooperation: International Cooperation in the context of UN COPUOS.”

Day 2 of JPTM2024 at the Versailles Tent of Novotel Manila Araneta City

(L-R) PhilSA–SIIB Director Dr. Blanco and Sentinel Asia Acting Executive Secretary Dr. Kawakita as co-chairs for the 2nd Day of JPTM2024 in Novotel Manila Araneta City.
Under the training workshop on the demonstration of disaster risk assessment application, Dr. Peeranan Towashiraporn from the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) in Thailand gives a presentation on “Using Earth Observation Data to Support Sentinel Asia Step-3: Focus on Risk Analytics for Pre-Disaster Actions.”
Under the training workshop on the demonstration of flood monitoring or forecasting systems, Dr. Muraoka, a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) expert from the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) in Bangladesh, gives a presentation on “Flood Monitoring and Forecasting using GSMaP–IF.”
Mr. Kosuke Yamamoto of JAXA gives a presentation on “Today’s Earth: Introduction of Global Hydrological Simulation System.”
Under the training workshop on the lecture of standard operating procedure, Dr. Makoto Ikeda from the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) in Japan gives a presentation on “Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) for smooth EOR.”
Under the training workshop on the introduction to OCHA’s humanitarian data exchange (HDX), Mr. Anthony John Burke from The Centre for Humanitarian Data, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) gives a presentation on “Overview of the Humanitarian Data Exchange.”
Under the training workshop on the demonstration of disaster management system, Mr. Praveen Kumar Bandi from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in India gives a presentation on “National Database for Emergency Management.”
Under the training workshop on data analysis method, Mr. Syams Nashrrullah Suprijatna from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand gives a lecture and hands-on training on “SAR data analysis for flood detection and mapping.”
Under the training workshop on forest fire monitoring, Ms. Thitawadee Suvachananonda from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) in Thailand gives a lecture and hands-on training on “Satellite-Based Burnt Area Detection Using Sentinel-2 Imagery.”
Under the training workshop on data analysis method, Mr. Kabir Uddin from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Nepal gives a lecture and hands-on training on “Flood mapping using Google Earth Engine.”
Under the training workshop on data analysis method, Asst. Prof. Luis Carlos Mabaquiao from the University of the Philippines Department of Geodetic Engineering–Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry (UP DGE–TCAGP) gives a presentation on “GNSS Techniques for Water Level Monitoring.”
Still under the training workshop on data analysis method, Dr. Saeed Hussain Al Mansoori from the MBRSC in UAE gives a presentation on “Optimizing Optical Satellite Data Analysis: Methods and Strategies.”

Day 3 of JPTM2024 at the Monet Ballroom of Novotel Manila Araneta City

(L-R) Sentinel Asia Acting Executive Secretary Dr. Kawakita and PhilSA–Space Industry and Strategic Business Development Bureau (SISBDB) Director Engr. Rolando Martinez as co-chairs for the 3rd Day of JPTM2024 in Novotel Manila Araneta City.
Ms. Yuki Tanaka of the Sentinel Asia Secretariat presents the summary of JPTM2024.
Dr. Peeranan Towashiraporn of the ADPC announces the next JPTM host organization.