The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) met with the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on 11 March 2026 to discuss strengthening international cooperation in the peaceful, sustainable, and inclusive use of outer space. 

The PhilSA delegation, headed by Ad Interim Director General Gay Jane Perez, Ph.D. discussed ongoing and future collaborations in space science, technology, and policy, including efforts in Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Space Traffic Management (STM), and the long-term space sustainability. 

UNOOSA Director Aarti Holla-Maini emphasized the importance of partnerships with emerging spacefaring nations such as the Philippines, praising the country’s leadership as it chairs ASEAN this year and co-hosts—with Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency and UNOOSA—the ASEAN SSA/STM Seminar-Workshop on 12-13 March 2026. She highlighted the need to strengthen the voices of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in global platforms like the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), particularly on issues such as climate change and sea-level rise, and underscored that space technology must ultimately uplift communities and improve quality of life. Director Holla-Maini also shared ongoing educational collaborations with PhilSA, including the translation of Tala and Her Journey to Space (Si Tala at ang Kanyang Lakbay Kalawakan) into all six (6) UN official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish) to help young learners understand outer space treaties.  

Representing DFA Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro, Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations (MAIER) Maria Andrelita Austria reaffirmed the DFA’s commitment to deepening international space cooperation and highlighted opportunities for expanded South-South collaboration. She emphasized the importance of amplifying the Philippines’ contributions to the global space community.  

PhilSA and UNOOSA meet with DFA to further strengthen international cooperation for the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space.