The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) held a two-day PINAS Workshop from 22 to 23 February 2023 at the Aklan State University (ASU), attended by over 90 participants from the local government unit (LGU), regional government agencies, civil society organizations (CSO), and the academe.

Hon. Jose Enrique M. Miraflores, Governor of the Province of Aklan, and Hon. Carlito S. Marquez, Congressman of the 1st district of the Province of Aklan and Chair of the House Committee on Science and Technology, recognized the value of space data to address the province’s concerns in their welcome remarks and message of support, respectively. 

In collaboration with ASU, the workshop included lectures on space data applications, remote sensing, and the importance of field validation. Mapping activity and field collection data training through the ODK Collect application was conducted to determine the environmental, agriculture, and disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) concerns per area. A technical demonstration on the Diwata-2 Amateur Radio Unit and practical application also occurred. 

PINAS, or the PhilSA Integrated Network for Space-Enabled Actions towards Sustainability,  envisions an active network of institutions and people to #JoinTheMission and work together toward sustainability using space data and information. Launched last October 2022, LGUs, NGAs, CSOs, the academe, and individuals were invited to #JoinTheMission here. Previous workshops were also held in Iloilo City, Palawan, and Ilocos Region.

Hon. Jose Enrique M. Miraflores, Governor of the Province of Aklan, officially opened the PINAS Workshop and highlighted how space data and technology can help with the challenges faced by the province.

During her welcome remarks, Dr. Emily M. Arangote, ASU President, stressed the importance of capacitating communities using space data and technology.

Hon. Carlito S. Marquez, Congressman of the 1st district of the Province of Aklan and Chair of the House Committee on Science and Technology, expressed support through a pre-recorded message. He emphasized working together in the government to deliver goods and services to Filipinos that are evidence-based and data-driven, utilizing the full value of the space data chain.

Dr. Melba Raga-as, ASU Director for Research and Development, touched on environmental, DRRM, and other concerns of Aklan.

Mr. Galo I. Ibardolaza, Executive Officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office continued the presentation on the environmental, DRRM, and the concerns of Aklan from the perspective of the LGU.

PhilSA Space Information Infrastructure Director Dr. Ariel C. Blanco discussed value creation through Earth observation and geospatial technologies.

Day 1 mapping activity

Day 1 mapping activity

Diwata-2 ARU technical demonstration.

Field data collection using the ODK Collect application.

Field data collection using the ODK Collect application.

Field data collection using the ODK Collect application.