The Philippines and the European Union (EU) have reaffirmed their growing partnership in space cooperation during a high-level visit to the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), highlighting joint efforts to harness space technology for sustainable and inclusive development.
The PhilSA-hosted visit brought together representatives from the Council of Asia-Pacific Working Party (COASI), the EU Delegation to the Philippines, and 17 EU Member States, led by EU Ambassador H.E. Massimo Santoro.
The delegation’s presence underscored the EU’s commitment to deepening international collaboration through its Global Gateway strategy—an initiative to build sustainable partnerships in key sectors such as space, digital, energy, and transport.
At the center of this strengthened cooperation is the National Copernicus Capacity Support Action Programme for the Philippines (CopPhil)—a flagship initiative launched in April 2023 to bring the EU’s Copernicus Earth Observation data to support Philippine priorities such as climate resilience, environmental protection, and disaster preparedness.
Implemented by the European Space Agency (ESA), the EU Delegation, PhilSA, and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), CopPhil represents a model of integrated collaboration.
One of its key achievements is the establishment of the Copernicus Data Centre, launched in October 2024 as the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. This facility enhances the country’s access to critical satellite data, providing the foundation for more informed decision-making in environmental and disaster risk management.
CopPhil also supports the development of Earth Observation pilot services customized for the Philippines, which are helping address national priorities such as land use and crop mapping, ground motion monitoring, and coastal marine habitat assessment. These services directly contribute to more efficient agricultural planning, environmental protection, and resilience-building efforts.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the program places a strong emphasis on capacity building and knowledge transfer. It includes training sessions, technical workshops, and scholarship opportunities aimed at developing local expertise in Earth Observation and remote sensing.
These initiatives are helping to empower Filipino professionals and institutions to take the lead in applying space-based solutions across multiple sectors.
“This collaborative effort with the EU is fundamental to increasing our country’s capacity to foster innovation using space-based data, and to position the Philippines as a central hub for Earth Observation in Southeast Asia,” PhilSA Director General Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano Jr. said.