“A sounding rocket launch test is slated for next year. Yes, we are going to launch a rocket into space,” said President Bongbong Marcos Jr. in his recent 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA). He did not allude to the chaos taking place in the Senate—and while he did briefly touch upon the divisive Pax Silica project, neither did he address the criticisms and concerns directed at it.
We have much on our plate as a nation: the continuous rise of prices, the ongoing flood control investigations, and institutional instability at the highest level, among other pressing concerns. And yet, we’re looking to space.Is that really the priority?
READ: Our key takeaways from SONA 2026
Why space?
According to the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), the test launch will demonstrate our capability to deploy a liquid-fueled rocket with a payload weighing up to 2kg.
The project will be implemented by PhilSA, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), in partnership with Ascend International Gateway, Inc., a local corporation, and Perigee Aerospace, Inc., a South Korean company.
To what end? According to PhilSA Director General Gay Jane Perez, the Cagayan project is in response to the growing global demand for spaceports. “With the Pacific Ocean to its east and its proximity to the equator, the Philippines is well positioned for safe and secure rocket launch and recovery operations, helping reduce costs, improve launch efficiency, and create opportunities for future launch services.”
“Our vision is for the Philippines to have a spaceport that serves as a gateway for safe, responsible, and sustainable space access for the region and the world. It will be a commercial-driven, government-enabled spaceport, with predictable timelines for launch licensing and authorization,” adds Perez.
More practical applications than we give it credit for
Simply put, the Philippines has long been a user of international space services, and the upcoming project marks a shift to becoming a provider for it.But what does it mean for the rest of us?
For Engr. John Leur D. Labrador, Director IV of the Space Technology Missions Systems Bureau (STMSB) of PhilSA, having our own satellite capabilities will pay dividends for a country like ours that frequently experiences natural disasters.
In an interview with the Ateneo Research on Optical Sciences, Engineering, and Systems (ROSES) Laboratory, he recalls that during Typhoon Yolanda, they had to procure satellite images from commercial companies. “For 30 minutes to an hour of usage of their satellites, so that we can take control of it and take pictures of the affected areas, millions of pesos ‘yong rate.”
This tragedy, which led to more than 6,300 deaths and millions displaced, exposed our need to invest in disaster assessment and response—not just with on-the-ground infrastructure, but satellite capabilities as well.
In April 2016, Diwata-1 became the first Filipino-built object in space. In collaboration with Japan’s Tohoku University and Hokkaido University, the microsatellite launched from the International Space Station (ISS) was tasked with assessing damages caused by natural disasters and environmental monitoring.
Two years later, the new-and-improved Diwata-2 was launched with similar mission parameters—and as of February 2025, has captured a total of 157,804 satellite images worldwide and covered 96.47 percent (approximately 293,907.93 km²) of the country’s land area.
“Secure, resilient, and inclusive digital ecosystem”
According to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), PhilSA, through these projects, has provided data covering several disasters: the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu, an oil spill in Manila Bay, and Super Typhoon Uwan, to name a few. These satellite maps were transmitted to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and local government units, which directly affected the quality and efficacy of post-disaster responses.
“Space-based technologies are an essential foundation of modern ICT infrastructure. Sovereign launch capability will allow the Philippines to independently deploy communications satellites, Earth Observation systems, and navigation assets. This advances the country’s long-term vision of building a secure, resilient, and inclusive digital ecosystem, ensuring that the Philippines remains competitive in the digital age,” says the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry R. Aguda.
With the many local and international issues that have affected the country in recent months, suddenly announcing a space mission almost comes out of left field—and dare we say, misplaced and unnecessary, in contrast to the other things we should prioritize.
But as films such as “Interstellar” and “Project Hail Mary” have taught us, sometimes it is only by looking up that we are able to address some of our problems on the ground.And if that doesn’t come with risks to our environment, such as Pax Silica—and will provide jobs and boost the national economy, on top of improving our disaster readiness capabilities—then yes, space is a priority.
