The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has signed agreements with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) and the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) to use space data in mapping projects that support environmental protection and planning in Palawan.
The partnerships focus on applying space science, technology, and applications (SSTA) to create maps that can help government agencies monitor ecosystems, guide conservation work, and support data-driven policymaking.
Under the agreement with PCSD, PhilSA will produce land use and land cover (LULC) maps and benthic maps that show marine habitats. These maps will be provided free of charge and can help track environmental changes and assess damage when needed. PCSD will validate the maps using ground data collected in the province.
PhilSA also signed a separate agreement with TMO to conduct benthic or marine habitat mapping and bathymetry mapping in the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. The protected area, located in the Sulu Sea, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for its rich marine biodiversity.
Both agreements include training programs to help PCSD and TMO personnel use space-based data for environmental monitoring and management even after the partnership ends.
The collaboration builds on the earlier conduct of the PhilSA Integrated Network for Space-Enabled Actions (PINAS) workshop in Palawan in 2022. PINAS connects local government units, institutions, and individuals that use satellite data and other space-based information to support sustainability initiatives. Similar workshops have been held in areas including Iloilo, Ilocos, Mindoro, Davao, Zamboanga, Cebu, Bataan, Bulacan, and Bukidnon.
PhilSA also held PINAS symposiums at Western Philippines University and Palawan State University, along with field surveys in Balabac, Palawan. These activities included drone imaging, underwater video recording, and echosounder tows to collect validation data.
The information gathered will support the creation of detailed maps of seagrass beds, coral reefs, forests, and crops to help guide conservation, agriculture, and sustainable development planning in the region.
The five-year agreements were signed in February 2026 in Puerto Princesa City by PCSD Executive Director Atty. Teodoro Matta, TMO Protected Area Superintendent Angelique Songco, and PhilSA Director General Gay Jane Perez, represented by Space Information Infrastructure Bureau Director Ariel Blanco.