PH, Japan sign pact to advance space collaboration

The Philippines and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to deeper space cooperation, signing a Joint Declaration of Interest that paves the way for expanded collaboration in satellite missions, space exploration, and sustainability initiatives.

The agreement was signed by Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) Ad Interim Director General Gay Jane Perez and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) President Hiroshi Yamakawa during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s state visit to Japan.

Under the declaration, PhilSA and JAXA will explore new partnerships in satellite joint missions and data applications, human spaceflight and space exploration, as well as efforts to promote the sustainable use of outer space.

The signing comes as the two countries mark the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Diwata-1 microsatellite, a landmark project that helped lay the foundation for the Philippines' space program.

Speaking during his summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae on May 28, Marcos said the milestone reflects how Philippine-Japan cooperation has continued to reach new heights.

The Philippines and Japan have maintained close ties in the space sector for years. In November 2025, PhilSA and JAXA jointly hosted the 31st Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-31) in Cebu, the largest space gathering in the region, further underscoring their growing partnership in advancing space science and technology

According to PhilSA, this year also marks twenty years of Sentinel Asia, an international cooperation project led by JAXA and the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) that contributes to disaster management in the Asia-Pacific region.

The project provides a framework to request and utilize satellite data for rapid disaster assessment and response.

From 2024 to 2025, a total of 20 emergency observation requests were made through Sentinel Asia by different Philippine institutions: PAGASA, PHIVOLCS, MGB, and PhilSA. Most of these requests were related to floods, landslides, and storms; two were for earthquakes; one for an oil spill; and one for volcanic activity, PhilSA said. —LDF, GMA News