PH targets 1st rocket launch on Valentine's Day 2027

The Philippines is targeting February 14, 2027 for the launch of its first demonstration rocket under the government's SIKLAB project, officials said on Wednesday.

At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, officials from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), and Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) said the countdown to the planned launch has already started with about 193 days remaining before the target date.

“I think [the engineers] were targeting between February 12 to 15. So, in-average ko na lang, sabi ko, mas maganda Valentine's Day,” DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said.

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PhilSA Director General Gay Jane Perez clarified that February 14, 2027 is a target launch window rather than a fixed date, noting that rocket launches depend on weather and technical conditions.

“As you know, with rocket launches, there are conditions na kailangan po natin ma-determine on the day itself, maybe a few days leading to it, that will really determine kung makakalipad tayo or hindi. Go or no go,” Perez said.

“It's not really saying on the dot na lilipad po yung rocket dito, but it's more symbolic really. It represents our commitment, our initial target here to fly that rocket,” she added.

The demonstration launch will take place in Cagayan, which officials said was selected because of its proximity to the equator, favorable geography, existing infrastructure, and large surrounding bodies of water that provide a safer debris field for rocket launches.

CEZA chief Secretary Katrina Ponce Enrile said this project could eventually create about 15,800 direct jobs, while contributing up to $3.6 billion in annual economic activity.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the rocket launch in his 2026 State of the Nation Address. He said that the rocket launching will be done in partnership with a South Korean aerospace company. —RF, GMA News