Philippine Space Agency deploys satellite mapping to protect Palawan's ecosystems and Tubbataha's coral reefs

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has signed five-year agreements with two of the country's most important environmental authorities to bring satellite-derived mapping technology to bear on conservation efforts in Palawan and the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.

- By JONATHAN CASTILLO

[L-R] PhilSA SIIB Director Ariel C. Blano with TMO Protected Area Superintendent Angelique Songco and [Far Right] PCSD Executive Director Atty. Teodoro Matta during the MOA signing.

The memoranda of agreement, formalized on Feb. 13, 2026 in Puerto Princesa City, establish formal partnerships with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) and the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO). Both deals center on the use of space science and remote sensing to generate the detailed environmental maps that land managers and policymakers need to monitor ecosystem health, detect change, and respond to damage.