US, PH eye cooperation to use space tech for maritime safety

Philippine and US flags (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The governments of the Philippines and the United States (US) are looking at expanding their cooperation on the potential use of space technology for maritime domain awareness that would be beneficial in ensuring the safety of Filipino mariners at sea.

READ: PH boosts security with space tech

In a joint statement issued Tuesday (Philippine time), the US and the Philippines said they conducted the first Bilateral Space Dialogue in Washington, D.C. early May, agreeing that Earth observation is a “priority area for bilateral cooperation.”

“They discussed a range of programs that use satellites to better forecast weather patterns; support agricultural and infrastructure planning; help monitor and combat climate change and pollution; prepare for and respond to disasters; improve natural resource use; and provide vital telecommunications services,” the joint statement read.

The governments likewise agreed to consider the possible hosting of a US Geological Survey Landsat ground station in the Philippines.

“The delegations recognized the potential for expanded cooperation on the use of space for maritime domain awareness, including through the U.S. Department of Transportation-led SeaVision program,” it added.

The Bilateral Space Dialogue bared that such a program will be useful in monitoring and documenting vessels in the Philippines’ territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, ensure the safety of mariners at sea, monitor and help protect the environment, and help combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

READ: PH, US ‘working overtime’ to seal intel-sharing pact

“The delegations also highlighted efforts to expand the provision of satellite-enabled broadband Internet services to remote and underserved areas of the Philippines, including a [Philippine Space Agency] initiative in cooperation with USAID Better Access and Connectivity, leveraging U.S. commercial low-earth-orbit communication satellites,” the statement further read.

In line with its bid to expand its cooperation on the use of space, the US and Philippine governments likewise agreed to the following:

• Review joint efforts to promote the long-term sustainability of outer space activities
• Stay in close communication on expanding commercial space ties and space situational awareness
• Recognize the importance of addressing space debris
• Work together to expand bilateral exchange and training programs on the use of Earth observation satellite data, development of space applications and technologies and other space science and skills, including fellowships, scholarships and internship programs

The joint statement likewise indicated that the next US-Philippines Space Dialogue will be held in the Philippines at a “mutually agreed upon future date.”