RP HIGHLIGHTS ROLE OF OUTER SPACE-TECHNOLOGIES

IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AT ANNUAL MEET OF

UN OUTER SPACE SUBCOMMITTEE

18 February 2008 - The Philippines highlighted the important role of space technologies in supporting sustainable development in developing countries, at the ongoing 45^th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC) of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).  

Speaking at the two-week session, DOST Senior Science Research Specialist Dr. Jose Edgardo L. Aban commended the UN for promoting international cooperation in outer space matters, through the COPUOS, making it possible even for developing countries to benefit from the application of space technologies to critical development-related concerns and quality-of-life issues.

Dr. Aban also informed the UN about the Philippines’ efforts to revitalize the domestic space technology applications sector, under the biennial National Congresses on Space Technology Applications and Research (NC-STAR). Convened by the DOST in 2005 and 2007, NC-STAR has to date resulted in a road map for capacity-building and for the implementation of space technology application programmes in the Philippines, within the context of the goals enunciated under the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Water Sector Development Strategy (WSDS) and the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS). 

Meeting with the Philippine delegation, UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) Chief Mazlan Othman pledged to provide the agency’s full support for the development of the Philippines’ space technology applications sector, following the roadmap identified by the NC-STAR. 

A major focus of current Philippine participation in the COPUOS involves securing access to space technologies in the area of disaster response and management, through the recently established UN Platform for Space-Based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER). Established in 2006, the UN-SPIDER programme seeks to provide countries with ready access to space-based data for use during all phases of the disaster management cycle, to help reduce the loss of lives and property during natural calamities. The Philippines considers the UN-SPIDER a priority area, given the country’s vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and PAG-ASA are being designated as national focal points for Philippine participation in the UN-SPIDER programme, which will maintain offices in Bonn, Beijing and Geneva.

The DOST and the DFA agree that much work remains to be done to inform the average Filipino of the relevance of outer space technologies, not only in addressing profound development challenges, but also in making possible seemingly mundane day-to-day activities such as long-distance phone calls and short messaging (texting). “Although the COPUOS addresses highly technical matters such as the space debris mitigation, Near-Earth objects, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), and compliance with the UN Outer Space-treaties, it also pursues valuable initiatives to enable and countries without active space programmes, such as the Philippines, to gain access to space technologies and their useful applications”, said RP Ambassador to Austria Linglingay F. Lacanlale, who sits as Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN COPUOS.  

The delegation to the ongoing 45^th Session of the STSC includes Ambassador Lacanlale, Dr. Aban, PAG-ASA Supervising Weather Specialist Esperanza Cayanan, Deputy Permanent Representative Meynardo LB Montealegre and Second Secretary Josel F. Ignacio. 

The Vienna-based COPUOS was set up by the UN General Assembly in 1959, with twenty-four Member States, to enhance international cooperation in outer space-matters and to develop a legal regime governing the use and exploration of outer space.  The COPUOS is supported by its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, which develops programmes pertaining to space applications and technical questions; and its Legal Subcommittee, which considers legal questions arising from the exploration and use of outer space. 

Among the key areas already covered by COPUOS initiatives are disaster management, satellite communications, telemedicine, environmental monitoring by remote sensing, natural resource and water management, and science education.   

The COPUOS currently has sixty-nine (69) Member States, with Bolivia and Switzerland being the latest countries to be admitted.  The Philippines has been a Member of the Committee since 1977. END

/wingret