Philippine space development bill gets House nod

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Tuesday unanimously gave its final nod to a bill creating the Philippine Space Agency and establishing the Philippine space development and utilization policy (PSDUP).

The chamber approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 8541 with 207 affirmative votes during their plenary session. No one voted against the bill or abstained.

Under the proposed measure, the PSDUP would be established as the country’s strategic roadmap for space development to “embody” the Philippines’ central goal of “becoming a space-capable and space-faring nation within the next decade.”

Once enacted into law, the Philippine Space Agency would be the primary policy, planning, implementing entity of the executive department to promote the national space program in line with the PSDUP.

The bill also provides that a framework for the space policy would focus on six areas: national security and development; hazard management and climate studies; space research and development; space industry capacity building; space education and awareness; and international cooperation.

The Philippine Space Agency will also be attached to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The bill also creates the Philippine Space Development Fund to be used exclusively for its operation.

The astronomical space-related functions of the Department of Transportation and DOST will also be transferred to the Philippine Space Agency, under the bill. /je

Read HB 8541 here: