MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored the importance of space science and technology in improving climate resilience, disaster response, and sustainable development as he addressed the 31st Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-31) in Cebu.

“Space must serve the people,” Marcos said at the gathering held at Shangri-La Mactan, urging delegates to share expertise, deepen regional dialogue, and implement responsible space strategies for the benefit of the Asia-Pacific.

“At the 31st Session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum, we are reminded of how deeply space exploration touches and transforms the lives of our people,” he added.

Marcos said APRSAF has, for more than three decades, provided a platform for countries to collaborate on space-related initiatives, strengthen partnerships, and build collective capabilities. The Philippines’ second hosting of the event—its first since 2016—reflects its growing role in regional space development, he noted.

Under the theme “Empowering the Region through Space Ecosystem in Action,” this year’s forum focuses on capability enhancement, space exploration, and industry development.

“This is how we translate our shared commitment into action: by expanding space science and technology and ensuring that outer space remains a domain of responsible stewardship,” Marcos said.

He emphasized the forum’s relevance as the region faces climate change, complex disasters, and widening development gaps. The Philippines, he added, remains particularly vulnerable.

“These challenges weigh even more heavily on us because of where we stand on the map. Situated along the Pacific typhoon belt and the Pacific Ring of Fire, our country endures an average of 19 to 20 Tropical Cyclones each year as well as an average of 20 recorded earthquakes per day,” he said.

Marcos said Asia-Pacific countries are increasingly turning to space technologies to strengthen governance, protect the environment, and ensure inclusive development.

The President thanked the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for organizing the event. He also commended PhilSA for its work over the past six years, particularly its role in disaster mitigation and prevention.

“They regularly generate and distribute satellite data to national and local governments, researchers, and the private sector. These are used to aid disaster risk reduction and management as well as monitor the country’s maritime domain, among others,” Marcos said.

He highlighted the ongoing development of the Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment (MULA) satellite, set to become the country’s largest earth observation satellite, and cited last year’s unveiling of the Copernicus Data Centre, established by PhilSA and the European Commission.

“It is the first Copernicus Earth Observation data storage and processing facility in Asia. Through its pilot services, we bring data into the hands of Filipino experts and decision-makers,” he said.

APRSAF-31, held from November 18 to 21, gathers experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from more than 40 countries to discuss space-driven solutions and strengthen regional cooperation. Established in 1993, APRSAF is the Asia-Pacific’s largest space-related conference aimed at advancing joint activities and promoting knowledge-sharing across the region.