The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) said on Monday, April 24, that it will utilize the European Union (EU)-funded satellite data sharing program, Copernicus Capacity Support Action Programme for the Philippines (CopPhil), to boost the country's disaster response and food security initiatives.
In Photo: Peteris Ustubs, director for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific European Commission, DOST Sec. Renato Solidum Jr., EU Delegation to the Philippines Ambassador Luc Veron, PhilSA Director General Joel Joseph Marciano Jr., and European Space Agency Head of Sustainable Initiative Office Benjamin Koetz join hands to symbolize their partnership for CopPhil during its official launch on Monday, April 24 at the Hilton Hotel in Pasay City. (Luisa Cabato)
CopPhil, a collaboration among PhilSA, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the EU, is a three-year program that will provide near-real-time, free , and accessible environmental and climate data obtained from a constellation of satellites called the Sentinels.
"The Agency welcomes this partnership with the European Union as it strengthens the domestic space value chain, particularly the ability to process and use satellite images and spaceborne data to better manage, and protect our environment and natural resources, and be better prepared in the face of disasters and climate change," said PhilSA Director General Joel Marciano, Jr. during the official launch of the program.
Marciano noted that these satellite data could be accessed by both government and non-government organizations and utilized with various monitoring, protection, search and rescue, assistance distribution, and similar programs during and even before disasters.
He added that CopPhil would also alleviate the country's pre-disaster management efforts and centralize the data sharing system within the country.
CopPhil has an allocated budget of P610 million or €10 million from the EU and is the first-ever space cooperation program in Southeast Asia.
(Photo: MB| Ali Vicoy)
Meanwhile, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr., said the partnership with the EU will improve "domestic space value chain, particularly the ability to process and use satellite images and spaceborne data to better manage, and protect our environment and natural resources, and be better prepared in the face of disasters and climate change."
READ: PH-EU cooperation on space S&T to strengthen nation’s disaster resilience - Solidum
What is Copernicus?
Copernicus is an EU program that targets the development of European information services based on satellite Earth observation and in-situ or non-space data.
It provides data that can be used for local and regional needs and is implemented with the European Union Member States, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), EU Agencies, and Mercator Océan.
READ: PH taps EU satellite data to address disaster, climate change