MANILA -- President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos on Wednesday commended the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSa) for its commitment and determination in the creation and development of purely Philippine- made space satellite.

The satellite dubbed (Multi-spectral Unit for Land Assessment) (MULA) will be built by an all-Filipino team of engineers from PhilSa, with support from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

In a meeting with DOST Secretary Renato Solidum and PhilSa officials led by Director General Joel Joseph Marciano, President Marcos said he is looking forward to the development and full completion of MULA which is set to be launched in 2025.

MULA is a game-changer in the Philippine space technology because once launched, it will be the largest Philippine-made satellite to date, even as it would also usher in a new era in the country’s space technology program.

Weighing approximately 130 kilos, the satellite can cover 73,000 square kilometers in a day to gather data from land, air and sea areas inside the Philippine territory.

It can detect air and water quality, determine abundant fishing grounds, zoom in traffic situations, presence of ships in Philippine waters, among others to improve maritime domain awareness, territorial monitoring and security evaluation.

PhilSa which is under the Office of the President was created through RA11363 or Philippine Space Act.

Among its mandate is to safeguard Philippine sovereignty, territorial integrity, Philippine interest, and the right to self-determination as mandated by Article II, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution.

It is also tasked to support and commit to the development, application and utilization of science and technology (S&T) that will foster patriotism and nationalism and accelerate social progress, such as the development of space technology and applications for its security and for the benefit of its citizens; and to ensure access to space and its environs as a sovereign right in the promotion of national security towards the attainment and protection of national interest.

The agency is also mandated to recognize that there is an urgent need to create a coherent and unified strategy for space development and utilization to keep up with other nations in terms of space Science and Technology among others.

Funding for MULA project is included in the 2023 National Expenditure Program (NEP). (OPS)