MikeLigalig.com

Published October 9, 2016 3:58pm
By MIKAEL ANGELO FRANCISCO


For someone whose profession involves keeping his eyes on the stars, one of the only three Filipino astrophysicists has recently been devoting more time and energy to being on the ground.

As the program leader of the National Space Development Program (NSDP) under the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), Dr. Rogel Mari Sese coordinates with legislators, government institutions, and fellow space scientists in laying the groundwork for the Philippines’ very own national space agencyâ€"one giant leap for a nation whose way of life has been influenced by celestial bodies long before its earliest colonizers could.

Sese’s team is also pushing for a policy that would cover all space-related functions on a national level. This space policy will provide direction for the government in terms of space development and utilization, with the aforementioned space agency functioning as the main implementing body for all space-centric endeavors.

“[Currently,] a lot of government agencies are doing space-related work, but it’s all uncoordinated,” says Sese. “[With the space agency and space policy], instead of having it all under separate branches or agencies of the government, it will all be unified.”


More at: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/584375/scitech/science/why-the-philippines-needs-a-national-space-agency