Philippine EO Resources

Navigate the Philippine Earth Observation Ecosystem

Date

November 17, 2025

Overview

The Philippines has a growing Earth Observation ecosystem with multiple agencies, platforms, and initiatives dedicated to using satellite data for national development, disaster risk reduction, and environmental monitoring.

NoteCoPhil Programme Context

This resource directory supports the EU-Philippines Copernicus Capacity Support Programme (CoPhil), strengthening Philippine EO capabilities through international collaboration.

Key Philippine EO Agencies

1. Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA)

Role: National space authority and co-chair of CoPhil programme

Established: 2019 (Republic Act No. 11363)

Mandate: - Formulate national space policy - Establish space infrastructure - Promote space science and technology - Coordinate space-related activities across government

Key Platforms & Services:

SIYASAT Portal

  • URL: siyasat.philsa.gov.ph
  • Description: Secure data archive for NovaSAR-1 data and maritime monitoring
  • Access: Registration required for Philippine government agencies and authorized researchers
  • Data Available:
    • NovaSAR-1 SAR imagery
    • Maritime domain awareness products
    • Automatic Identification System (AIS) data
    • Ship detection and tracking

Copernicus Mirror Site (Under Development)

  • Status: Being established under CoPhil programme
  • Purpose: Local access to Copernicus Sentinel data
  • Benefits:
    • Reduced latency for Philippine users
    • Guaranteed data availability
    • Support for real-time applications

Contact: - Website: philsa.gov.ph - Email: info@philsa.gov.ph - Address: UP Technology Innovation Center, UP Diliman, Quezon City

2. Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

Role: Science and technology advancement, co-chair of CoPhil programme

Relevant Agencies:

DOST-ASTI (Advanced Science and Technology Institute)

Key Platforms:

SkAI-Pinas (Skills for AI in the Philippines) - AI capacity building platform - Machine learning training resources - Part of ₱2.6 billion AI investment (2024-2028)

DIMER (Disaster and Information Management, Early-Warning, and Response) - Real-time disaster monitoring - Integration of EO data for hazard assessment

AIPI (AI Philippines Initiative) - National AI strategy implementation - AI applications across sectors

DOST-PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration)

  • Website: pagasa.dost.gov.ph
  • Focus: Weather, climate, and astronomical services
  • EO Applications:
    • Weather satellite data (Himawari-8, GOES)
    • Rainfall estimation
    • Tropical cyclone monitoring
    • Flood forecasting

Contact: - DOST Main: dost.gov.ph - PAGASA Portal: bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph

3. National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA)

Role: National mapping and geospatial information authority

Website: namria.gov.ph

Mandate: - National mapping and charting - Resource data generation - Geospatial information management

Key Platforms:

NAMRIA GeoPortal

  • URL: geoportal.namria.gov.ph
  • Description: Access to Philippine geospatial datasets
  • Data Available:
    • Topographic maps
    • Administrative boundaries
    • Digital elevation models
    • Land cover maps
    • Coastal and bathymetric data

Resource Data Analysis Center (RDAC)

  • Satellite data reception and processing
  • Analysis of Landsat, SPOT, and other EO data
  • Custom mapping services for government agencies

Services: - Map production and printing - Geodetic surveys - Hydrographic surveys - Resource assessment

Contact: - Email: info@namria.gov.ph - Address: Lawton Avenue, Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City

4. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

Role: Natural resource management and environmental protection

Website: denr.gov.ph

Relevant Offices:

DENR-GSIS (Geographic Information System Services)

  • Forest monitoring using satellite imagery
  • Land cover and land use mapping
  • Biodiversity conservation planning

DENR-Forest Management Bureau (FMB)

  • Website: forestry.denr.gov.ph
  • National Greening Program monitoring
  • Forest health assessment
  • Illegal logging detection using EO

EO Applications: - Forest cover change detection - Mangrove mapping - Mining site monitoring - Protected area surveillance

5. Other Key Agencies

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)

  • Website: ndrrmc.gov.ph
  • Coordinates disaster response
  • Uses EO data for damage assessment and evacuation planning

Department of Agriculture (DA)

  • Website: da.gov.ph
  • Crop monitoring using satellite imagery
  • Agricultural drought assessment
  • Rice production forecasting

Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA)

  • Water resource mapping
  • Watershed monitoring
  • Flood hazard assessment

International Collaboration Platforms

1. Copernicus Programme Access

Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem

  • URL: dataspace.copernicus.eu
  • Description: Official Copernicus data access platform (launched 2023)
  • Features:
    • Free access to all Sentinel missions
    • SentiBoard dashboard for data discovery
    • On-demand processing services
    • API access for automated workflows

Philippine Focus: - CoPhil Mirror Site integration (upcoming) - Dedicated training resources - Local technical support

2. ESA Earth Observation Portal

  • URL: earth.esa.int
  • Mission information and data access
  • Educational resources

3. NASA Earthdata

  • URL: earthdata.nasa.gov
  • Access to NASA EO missions
  • Free data download (registration required)

Philippine EO Data Repositories

1. PhilGIS (Philippine GIS Data Clearinghouse)

  • URL: philgis.org
  • Description: Repository of Philippine geospatial datasets
  • Data Types:
    • Administrative boundaries (up to barangay level)
    • Roads and infrastructure
    • Digital elevation models
    • Land cover classifications

2. LiPAD (LiDAR Portal for Archiving and Distribution)

  • URL: lipad.dream.upd.edu.ph
  • Description: High-resolution LiDAR data for the Philippines
  • Coverage: Major river basins and flood-prone areas
  • Products:
    • Digital Terrain Models (DTM)
    • Digital Surface Models (DSM)
    • Flood hazard maps
    • Point clouds

3. Philippine Geoportal

  • URL: geoportal.gov.ph
  • Description: Government geospatial data portal
  • Data: Various government datasets

University Research Centers

1. UP Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry (TCAGP)

  • Website: tcagp.org
  • Focus: Geomatics training and research
  • Location: University of the Philippines, Diliman

2. UP Resilience Institute

3. ATENEO Manila Observatory

  • Website: observatory.ph
  • Focus: Climate science, disaster preparedness
  • EO Applications: Climate modeling, typhoon research

Training and Capacity Building

1. PhilSA Digital Space Campus

  • Status: Under development (CoPhil programme)
  • Purpose: Sustainable EO training infrastructure
  • Features:
    • Online learning management system
    • Hands-on workshops
    • Certification programmes
    • Community forums

2. DOST-ASTI Training Programs

  • Regular workshops on AI/ML
  • Data science bootcamps
  • Online courses via SkAI-Pinas

3. NAMRIA Training Center

  • GIS and remote sensing courses
  • Surveying and mapping certification
  • Custom agency training

Philippine EO Applications

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

Flood Mapping - SAR-based flood extent detection - Risk assessment for urban areas - Example: Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon

Typhoon Monitoring - Damage assessment using pre/post-event imagery - Infrastructure impact evaluation - Agricultural loss estimation

Landslide Detection - Change detection in mountainous regions - Vulnerability mapping - Early warning systems

Climate Change Adaptation (CCA)

Drought Monitoring - Agricultural drought in Mindanao - Water resource management - Crop stress detection

Coastal Change - Shoreline erosion monitoring - Mangrove forest tracking - Sea level rise impacts

Urban Heat Islands - Temperature mapping in Metro Manila - Green space planning - Climate adaptation strategies

Natural Resource Management (NRM)

Forest Monitoring - Deforestation detection - Illegal logging surveillance - Reforestation progress tracking

Land Cover Mapping - National land cover database updates - Urban expansion analysis - Agricultural land use planning

Marine Resources - Coral reef health assessment - Coastal water quality - Marine protected area monitoring

Data Access Guides

How to Access Philippine EO Data

For Government Employees

  1. Register with SIYASAT portal (PhilSA)
  2. Access NAMRIA GeoPortal with agency credentials
  3. Request datasets through official channels

For Researchers

  1. Submit data request to PhilSA/NAMRIA
  2. Provide research proposal and intended use
  3. Sign data sharing agreements if required

For Students

  1. Access open datasets via PhilGIS
  2. Use LiPAD portal for LiDAR data
  3. Request educational access to restricted datasets

For International Collaborators

  1. Coordinate through CoPhil programme channels
  2. Establish memoranda of understanding (MOUs)
  3. Follow data sharing protocols

Philippine Case Studies

1. Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) Response (2013)

  • Rapid damage mapping using SAR imagery
  • Coordination with international EO community
  • Lessons learned for future disasters

2. Marawi Crisis (2017)

  • Satellite-based damage assessment
  • Infrastructure monitoring
  • Post-conflict reconstruction planning

3. Taal Volcano Eruption (2020)

  • Ash fall extent mapping
  • Evacuation zone delineation
  • Environmental impact assessment

4. COVID-19 Pandemic Monitoring (2020-2023)

  • Urban mobility analysis
  • Air quality changes
  • Land use shifts

Upcoming Initiatives

CoPhil Programme Milestones (2024-2026)

2024-2025: - Copernicus Mirror Site installation - Digital Space Campus platform launch - Pilot service co-development (DRR, CCA, NRM)

2025-2026: - Advanced AI/ML training programmes - Operational EO services rollout - Regional capacity building workshops

DOST AI Investment (2024-2028)

  • ₱2.6 billion for AI infrastructure
  • Integration of EO data with AI platforms
  • National AI talent development

Contact Directory

PhilSA - Email: info@philsa.gov.ph - Phone: +63 (2) 8981-8500

DOST - Email: dostncr@dost.gov.ph - Phone: +63 (2) 8837-2071

NAMRIA - Email: info@namria.gov.ph - Phone: +63 (2) 8810-4831

PAGASA - Email: inquiry@pagasa.dost.gov.ph - Phone: +63 (2) 8284-0800

Additional Resources

Policy Documents

  • Republic Act No. 11363 (Philippine Space Act of 2019)
  • Executive Order No. 358 (NDRRMC Reorganization)
  • DENR Administrative Orders on forest monitoring

Reports and Publications

  • PhilSA Strategic Roadmap 2020-2040
  • Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028
  • National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan

International Partnerships

  • JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) - Data sharing agreements
  • ESA (European Space Agency) - CoPhil programme
  • USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) - Landsat data access
  • UNOSAT - Disaster response support

Stay Updated

Follow Philippine EO developments:

  • PhilSA Newsletter: Subscribe at philsa.gov.ph
  • CoPhil Updates: Check training portal announcements
  • Social Media: Follow @PhilSpaceAgency on Twitter/Facebook
TipContribute to This Directory

Know of additional Philippine EO resources? Contact the training coordinators to suggest additions to this page.

This resource directory is maintained by the CoPhil Training Programme. Last updated: 2025.