Welcome, everyone, to this momentous occasion! I am Gay Jane P. Perez, Officer-in-Charge of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), and I stand before you with great enthusiasm as we gather to celebrate the 31st Session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum. Today, we are honored to have the presence of His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., along with esteemed partners from JAXA and MEXT, and distinguished heads of space agencies from across the region.
The theme of this forum, 'Empowering the Region through Space Ecosystems in Action,' resonates deeply with our collective vision. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration and connectivity between institutions, technologies, and people to ensure sustainable access to space. By doing so, we can address shared challenges and support long-term development, especially in the face of climate change and natural hazards.
In the Philippines, we recognize the immense value of space technology in enhancing data-driven governance. This enables us to build resilience against climate change impacts and natural disasters, while also reinforcing key sectors such as agriculture, environmental conservation, and maritime security. However, we understand that space data alone is not sufficient. To truly address these challenges, we must develop capabilities to integrate this data with ground measurements, AI models, and leverage the expertise of advanced space actors.
This is where the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) plays a pivotal role. Through its working groups and initiatives, APRSAF provides an inclusive platform for collaboration on the peaceful and practical uses of space. These initiatives include Satellite Applications, Enhancement of Space Capability, Space Frontier, Space Education for All, Space Policy and Law, and Space Industry. The sessions held this week demonstrate the region's commitment to building a responsible and responsive space ecosystem that meets societal needs.
For the Philippines, this collaborative approach aligns perfectly with our cultural value of Bayanihan, which embodies the spirit of collective effort and mutual support. When applied to our space endeavors, it becomes SpaceBayanihan, where expertise and resources are shared and reinforced across institutions and borders. We believe that this approach can be shared across the Asia-Pacific region, as complex missions thrive on cooperation.
And today, we are making history! Here, in this hall on Mactan Island, Cebu, we have gathered astronauts, space agency heads, scientists, engineers, government officials, CEOs, lawyers, teachers, researchers, and high school students, all united by a common purpose: to push the boundaries of science, technology, and innovation. Together, we are reaching for the final frontier and harnessing the power of space to improve lives on Earth. As we collectively represent 40 countries across Asia-Pacific and beyond, we witness the best of humanity. Despite the challenges our region and the world face, including the recent devastations caused by typhoons and earthquakes in Cebu, we find hope and the positive impact our space community can have.
The Philippines is committed to being an open and reliable partner, ready to listen, share, and collaborate with others. We are honored to have President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. with us today, affirming our country's dedication to this cause.
Thank you, and let's embrace the spirit of SpaceBayanihan as we continue to explore the vast possibilities of space!
