The Copernicus Capacity Support Action Programme for the Philippines, or CopPhil, was featured at the 2025 Philippine Space Week Exhibit, running from 8 to 10 August at Gateway Mall, Araneta City, Cubao. Now on its second year at the exhibit, CopPhil highlighted how Copernicus Earth Observation (EO) data can be used to address pressing national challenges from environmental monitoring to climate resilience.
Since its launch, CopPhil has worked to localise and democratise access to satellite data through a programme co-developed with Philippine agencies and experts. Visitors to this year’s exhibit booth have been able to discover and learn more about the CopPhil EO-based pilot services, which are meant to support decision-making in ground motion, land cover, forest and crop monitoring, and coastal marine habitat mapping.
CopPhil led the flagship event on 8 August, titled “First Contact: Bridging Space, Sustainability, and Society”, conducted in partnership with the EU Delegation to the Philippines and the European Space Agency (ESA), and supported by the Philippines Space Agency (PhilSA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
A major highlight of the programme was the formal handover of the CopPhil Mirror Site, the first Copernicus data hub of its kind in Asia. With this locally hosted infrastructure, Filipino institutions now benefit from faster, more autonomous access to Copernicus satellite data, enabling greater responsiveness to a large set of hazards.
Opening the event, PhilSA Deputy Director General for Space Operations, Infrastructure, and Industry, Engr. Denis F. Villorente, highlighted that the Mirror Site will support Philippine stakeholders in monitoring typhoons and floods in near real-time, track land subsidence in urban centres like Metro Manila, observe coastal marine ecosystems, and map forest and crop patterns. He underscored that these capabilities would empower local institutions to act quickly and confidently based on near real-time Earth Observation insights, strengthening the country’s role as a capable partner in the global space community.
Dr. Marco Gemmer, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, officially turned over the Mirror Site to the Philippines, represented by Engr. Villorente, and Rodolfo Calzado, Assistant Secretary of Development Cooperation of the Department of Science and Technology, solidifying the trust between partners and delivering on CopPhil’s mission to contribute to Philippine hazards management, and climate resilience.
The event also honoured the first cohort of CopPhil training programme graduates, consisting of Filipino students and professionals who completed both theoretical and hands-on practical training sessions on the use of EO data for applications such as forest monitoring, land cover monitoring, ground motion monitoring, as well as coastal marine habitat monitoring. The same training materials are available to the public through the CopPhil Digital Campus, allowing anyone to learn and build their skills in using Copernicus EO data for real-world applications.
The final segment of the flagship event featured the panel “Inclusive by Design: Advancing Digital Skills and STEM Careers for All”, which brought together expert and advocates from government, academia, and civil society to discuss how gender equity and inclusive practices drive innovation in the sectors of science and space. The session, framed within the EU’s Global Gateway strategy as a means of strengthening digital partnerships globally through a sustainable, people-centred, and values-driven approach, highlighted the need to expand participation in high-impact scientific and technical fields in line with national and international commitments. Speaking on the importance of ensuring access to quality STEM education and digital careers, Ms. Maria Terron Puig, Programme Manager for Digital Cooperation and Global Gateway of the EU Delegation to the Philippines, emphasised: “Despite the rapid pace of progress, we need to stay alert because many barriers still stand in the way, particularly for women, for LGBTQ+ individuals, persons with disabilities, and other marginalised communities.”
Across the three days, visitors to the CopPhil booth were able to interact with our experts and explore our EO-based pilot services for ground motion, land cover, forest and crop mapping, as well as coastal marine habitat mapping. Through interactive displays and guided demonstrations, visitors discovered how free and open Copernicus satellite data is being localised for faster, more effective decision-making in hazards management, environmental management, and climate action.
As a flagship initiative of the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, CopPhil continues to promote the uptake of Copernicus EO free and open data to support sustainable development and innovation throughout the country. By building a strong national pool of EO practitioners, the programme strengthens the Philippines’ ambition to become a central hub for EO in Southeast Asia, thereby supporting its path towards a more sustainable and resilient future.
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Background Information
As a flagship and unique programme of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, CopPhil is designed to harness digital resources and space technology for sustainable development and to support innovations in research and business in close cooperation with government partners.
CopPhil is managed by the European Union Delegation to the Philippines. It is implemented by the European Space Agency (ESA) in partnership with the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
copphil.philsa.gov.ph (Article Sourced Website)
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