By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Philippines’ push to become a player in the global commercial space industry could generate up to 55,000 jobs and as much as US$3.6 billion (over P200 billion) in annual economic activity, with the government banking on the emerging sector to drive investment, innovation and long-term economic growth.
Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) Administrator and CEO Secretary Katrina Ponce Enrile said the proposed Philippine Commercial Space Corridor is envisioned not merely as a rocket launch site but as a thriving industrial ecosystem that will attract foreign investors and create new opportunities for Filipino businesses.
“We are building an ecosystem—not just a launch facility,” Enrile said, stressing that the project is expected to spur growth in manufacturing, engineering, logistics, research, technology and other high-value industries.
She cited the decision of Perigee Aerospace to establish an Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) facility in the Philippines as a major milestone, saying the investment demonstrates growing international confidence in the country’s potential as an emerging space hub.
Enrile noted that commercial enterprises now account for 78 percent of the US$613-billion global space economy, making private investment the primary driver of the industry’s expansion.
The project is expected to create about 15,800 direct jobs, while its ripple effects could support as many as 55,000 employment opportunities nationwide through related industries, including construction, logistics, tourism, education and professional services.
Beyond its economic promise, Enrile said space technology will deliver practical benefits to ordinary Filipinos by improving precision farming, providing fishermen with more reliable weather information, strengthening disaster monitoring, enhancing communications, and boosting maritime security.
“The goal is not simply to reach space,” she said. “It is to use space technology to improve life here on Earth.”
Enrile said the Philippine Commercial Space Corridor reflects the Marcos administration’s vision of building a globally competitive, innovation-driven economy where advanced technology creates jobs, attracts investments and delivers tangible benefits to communities across the country.
ia/xf
