Out of this world accountability effort: PhilSA, DPWH tap satellite data to monitor infra projects

• Photo from Unsplash

By San Matildo

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are taking government transparency to new heights—literally—by using satellite technology to monitor infrastructure projects nationwide.

PhilSA Officer-in-Charge Dr. Gay Jane P. Perez and DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon formalized the partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on November 3, 2025, at the DPWH Central Office in Manila.

Under the agreement, PhilSA will provide DPWH with satellite imagery and space-based analytics to track and validate infrastructure developments across the country. The collaboration will draw from PhilSA’s archives, open-access satellite data, and commercial satellite sources to offer both historical and real-time perspectives on project progress.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon and Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) Officer-in-Charge Gay Jane P. Perez, Ph.D. [Center] sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on utilizing satellite data for infrastructure monitoring. They were joined by Undersecretary for the Office of the Secretary, Information Management Service, and Legislative Liaison Office Ricardo P. Bernabe III [Leftmost]; and PhilSA Deputy Director General for Space Operations, Infrastructure & Industry (DDGSOII) Denis F. [Rightmost]

Both agencies also aim to develop advanced monitoring tools that integrate satellite remote sensing, artificial intelligence (AI), and geospatial analytics—paving the way for evidence-based and data-driven infrastructure management.

“Today marks another important milestone in how we harness space science and technology to support good governance,” said Dr. Perez. “Through this MOA, PhilSA and DPWH join forces to use satellite imagery in making information on infrastructure projects more accessible and transparent to the public. By doing this, we empower citizens to see progress on the ground from the vantage point of space.”

Also present at the signing were PhilSA Deputy Director General for Space Operations, Infrastructure and Industry Denis F. Villorente and DPWH Undersecretary Ricardo P. Bernabe III.

The partnership underscores how space data is becoming a vital tool for innovation and accountability—helping ensure that progress on Earth can be clearly seen from space.