The European Union (EU) and the Philippine government joined forces in May to explore how space technology can help the country prepare better for typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and other natural disasters.
The two-day workshop, focused on improving disaster risk reduction using satellite data and remote sensing technology, is a collaboration between the EU Delegation to the Philippines and the Department of National Defense under EU’s Copernicus program.
Copernicus, EU’s Earth observation program, uses a network of European satellites and ground stations to collect real-time information about what’s happening on the planet—from extreme weather and climate change to environmental shifts like deforestation and water levels.
This data is free and publicly available, and helps countries like the Philippines strengthen their disaster preparedness and response systems.
The workshop followed after EU established the first-ever Copernicus data center in Southeast Asia—in the Philippines.
This local center makes it faster and easier for Philippine agencies to access and use satellite data that’s crucial for monitoring typhoons, floods, earthquakes, droughts, and more.
As one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, the Philippines faces frequent typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. With climate change making these events more intense and unpredictable, access to accurate and timely information can save lives and reduce damage.
By working closely with European experts, Philippine agencies—including the Department of Science and Technology, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Climate Change Commission—are learning how to better use satellite images and data to issue early warnings, plan evacuations, and coordinate disaster response.
Key speakers like DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., PhilSA Director General Joel Joseph Marciano, and Climate Change Commission Secretary Robert Borje outlined the major challenges the Philippines faces: limited coordination among agencies, the need for better infrastructure and equipment, and making sure Earth observation data is actually used by decision-makers on the ground.
Through sessions led by EU experts, participants are also learning how Copernicus tools—like the Emergency Management Service, which can map disasters within hours—can be adapted to the Philippine context. These tools have already been used in Europe and other regions to respond to floods, forest fires, and droughts.
For the EU, this collaboration is part of its Global Gateway strategy, which aims to invest in green and digital infrastructure worldwide. Helping partner countries like the Philippines become more resilient to climate change is both a humanitarian goal and a strategic priority. It shows how Europe can contribute global expertise while also strengthening ties in the Indo-Pacific region.
Not a one-off event, the workshop part of a longer-term effort to build up the Philippines’ ability to use space technology for disaster management. This includes training more local experts, ensuring long-term support for satellite-based systems, and making sure different government agencies work together effectively.
As EU Ambassador Massimo Santoro said, “Earth monitoring is more vital than ever, especially for a disaster-prone country like the Philippines. This workshop is a chance for Europe and the Philippines to learn from each other and strengthen our joint resilience to climate change.”
