New Delhi:India's space programme and growing private sector ecosystem are being seen as potential catalysts for the Philippines' efforts to build indigenous space capabilities as the Southeast Asian nation accelerates investments in satellite technology, launch systems and space infra-structure, a report has said.

According to a report published in The Manila Times, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) could benefit from closer cooperation with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to gain access to cost-effective engineering expertise, satellite development capabilities and shared priorities among developing nations.

The Philippines is currently expanding its national space programme through a series of initia-tives focused on agriculture, disaster management, climate monitoring and national security, it said.

PhilSA is developing the Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment, a 130-kg satellite aimed at supporting precision agriculture, coastal security and disaster-risk management. In addition, the agency is also implementing programmes to increase the use of satellite-derived data among local governments and civil society organisations.