PHILIPPINE MODEL CONGRESS

PRIORITY BILL
APPLICATION FORM
Bill Sponsor General Information
Full Name: Lorenzo Miguel Cordero
Nickname: Miggoy
School or University: Ateneo de Manila University
Residential Address: 16b, Milkyway Dr., BRB, QC, NCR, Philippines
Mobile Number: 0927-320-6301
E-mail Address: [email protected]
Application Essay:
Philippine Space Infrastructure for the Modern Era
In the modern era, new infrastructures are being developed that our ancestors could have only
dreamed of. One of these is the orbital infrastructures which comprises of satellites, launching
pads, spaceships, and space stations. Currently, the Philippines lags behind other nations in
developing orbital infrastructures. While we do have some orbital infrastructure, it is out sourced to outside parties.
While orbital infrastructures and space programs are often seen as wasteful science projects
whose budget could have been used to build other infrastructures like roads and classrooms, it
has many applications for human security and uplifting Filipinos out of poverty. For example,
in India, satellite infrastructure has been used to in agricultural sciences to detect irrigation
project progresses, disaster surveying and fish school patterns.
Example: The Indian Space Research Organization
Indian space program, while being the most frugal in the world, spends billions into making
satellites and spacecraft. The frugal Indian Space Research Organization are able to compete
against behemoth space programs such as the Russians, Europeans, Japanese and the Americans by showing that one can reach Mars on a budget lower than that of the Hollywood film
'Gravity'.
The Indians mainly use their space program for surveying and communications, and had only
recently moved into expanding their ambitions towards the stars. Home-grown technology coupled with lower labor costs allowed India to create the cheapest space program in the world.
Their space program also gave a lot of positive externalities. Like USA, their space agency
became a matter of pride, showcasing India technologies for the world to see and invest in.
An investment into the hard sciences is an investment into the future
Government investment into the hard sciences creates a scientifically conscious society
equipped for the future. Investment into the hard sciences has always been a consistent government policy; it is even enshrined in the 1987 Constitution which maintains that government
research into the sciences for the betterment of its citizens. As such, the government maintains
research into various fields, for example, Agricultural Sciences, such as studying rice varieties.
Studying the Philippines from orbit is a natural extension of this government policy.

Republic of the Philippines

PHILIPPINE MODEL CONGRESS
Pasay City, Metro Manila
FOURTH (4TH) CONGRESS
Regular Session
PMC Bill No. 000000000

Introduced by: Honorable Lorenzo Miguel Cordero

Explanatory Note
The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines enshrines that the State support the development of
science, adaption of technology, and the improvement of communications for the acceleration
of social progress and nation building. Hence, the State shall develop a Philippine Space Commission within the framework of forwarding Human Security, communication expansion and
exploration.
Space infrastructure furthers human security. As such, we envision a Philippine Space Commission devoted to furthering human security and benefiting all our citizens. A future Philippine space program would not simply be science projects, it will be integral to the creation of
modern infrastructures integral to the development of the country.
Human security is more than just the physical protection of safety of individuals, it is also their
food and water security and their economic security.
We think that human security can be furthered by investments made into orbital infrastructure
that will benefit indigent and at-risk citizens though the creation of knowledge gathered from
analytical tools from orbit such as:
1. Analyzing and surveying mountainsides to determine areas at risk of land slide,
2. Surveying natural resources such as mineral deposits, fertile land and water table levels,
3. Surveying underwater resources such as fish schools,
4. Surveying disaster sites,
5. Coordinating disaster response with emergency satellite communication systems,
6. Monitoring the weather,
7. Delivering communications to far-off areas,
And many more applications.
Beyond fundamental investments into Philippine human security, the Space Agency also aims
to improve non-vital communication networks such as improving internet speeds which may
drive economic growth.

Philippine Space Commission Act of 2015

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Current Status of Philippine Government Investment into the Sciences

Government investment into the hard sciences creates a scientifically conscious society
equipped for the future. Investment into the hard sciences has always been a consistent government policy; it is even enshrined in the 1987 Constitution which maintains that government
research into the sciences for the betterment of its citizens. As such, the government maintains
research into various fields, for example, Agricultural Sciences, such as studying rice varieties.
The government also has an active space program that monitors Philippine weather and maps
Philippine territory.
Current Status of the Philippine Space Program
The current status of the Philippines space program is a coordinated but decentralized effort
between various government agencies under the Department of Science and Technology.
Weather and land surveying are currently the most active space projects of the Philippines. The
problem is that these agencies must pay other entities in order to bring about satellites in orbit.
This status quo is not sustainable. It is reliant on outside agencies which must be continuously
paid in order to keep the satellites afloat or replaced. Not only that, but the end result is that the
Philippines would pay to produce positive externalities outside this country, for foreign space
companies and agencies which in turn would benefit the host country instead of the Philippines.
Investment, Not Waste
A Philippine Space Commission is undoubtedly going to be an expensive project, with funds
that admittedly could be used for building classrooms instead of building spacecraft. However,
Government acknowledges that people may not make rational long-term decisions while faced
with short-term problems, hence Government must act in their interests. With this in mind,
Government acknowledges that unpopular policies can have great benefits in the long run.
Take pensions and public health insurance for example, Government know that people would
want to use their paychecks for other more immediate needs, but by asking the populace to pay
over a long period of time, that populace can benefit in the long run.
Beyond the simple opportunity cost of money spent on a space commission, the commitment
of a country to its sciences shows an investment to the future. Coupled holistically with investments into education and infrastructure, government can invest into scientific institutions that
can warmly receive graduating engineers instead of forcing these minds abroad due to a lack of
jobs here, as are the engineers in the Indian Space Research Organization, who no longer
needed to migrate due to finding jobs with their space agency.
Positive Externalities
Investment in a space program also creates a demand for engineers. While admittedly this is an
artificially created demand, it is still a demand that can jump-start the Philippine engineering.
Any inventions created by the space agency can be patented by the government to attract royalties from the patent's use.

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Other infrastructures on the ground supporting the Philippine Space Commission would
include factories, refineries and high-tech factories that third party corporations can build to
service not only the space program, but also other corporate ventures. The launch pad can also
be used to launch commercial satellites at the profit of the agency.
As the agency matures, entrepreneuring alumni can create their own commercial ventures in
science and engineering similar to how alumni of other space agencies develop their country's
high-tech industries.
Space agencies are also a way for mature space agencies to disseminate knowledge to develop ing countries with partnerships. This has been done already with India, Bangladesh and
Malaysia partnering up with NASA on various projects.
Empowerment of the Filipino Youth
Aside from its advantages in disaster management and telecommunications, what a potential
Philippine space agency can do most is inspire a generation of future Filipinos to to question
how far their education can take them. I envision the day, Filipinos can reach the stars without
the help of a deodorant commercial.
Necessity
In conclusion, the necessity of an official Philippine space program would be:
1. The consolidation and coordination of current Philippine space programs,
2. Direct Government investment into the practical and engineering sciences,
3. To entice professionals and mitigate brain drain,
4. The creation of tools for enabling Human Security like survey, communication and disaster coordination, and
5. Invest in the talents of the youth.
Fellow representatives, let us bring forward a Philippine Space Commission. Let us bring the
Filipino into the space age, one step at a time!
Approved,

Lorenzo Miguel Cordero

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Republic of the Philippines

PHILIPPINE MODEL CONGRESS
Pasay City, Metro Manila
FOURTH (4TH) CONGRESS
Regular Session
PMC Bill No. 000000000

Introduced by: Honorable Lorenzo Miguel Cordero

An Act
Establishing a Philippine Space Commission,
Defining the Purpose and Scope of its Activities,
Initiating the Development of Philippine Orbital Infrastructures, and
Investment into Philippine Space Technologies

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

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CHAPTER I
General Provisions

SECTION 1. Short Title This Act shall be known as the Philippine Space Commission Act of
2015.

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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines enshrines that the
State support the development of science, adaption of technology, and the improvement of
communications for the acceleration of social progress and nation building through the following clauses:
1.

The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and
sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total
human liberation and development. (Article II, State Policies, Section 17.)

2. The sustained development of a reservoir of national talents consisting of Filipino scientists, entrepreneurs, professionals, managers, high-level technical manpower and skilled
workers and craftsmen in all fields shall be promoted by the State. The State shall
encourage appropriate technology and regulate its transfer for the national benefit.
(Article XII, National Economy and Patrimony, Section 14.)
3. Science and technology are essential for national development and progress. The State
shall give priority to research and development, invention, innovation, and their utilization; and to science and technology education, training, and services. It shall support
indigenous, appropriate, and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, and
their application to the countrys productive systems and national life. (Article XIV, Science and Technology, Section 10.)

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4. The State shall regulate the transfer and promote the adaptation of technology from all
sources for the national benefit. It shall encourage the widest participation of private
groups, local governments, and community-based organizations in the generation and
utilization of science and technology. (Article XIV, Science and Technology, Section 12.)
5. The State shall provide the policy environment for the full development of Filipino capability and the emergence of communication structures suitable to the needs and aspirations of the nation and the balanced flow of information into, out of, and across the
country, in accordance with a policy that respects the freedom of speech and of the
press. (Article XVI, General Provisions, Section 10.)
Thus, it is within the State's interest to establish a space commission in charge of the development of space technologies and orbital infrastructure for the benefit and betterment of all its
citizens.
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms For the purpose of this act, the following terms shall mean
and be understood as follows:
1.

Human Security The security of individual persons based on personal safety, food
security, and economic security.

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2. Outer Space 100 Kilometers above sea level.

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3. Orbit The circular or elliptical path of an object, particularly a satellite, around the
Earth in outer space.

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4. Geosynchronous Orbit An orbit synchronized to a particular position on Earth or an

orbit that directly corresponds to a particular position on Earth.
5. Orbital Space The possible geosynchronous orbits above a particular country on Earth.
The borders of Orbital Space are not sovereign to any nation in the manner of Westphalian Sovereignty as the Outer Space Treaty treats all orbits as the province of all man.
6. Philippine Orbital Space The spatial zone in orbit or possible geosynchronous orbits
above the Philippines whose borders shall correspond to the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.
7. Orbital Infrastructures Active man-made satellites, space stations and other facilities in
orbit conveying specific functions and services.
8. Spacecraft Machines designed for travel to space such as rockets carrying satellites and
shuttles carrying astronauts.
9. Space Technologies The wide array of technologies needed to effectively run a space program. These include factories for building spacecrafts and launch pads. This also
includes the computer technologies needed such as microchips, cameras and robots.
This also includes other miscellaneous technologies such as chemistry of rocket fuel
and solar panels.
10. Satellite Can refer to anything in orbit, whether natural celestial bodies like asteroids,
or man-made apparatuses. For brevity, this act shall refer satellites as man-made appara tuses in orbit.
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11. Space Program Government initiatives and projects related towards space. This
includes Department of Science and Technology's three separate satellite programs.
12. Aeronautical and Space Activities Research and development into space technologies,
the development and construction of spacecraft, orbital infrastructure, and activities that
explore space.
13. Space Debris Natural or man-made satellites such as small asteroids, derelict satellites,
trash and other such debris found in orbit.
14. Remote Sensing Technology that allows the observing of environments and resources
from space such as but not limited to tracking animal migrations, surveying mineral
deposits, surveying environmental destruction, and surveying the water table.
15. Telecommunications Technology of the communication transmitted over distance using
electric, electronic or electromagnetic impulses.
SECTION 4. Objectives In light of the constitutional enshrinement of the pursuit of technology and development, the State shall institutionalize the Philippine Space Commission (hereby
refereed to as the Commission,) with the following objectives:
1.

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Primary Objective The Commission's primary objective is to achieve greater Human

Security through the launch, creation and maintenance of orbital infrastructure.

2. Secondary Objectives The Commission's secondary objectives are as follows:

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1. Scientific Objective To expand human knowledge of the natural sciences on Earth,

the atmosphere and space,

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2. Infrastructural Objective To launch and maintain Philippine orbital infrastructures,

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3. Engineering Objective To expand and invest in Philippine engineering and technologies,

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4. Security and Regulatory Objective To secure and regulate Philippine Orbital Space.

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CHAPTER II
Establishment, Policies, Duties and Responsibilities

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SECTION 5. Establishment The Philippine Space Commission is hereby an established agency

under the Executive Branch of Government under the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST).
SECTION 6. Political Autonomy The Commission shall be an autonomous agency under the
supervision of the President.
SECTION 7. Functions Cognizant of the objectives of the Commission, the functions of the
Commission shall be:
1.

Human Security To forward human security of the Filipino through the practical applications of science,

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2. Advancement of Science To assist in the scientific advancement of not just the Philippine Republic, but the world writ large through cooperation by the Philippines with
other nations in the peaceful application of space research,
3. Applications of Science To invest in the development of powerful scientific predictive
and analytical tools from orbit, including but not limited to weather prediction, land surveying, water surveying, and urban planning,
4. Orbital Infrastructure To develop technologies for creation and maintenance of orbital
infrastructure in Philippine Orbital Space including but not limited to telecommunications infrastructure, atmospheric and weather reconnaissance, navigational satellites,
remote sensing satellites and emergency search and rescue satellite communications,
5. Space Technologies To develop space technologies such as but not limited to facilities
needed to construct, transport and launch orbital infrastructure,
6. Investment To expand and invest in Philippine engineering and Philippine technologies, most notably the improvement of aeronautical and space vehicles and development
and operation of vehicles for space flight,
7. Projects To establish projects for aeronautical and space activities for peaceful and scientific purposes,
8. Prevent Redundancies To effectively utilize scientific and engineering resources of the
Philippines in order to avoid unnecessary duplication and redundancy of effort, facilities, and equipment,
9. National Security I To help promote national security through analytical orbital infrastructure such as reconnaissance infrastructure,
10. National Security II To prevent militarization of Philippine Orbital Space by foreign
powers,
11. Regulation To regulate the use of Philippine Orbital Space by private corporations, foreign agencies and others,
12. Space Debris To protect the environment of Philippine Orbital Space by clearing space
debris,
13. Representation To represent the Philippine Government in the international community of space programs,
14. Collaboration To cooperate and collaborate with other government, non-government
and private institutions for the purposes of practical use of science technologies and
other purposes therein,

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15. Youth Involvement To collaborate with the academe to increase youth participation in
valuing scientific, technological, engineering and mathematical fields, and

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16. Lobbying To assist the State in coordinating space policies and relevant legislation.

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SECTION 8. Space Caucus. There shall be a Caucus for Aeronautical and Space Activity Recommendations and Reviews, hereby refereed to as the Space Caucus, that shall oversee the
actions of the Commission.
1.

Functions of the Space Caucus The Space Caucus shall have the following functions:

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1. To draft recommendations for projects and activities of the Commission,

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2. To review projects and activities of the Commission in regard to progress, finance,

feasibility or such,

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3. To accept and review project proposals for the Commission submitted by any individual or group,
4. To review and appoint candidates for the positions of Commissioner and Associate
Commissioners in regards to merit and ability,
5. To review, amend, and approve the project line up of the Commission as submitted
by the Commissioner, and
6. To recommend impeachment procedures against the Commissioner or Associate
Commissioners to the Office of the Ombudsman.
The aforementioned functions shall be processed via through resolutions.
2. Composition of the Space Caucus The Space Caucus shall be composed of representatives of the following government organs:

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1. Department of Science and Technology,

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2. Department of National Defense,

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3. Department of Transport and Communications,

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4. Department of Environment and National Resources,

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5. Department of Agriculture,

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6. Department of Education,

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7. Department of Foreign Affairs,

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8. Department of Trade and Industry,

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9. National Economic and Development Authority,

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10. Senate Committee on Science and Technology,

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11. Lower House Committee on Science and Technology,

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12. Office of the President,

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13. Department of Justice,

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14. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration,

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15. National Mapping and Resource Information Authority,

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16. National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and

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17. Philippine Space Commission.

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3. Government representation Representatives from government organs are appointed by

the secretaries or heads respective government agency.
Secretaries and heads of departments or other agencies are allowed to appoint themselves as the representatives of their government agency, except the representative from
the Philippine Space Commission. The representative from the Commission shall be
elected by the employees and officers of the Commission.

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Governmental representatives of the Space Caucus may add another representative

from another government organ to the list aforementioned list in Section 5.2 as determined through debate and resolution.

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4. Nongovernment representation Civil society organizations, nongovernment organizations, private organizations, political parties, academe, and citizens are hereby encour aged to send representatives to the Space Caucus to engage in debate and in drafting
resolutions.
5. Representative Voting Power Each government representative has one vote. Nongovernment representatives are entitled to debate, discussion, and lobbying but cannot vote.
6. Resolution passing Resolutions passed by the Space Caucus shall be passed by simple
majority.
7. Chairmanship The Chair of the Space Caucus shall be appointed by the Commissioner.
8. Meetings The Space Caucus shall meet at least every four months or more as necessary
at times and locations determined by the Space Caucus.
9. Remuneration The Office of the President may determine remuneration for the government representatives of the Space Caucus in accordance with the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Budget Management.
SECTION 9. Commissioner The Philippine Space Commission shall have a Commissioner.
The Commissioner shall be the executive officer of the Commission.
1.

Responsibilities The responsibilities of the Commissioner are as follows:

1. To review recommendations from the Space Caucus and either accept or reject their
recommendations,
2. To approve implementation of projects, as recommended by the Space Caucus, to be
included in the project lineup of the Commission,
3. To oversee and coordinate the implementation of the Commissions projects and initiatives,

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4. To draft the project lineup of the Commission to be submitted to the Space Caucus
for approval,

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5. To supervise the offices, work, and employees of the Commission,

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6. To represent the Commission to other organizations, government and private,

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7. To enter into partnerships with but not limited to private agencies, Philippine government organs, space agencies of other countries, and international organizations,

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8. To accept donations on behalf of the Commission,

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9. To appoint the chair of the Space Caucus,

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10. To recommend appointments to the positions of Associate Commissioners,

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11. To appoint other officers and employees of the Commission except that of the Associate Commissioners,

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12. To delegate any and all responsibilities of the Commissioner to Associate Commissioners.

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2. Qualifications. The Commissioner must have a doctoral degree in either Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Astronomy, Public Administration, or any other doctoral degree
in space sciences or public management.
SECTION 10. Associate Commissioners The Commission shall have two Associate Commissioners to compliment the Commissioner.
1.

Responsibilities Associate Commissioners shall have responsibilities assigned to them

by the Commissioner. The Commissioner has discretion to delegate responsibilities of
the Commissioner to the Associate Commissioners. Seniority of both shall be established by the Commissioner.

2. Qualifications Assistant Commissioners must have at least a masters degree in either

Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Astronomy, Public Administration, or any other
masters degree in space sciences or public management.
SECTION 11. Astronauts Corps The Commission may employ astronauts in an Astronaut
Corps. Terms, conditions, qualifications, and requirement process for their employment shall
be decided upon the discretion of the Space Caucus.
SECTION 12. Annual Reporting The Commission shall submit to Congress, Senate, the Space
Caucus and the President a detailed annual report on the implementation of this Act, the
progress on the Philippine Space Roadmap and, when necessary, recommended space and science legislation. As it is an annual report, this shall be done every year.
CHAPTER III
Regulations

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SECTION 13. Public Good Philippine Orbital Space shall not be a monopoly of the State. The
State shall ensure that the Philippine Orbital Space be a public good that shall be non-excludable and non-rivalrous to both its citizens and foreign countries except in military applications.
SECTION 14. Foreign Access The State shall allow the continuing access of foreign governmental and civilian orbital infrastructures into the Philippine Orbital Space provided that the
purposes of these orbital infrastructures are peaceful.

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SECTION 15. Foreign Partnerships Orbital infrastructure may be constructed by the Commission in partnerships with foreign space programs provided it is for peaceful or defensive
means.
SECTION 16. Private Sector The State shall ensure that Philippine Orbital Space will be free
and open to use by the private sector and civilian groups.
SECTION 17. Territorial Operations The Commission shall not be restricted to operating
within the Philippine Orbital Space, however, it must prioritize its development over other
orbits or beyond.
SECTION 18. Public-Private Partnerships The Commission shall be open to partnerships with
both local and foreign astronautical and orbital private corporations or groups in operating and
developing Philippine Orbital Space or beyond.
The Commission may provide incentives to investments by the private sector in the form of but
not limited to tax exemptions and reduced tariffs.
SECTION 19. Academe Involvement The Commission shall be involved with the academe in
relations to training personnel, drafting programs, and promoting sustainability in the Commission's programs.
SECTION 20. Patronage Ban The Commission shall not enter into any form of agreement
with any outside organizations or corporations that are owned wholly or in part of more than
20% by the Commissioner or Associate Commissioners.
The Commission shall also not enter into any form of agreement with any outside organiza tions or corporations where the Commissioner or Associate Commissioners are executives.
SECTION 21. Ratification of International Space Law The State shall ratify the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the
Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, otherwise known as the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 in its
entirety.
SECTION 22. Militarization Ban The State shall prohibit the establishment of weapons and
armed satellites in Philippine Orbital Space.
The State shall prevent other entities, whether they be foreign, public or private groups from
militarizing Philippine Orbital Space.
SECTION 23. Sovereignty The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 maintains that no country shall
make sovereign claims to orbits or areas in space including celestial bodies. Therefore, the
State shall make no sovereign territorial claims to the Philippine Orbital Space until such a
time International Law permits so. Hence, Philippine Orbital Space shall be a territory in name
and convenience. The State shall also prevent foreign and private claims to Philippine Orbital
Space.
SECTION 24. Jurisdiction Any non-habitable orbital infrastructure built in partnership with
the Commission shall be under the jurisdiction of Philippine law. Permanent or semi-permanent habitable orbital infrastructure in temporary or permanent geosynchronous orbit in
Philippine Orbital Space shall be within the jurisdiction of Philippine law.

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SECTION 25. Regulation The Commission shall monitor and keep a record of orbital infrastructure, satellites and space debris in Philippine Orbital Space. The Commission shall further
regulate space technology companies based in the Philippines operating in both Philippine
Orbital Space and beyond. The Commission shall prevent the accumulation of space debris in
the Philippine Orbital Space.

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SECTION 26. Patents and Royalties Technology produced by the Commission shall be
patented and any royalties earned shall be used by the Commission for future space projects.
Technology produced by the Commission in collaboration with other organizations or agencies
shall be patented along with the collaborating party. The Commission may buy relevant patents
from private parties for government use. The Commission shall not renew any patents and
allow expired patented technologies to enter the public domain.

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CHAPTER IV
Implementation Guidelines

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SECTION 27. Implementing Rules and Regulations The Space Caucus, after the appointment of
the Commissioner and Associate Commissioners, shall construct the Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR) for the Commission. The content of the IRR shall include, but not be limited
to determine:

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1.

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The establishment and location of the headquarters, offices, training facilities, manufacturing facilities and launch facilities,

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2. The organizational setup of the Commission,

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3. Remuneration, allowances, subsidies and other benefits of Commission employees in

accordance with the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Budget Management,

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4. Protocols, labor practices and by-laws,

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5. Adoption of a corporate seal,

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6. Transitions of personnel from other government space programs to the Commission,

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7. Launching satellites, spacecraft and others.

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SECTION 28. Organization The Commission shall be organized within sixty (60) days from
the effectivity of this Act.
SECTION 29. Convening of the Caucus The Space Caucus shall be first convened within sixty
(60) days from the effectivity of this Act. The first chairperson shall be appointed by the Office
of the President until such time the Commissioner can appoint the next chairperson. The first
convening of the Space Caucus shall not have a representative from the Commission.
SECTION 30. Philippine Space Roadmap The Commission shall draft a Philippine Space
Roadmap detailing the space program for the Commission and the Philippines for at least the
next decade of the passing of this Act. The Space Caucus shall approve this roadmap and review
it at least every five (5) years or as deemed necessary.
1.

The Space Caucus shall commission a new roadmap when the current roadmap is
deemed infeasible by the Space Caucus.

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2. The Space Caucus may outline penalties and sanctions to appropriate personnel for
noncooperation to the roadmap.

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CHAPTER V
Transitional Provisions

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SECTION 31. Consolidation of Current Space Programs All current space programs and aeronautical and space activities at this time of writing shall be transferred into the jurisdiction and
responsibility of the Commission.

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SECTION 32. Transitional Management Transferred space programs shall be continued to be

managed by the previous government agencies handling it until such a time the Commission is
ready to manage these programs.
SECTION 33. Appointment of Officers in Charge (OIC) The Office of the President, with recommendation from the Department of Science and Technology, shall appoint an OIC for the office
of the Commissioner and Associate Commissioners. The OIC must have the qualifications
suited for their position as specified by this Act.
CHAPTER VI
Funding

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SECTION 34. Initial Appropriations The sum of Ten Hundred Million Pesos is hereby appropriated as the initial operating fund of the Commission.
SECTION 35. Annual Appropriations The annual General Appropriations Act shall determine
the Commission's funding hereafter.
SECTION 36. Investments The Commission may issue investment bonds for capital contributions for the development of products, processes, and projects when appropriate.
SECTION 37. Royalties Royalties earned by the shall be used for the development of future
projects.
SECTION 38. Other Funds The Commission may accept donations, contributions and other
sources of funding.
CHAPTER VII
Miscellaneous Clauses

351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362

SECTION 39. Parallel Space Programs No other non-military government agency shall establish a parallel space program. Instead, they are encouraged to form a partnership with the Commission.
SECTION 40. Impeachment The Office of the Ombudsman is hereby empowered with the
abilities to investigate the Commission and to impeach Commissioners and Associate Commissioners.
SECTION 41. Separability Clause If for any reason any section or provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions shall not be affected.
SECTION 42. Repealing Clause All laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Philippine Space Commission Act of 2015

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SECTION 43. Effectivity This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the completion of its
publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
END.
Approved,

Lorenzo Miguel Cordero

Philippine Space Commission Act of 2015

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