Philippine Space Agency file image
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Tuesday deferred the confirmation of Joel Joseph Marciano as director general of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), citing concerns over the agency鈥檚 performance, lack of reliable data presented, and Marciano鈥檚 qualifications for the role.
During the deliberation on his ad-interim appointment, the CA questioned PhilSA鈥檚 contributions to key sectors and the agency鈥檚 handling of satellite data for agriculture and disaster mitigation.
CA Majority Floor Leader Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. moved to defer Marciano鈥檚 confirmation, criticizing the agency鈥檚 inability to provide clear data.
鈥淓xcuse me, honorable members. I think while they鈥檙e improving their data and all, I move to defer the consideration of this nominee. They cannot even answer simple questions,鈥� Villafuerte said during the hearing.
Villafuerte questioned PhilSA鈥檚 role in agriculture and disaster response, as well as its engagement with local government units (LGUs) in providing satellite data.
鈥淲hile many people may not think that the Philippine Space Agency is a relevant agency, personally, I think it is very vital,鈥� he said.
However, he pointed out that PhilSA has not significantly contributed to agricultural policies or disaster management efforts.
鈥淚 see here seminars, team building. What policy have you suggested for the national government to help on agriculture and disaster mitigation?鈥� he asked Marciano.
Marciano explained that PhilSA provides satellite imagery to agencies such as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
鈥淲e are invited and we are participating in the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council where we have been turning around satellite imagery after disasters, especially flood extent maps. And just recently, with this reported grass fire in Ilocos Norte, we managed to turn around satellite images to the Office of Civil Defense and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),鈥� Marciano said.
However, Villafuerte insisted that PhilSA should directly coordinate with LGUs instead of relying on other agencies.
鈥淛ust to clarify, you鈥檙e a cabinet rank and you should not blame the DENR and the NDRRMC. If you have that data, you should share that with local government units,鈥� he said.
Villafuerte cited his own province, Camarines Sur, where severe flooding occurred in 2024.
鈥淚n the province of Camarines Sur, we suffered the worst flooding in history鈥� a satellite image or projection would have helped, and we did not get it,鈥� he said.
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Questioning Marciano鈥檚 qualifications
Villafuerte also raised concerns about Marciano鈥檚 educational background, noting that while he is an electrical engineer, he has no formal training in space technology.
Marciano defended his expertise, citing his experience leading satellite development programs under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) from 2014 to 2020.
鈥淧rior to being appointed, I was program leader under DOST of the Diwata satellites when we built that po. We sent students to Japanese universities,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e learned by experience in doing these projects under DOST,鈥� he added.
However, Villafuerte urged him to accelerate his learning curve.
鈥淚 suggest you should learn on the job faster. Sayang kasi鈥� your office is very important. It was created only five years ago, and you should be more relevant,鈥� he said.
鈥淵ou should be more proactive. You should let the Filipino people know that there is such an agency existing,鈥� he added.
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Call for a detailed presentation
Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate committees on agriculture, food, agrarian reform, and the environment, recommended that PhilSA submit a detailed report on its plans for agriculture and disaster management.
Nonetheless, Villafuerte moved to defer Marciano鈥檚 confirmation, reiterating that PhilSA lacked proper data and failed to present its accomplishments and role effectively.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e not preparing. You think you can just breeze through the CA without giving us your accomplishments, your fitness,鈥� he said.
He also directed Marciano to prepare specific climate-risk data and ensure it is shared with key agencies.
鈥淚n the next meeting, you already have a list of La Ni帽a-prone climate-risk provinces. Dapat ibigay mo 鈥榶an sa DPWH and others para ma-mitigate 鈥榶ung flooding na yan,鈥� Villafuerte noted.
(You should give that to the Department of Public Works and Highways and others to help mitigate the flooding.)
鈥淎nd if those provinces mabaha at may mamatay, you should be indirectly responsible for not sharing that data,鈥� he added.
(And if those provinces experience flooding and there are casualties, you should be indirectly responsible for not sharing that data.)
Marciano鈥檚 ad-interim appointment as PhilSA director general was received by the CA on January 15, 2025.