The DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) participated in the 9th Joint Project Team Meeting for Sentinel Asia STEP-3 (JPTM2024) from November 5-7, 2024, at the Novotel Hotel, Quezon City. This meeting, with the theme “Harnessing Satellites and Collaboration for Regional Disaster Resilience,” was co-organized by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Over 135 delegates from around the Asia-Pacific region gathered to highlight through lectures and hands-on training the collaborative efforts and advancements in remote sensing technologies for disaster management. 

Sentinel Asia, a project under the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF), leverages Earth observation technologies and Web-Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping tools to aid in disaster management across the region. With 122 member organizations, including the DA-BSWM and nine other agencies from the Philippines, this initiative showcases the value of near-real-time satellite data for addressing various regional challenges.

Representing the DA-BSWM were Ms. Sharon G. De Vera, Mr. Baldwin M. Pine, Mr. Michael Alexis T. Nota, Mr. Carl Jurell M. Fariñas from the Geomatics and Soil Information Technology Division (GSITD), Engr. John Algen B. Mendez from the Agricultural Land Management and Evaluation Division (ALMED), and Ms. Eloisa P. Santiago from the Soil Survey Division (SSD). 

Their participation underscores the DA-BSWM’s commitment to collaborative disaster resilience efforts using satellite imageries, particularly in addressing natural disaster’s preparedness and response that impact the agriculture sector.

(Michael Alexis Nota, GSITD)

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