Philippines to Conduct Rocket Launch Test in Cagayan in 2027

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 27, announced that the Philippines is set to conduct a rocket launch test in Cagayan next year in partnership with a South Korean aerospace company, as the administration pushes to establish the country's foothold in the space industry. Marcos made the announcement in his fifth SONA, presenting the planned launch as part of the government's efforts to develop the country's space industry. "Yes, we are going to launch a rocket into space," the president said. Marcos said the test launch will be carried out with a South Korean aerospace company, but did not identify the firm or disclose further details about the project. The president said Cagayan is geographically and economically positioned to become the country's gateway to space and the site of the Philippines' first spaceport. According to Marcos, the province has the potential to support future space-related industries as the government seeks to expand the country's role in the global space sector.