Deputy Director General Dr. Gay Jane P. Perez has been designated as the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), following an order from the Office of the President. She steps into the role following the departure of the agency’s founding Director General, Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano Jr.
Dr. Perez, a distinguished scientist and 2021 Outstanding Young Scientist awardee, has served as the PhilSA Deputy Director General for Space Science and Technology since 2021. Her appointment ensures the continuity of the agency’s vital programs and partnerships.
A leading figure in space science, Dr. Perez brings a formidable record of achievement to the position. She earned her doctorate in Physics from the University of the Philippines Diliman and conducted postdoctoral research at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, specializing in remote sensing. She is the first Filipino recipient of the ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women, honored for her groundbreaking research using satellite data to forecast droughts and enhance agricultural productivity. Her contributions have been officially recognized by the Senate of the Philippines.
Dr. Perez also played a pivotal role in the nation’s landmark space projects, having led the science team for the development of the Philippines’ first microsatellites, Diwata-1 and Diwata-2. This work underpins current PhilSA innovations, including the ongoing development of the Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment (MULA) satellite.
In her new capacity as OIC, Dr. Perez will lead PhilSA in advancing its mandate under the Philippine Space Act (Republic Act 11363). The agency reaffirmed its commitment to harnessing “Yamang Kalawakan”—the growing domestic space ecosystem—for sustainable development and nation-building.
PhilSA also expressed its “deep appreciation” to the outgoing Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano Jr., the agency’s founding Director General. The agency credited his “pioneering leadership” for establishing PhilSA, building its institutional framework, and elevating the Philippines’ role in the global space community, laying the groundwork for a strong national space program.#
