Dr. Gay Jane P. Perez has formally taken her oath as Ad Interim Director General of the Philippine Space Agency, marking a new chapter for the country’s growing space program.
The oath was administered by Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto at Malacañang Palace. As Director General, Perez carries the rank of a Cabinet Secretary and serves as the President’s principal adviser on space matters.
In her new role, Perez is expected to further advance the country’s Yamang Kalawakan, or space assets, as space science and technology take on a more central role in public policy and national development.
Satellite data and space-based applications are increasingly seen as critical tools for evidence-based decision-making, helping government agencies address climate change impacts, strengthen disaster risk reduction, boost food security, protect the environment, and enhance maritime domain awareness.
Under Perez’s leadership, PhilSA is also set to deepen collaboration with both domestic and international partners. The agency has emphasized that sustained cooperation across government, academia, industry, and global space institutions is essential to building a resilient and globally competitive Philippine space ecosystem.
Perez has been part of PhilSA since 2021 and assumed the position of officer-in-charge in September 2025. Her appointment as Ad Interim Director General builds on years of experience in space science, research and development, and institutional leadership.
Before joining PhilSA, Perez led the scientific team behind the development of the Philippines’ first microsatellites, Diwata-1 and Diwata-2, projects that laid the foundation for the country’s current and future space technology initiatives.
She also spearheaded satellite remote sensing research focused on drought monitoring and forecasting, forest change detection, and climate variability, and continues to contribute to the development of next-generation systems such as the Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment satellite.
Perez earned her doctorate in physics from the University of the Philippines Diliman and completed her postdoctoral research at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where she specialized in remote sensing and satellite data applications.
Her academic and scientific background places her at the forefront of efforts to position space science as a strategic pillar of national resilience and sustainable growth.