Congrats to Katrina C. Ponce-Enrile

By Oggie Medina

Allow me to publish an excerpt from Katrina C. Ponce-Enrile’s post in her recent Facebook account:

“When President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in his 2026 State of the Nation Address, announced that the Philippines will establish its first spaceport in Cagayan and undertake its first sounding rocket launch in partnership with the Republic of Korea, it was both a humbling and inspiring moment for all of us who have worked tirelessly toward this vision.

“Long before (the said) announcement, the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) had been working hand in hand with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), Ascend International Gateway, Inc., and our Korean partner, Perigee Aerospace, to transform this vision into reality.

“Ours has never been merely an advocacy. It has been a close and purposeful collaboration built on mutual trust, technical expertise, shared determination, and a common belief that the Philippines possesses the natural advantages to become a strategic gateway to space for the region.

“The strength of this partnership has enabled us to move with focus, urgency, and purpose. By working seamlessly together, we have accelerated the technical groundwork, planning, and international cooperation necessary to bring this project closer to fruition. It is a testament to what government agencies and private sector partners can accomplish when united by a common national objective.

“For CEZA, this is about far more than establishing a spaceport. It is about ensuring that the Philippines is not left behind in one of the world’s fastest-growing frontiers. It is about creating opportunities in aerospace, advanced engineering, scientific research, education, innovation, and high-value investments that will benefit future generations of Filipinos.

“It is especially meaningful that this opportunity will take root in our Province of Cagayan (which) has long been blessed with a unique geography that few places in the world can offer. Today, that natural advantage has become an opportunity for our province to contribute to an undertaking of national significance.

“We are deeply grateful to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for his confidence in this shared vision and for elevating it as part of our country’s national development agenda. His announcement (during the 2026 SONA) affirms the importance of investing in innovation, science, and technology as pillars of our nation’s future.”