House Deputy Majority Leader and Palawan 3rd district Congressman, Gil Acosta Jr has urges nations to respect international procedures on rocket launches emphasizing that the people’s safety and the integrity of our sovereign territory be given utmost consideration.
“Habang kinikilala natin ang mga makabagong hakbang sa larangan ng space exploration, at iginagalang ang hangarin ng kapayapaan sa likod ng mga ito, kailanman ay hindi dapat isantabi ang kaligtasan ng ating mga mamamayan at ang integridad ng ating soberanong teritoryo,” Acosta said in his privilege speech following China’s Long March 12 rocket launch in the early evening of August 4, 2025, when residents of Puerto Princesa and nearby towns reportedly heard loud sounds and seeing a blistering object with smokes.
The designated rocket debris drop zones are near Palawan’s capital, with roughly 300,000 inhabitants. These areas are roughly 21 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa and 18 nautical miles from Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, an important marine sanctuary in the country. The debris also poses potential risks to ships, aircraft and other vessels in the country, including fishing vessels.
Philippine Space Agency earlier (PhilSA) through an advisory has warned that some debris may be toxic and dangerous if handled. They advised the public to avoid touching or going near any strange metal objects found on the shore or in the water.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año in a statement has condemned the launch, describing it as “irresponsible” as it alarmed the public and put the residents of Palawan at risk.
But what Acosta could not fathom is the fact that China still choose to disturb the Philippines despite having a vast territory that could serve as safer drop zones.
“China with its vast territory, the third largest in the world spanning almost 9.6 million square kilometers has ample, uninhabited, or remote areas within its borders that could serve as safer drop zones for space debris. In contrast the Philippines with barely 300,000 square kilometers in total area and is made up of densely populated islands with ecologically fragile zones. The repeated endangerment of our territory by foreign rocket debris is not only careless but it is profoundly unjust,” he asserted.
Congressman Acosta believed that Filipinos from across the country should realize the important role of Palawan not only as the country’s shield, a nature’s paradise, but as a citadel, serving as a watchtower, a strategic lookout point that could help secure the rest of the country.
“Ang Palawan ay hindi lang isang lalawigan. Ito ay bantay ng West Philippines Sea, kalasag ng ating bansa, duyan ng biodiversity, sagisag ng pambansang pagkakilanlan. Ang kanyang kalangitan, karagatan at kalupaan ay nararapat bantayan at igalaang. Ang kanyang mamamayan ay dapat arugain at proteksyonan,” Acosta affirmed.