The Philippines is ripe to establish its own space agency, the country's science and technology minister said Thursday.
Citing a sufficient pool of manpower and facilities, and actual utilization of space technology, Secretary Fortunato de la Pena told a news conference, "We are proud to say that we are capable and ready for a Philippine Space Agency."
A bill creating the agency was passed in the House of Representatives last December, while counterpart legislation is pending in the Senate.