DAVAO CITY (PIA) – Astrophysicist and current Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) Aerospace Engineering Department Chairperson Dr. Rogel Mari Sese submitted a proposal to the Department of Tourism (DOT)-Region XI to explore the possibility of making Davao Region as a hub for aerospace tourism.
Sese said that during his stint as program director of the National Space Development Program, they have identified Davao Region as the best location in the country to launch rockets. Should this become a reality it could also attract manufacturing as well as tourism.
“Usually rockets go to space that bring satellites and astronauts are launched towards the East and that means everything in the eastern part has to be clear. And we want to be close to the equator as [much as] possible because that would give us the biggest boost, when you look at the geography of the Philippines saan ba ang (where is the) East and close to the Equator siyempre dito lang yan sa (definitely it’s here in) Davao Region and that actually makes it very ideal for launching rockets,” Sese said.
Davao has a very good night sky for observing heavenly bodies such as stars and constellations and “…from the beach you can see the launch of rockets,” Sese envisioned.
DOT-XI Regional Director Tanya Rabat Tan welcomed the proposal of Dr. Sese in exploring aerospace tourism opportunities.
“We really welcome this development, imagine attracting different markets for aerospace tourism, nag-usap kami (we talked) with Dr. Sese and we would be collaborating on what possible partnerships and how we can support them and we’re excited actually,” RD Rabat Tan said.
Davao Region was recently in the limelight when a team composed of aerospace engineering students from AdDU became the first from the Philippines to compete in the Spaceport America Cup 2024 held in New Mexico, United States of America (USA) from June 17-22, 2024. The competition gave the team the opportunity to launch their Davao-made 9.7-foot rocket named Sibol. Sese said the successful launch in the USA showed that Davao is very much capable of rocket development. (RGA/PIA Davao Region)
