With their recent success and groundbreaking achievements on the international stage, the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) Rocketry Team is positioning Davao City toward becoming the country’s aerospace tourism hub.

Aerospace Engineering Department Chair and Rocketry Team Lead Advisor Dr. Rogel Mari Sese said that Davao has the potential to be the Philippines’ prime location for a space launch site due to its strategic geographic positioning ideal for space excursions. 

“That’s why you see international launch sites like in Florida, in India, and even in Japan and China, that they try to be on the eastern seaboard as much as possible…. so being in the southeastern portion of the Philippines, this has been shown as really a crucial in any science and technology development endeavor.”

In a media forum last July 3, 2024, Sese shared that his 2019 analysis with the National Space Development Program (NSDP) under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) identified Davao as the most viable site for rocket launches. 

Sese pointed out that, unlike congested urban centers, Davao has the land space necessary for aerospace facilities.

“One of the challenges in having an aerospace hub is that you should also have a large facility where you can do numerous activities, and if you look at Manila, Clark, these areas are a little bit more congested compared to that. But here in Davao, we have that available land space.”

But while infrastructure is essential, Sese stressed the need to develop a skilled workforce to sustain aerospace programs.

“The core of this is, even if you have the best facility, [and even] if you have the best rocket launch site, if you don’t have the people who will run that facility, then all that will go the waste. So, you start really with training the people so that they would be capable of managing and operating such facility when the time comes,” Sese stated.

To support this vision, he shared that AdDU has taken steps to collaborate with government agencies and private institutions regarding the future of aerospace here in Davao.

“Just last September [2024], the Regional Development Council came up with a resolution that essentially gives the go signal to create a Davao region Aerospace Development Plan…  we’re the ones who are taking the lead, not just in the educational side, but even with engaging with industry, engaging with academic institutions and with other private institutions as well.”

IREC 2025 plans

The AdDU Rocketry Team has recently secured a spot in the upcoming International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) 2025, where they will compete in the 30,000-foot Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) category.

One of the founding members of the rocketry team, Avery Clyde Dimasuhid, shared their future plans and the development of their most recent project, “Siklab”, which means ignite or spark in Bisaya.

“We wanted to come back stronger this year as a team with our latest rocket, SIKLAB. This is a 4-inch minimum diameter rocket now with a working payload that will get atmospheric gas data in the entirety of its 30,000-foot flight.”

“This is something that we lacked last year because we only used an inert aluminum material as our payload. Aside from such, we are also making bold moves to try something new with the manufacturing of our structures now that our rocket will reach around Mach 1.8 by simulations.” 

Sponsorships Head Fritzie Mae Maniquez emphasized the need for additional funding outside the development of the rocket itself through sponsorship and donations. 

“Although university funding covers the materials needed to actualize Siklab, it doesn’t extend to the essential travel costs required to actually be there to compete. Airfare and accommodation represent a substantial expense, potentially exceeding the cost of the rocket itself. Furthermore, numerous miscellaneous expenses—PPE, organizational materials, sanitary supplies, and other operational expenses,” Maniquez stated. 

Sibol leaves its marks in history

The rocketry team made its historic debut at the Spaceport America Cup 2024, now known as IREC, as the first-ever Filipino rocketry group to launch their rocket “Sibol,” reaching an altitude of 10,000 feet in the solid propulsion category.

Dimasuhid related the development as a shared ambition of both their predecessors and the current members of the team, resulting in the creation of SIBOL. 

“It all began as a dream by the whole department since 2019, which is a result of the keen interest of our seniors. I don’t think we could be as engaged as we are now if not for the fire started by those who came before us. Basically, it’s a result of an inter-batch of AdDU aerospace engineering students’ curiosity and trial and error,” Dimasuhid shared. 

“For this year, we are trying to strengthen the team not just technically but in all aspects, like inviting other programs to join us with some members from the Chemical and Mechanical Engineering departments and enhancing our team dynamics and communication,” Dimasuhid added.

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NOTE: This article was published in the April 2025 Tabloid Issue of Atenews. Grab a physical copy for free in the Atenews office.