Davao City (PIA) – The City Government of Davao is planning to regulate the flight of aerial drones in the City. Mayos Sara Duterte has urged the city council to pass an ordinance banning the flights of unauthorized drones as these could be used as weapons.
“There were areas outside Davao City where drones are being used as a weapon. We don’t want this to happen in our city that is why we want to craft an ordinance like this,” the Mayor said.
Duterte referred the crafting of the ordinance to the City Council’s Committee on Public Safety and Security chaired by First District Councilor Maria Belen Acosta.
Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) which are remotely piloted. The common drones in Davao City are camera drones used by professional photographers /videographers and enthusiasts.
Camera mini drones range from P23, 000 to over a hundred thousand pesos. Flyers particularly operating camera drones during city events such as Kadayawan Festival are required to secure a permit from the Davao City Police Office and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)
Mayor Duterte’s fears are founded on several international events where drones were used as weapons, a famous example was a drone attack targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caraca, Venezuela in August of this year. Maduro was unhurt during the assassination attempt.
