Bill seeks to regulate drone use

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Drones may soon be restricted from flying at nighttime, over crowded areas and during public events. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III has filed a measure regulating the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and similar gadgets, whose commercial usage has become popular in the country in recent years.

Under Senate Bill No. 2526, private owners and operators of drones would be required to register with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and apply for permits to operate UAVs. From just being flying toys for children, Pimentel noted that drones are now widely used for photography, agriculture and even law enforcement activities. As proposed, the CAAP would come up with policies promoting the responsible use of drones for business and recreational purposes to ensure public safety.

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According to Pimentel, the military and other state agencies operating UAVs are exempted from the guidelines. Besides securing periodic permits from CAAP, drone users would also be required to undergo training in operating such electronic gadgets. The agency was also tasked with identifying “no-drone zones” and drafting general safety regulations for drone operations. —MARLON RAMOS