Got a tip? Send it to us at manila@coconuts.co.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has allowed the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to use unmanned aerial vehicles or drones during the metro-wide earthquake drill on Thu, Jul 30.
Captain Nestor Castillo, officer in charge of CAAP’s flight operations division, told ABS-CBN News that MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino formally requested CAAP to allow the use of drones for monitoring the event.
Castillo said the MMDA will be deploying drones on all designated evacuation areas within Metro Manila for the comprehensive documentation of the exercise.
The locations approved are the Veterans Memorial Medical Center’s golf course, the Intramuros golf course, LRT 2 depot in Santolan, Villamor golf course, Rajah Sulayman Park, Roxas Boulevard, and ASEANA Business Park in Pasay City. These areas have been designated as evacuation sites for the Metro Manila quake drill on Thursday morning.
Castillo said the clearance given by CAAP for the drones is to help authorities document and evaluate the drill.
The evaluation will be of great help in formulating protocols for an actual drill.
Text: Raoul Esperas for ABS-CBNnews.com
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
