BAGUIO City Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. wants the use of “drones” or what is popularly known as an unmanned aircraft being launched into flight for recreational purposes and that is not designed to carry persons or other living creatures to be regulated.
Councilor Yangot has filed a proposed ordinance which if approved will be known as the “Baguio City Drone Regulation Ordinance”. The measure stated since emerging onto the world of technology and gadgets a few years back, the use of drones aimed at the consumer market has become increasingly popular. Although the technology is still in its infancy in the city, it offers a huge recreational and commercial potential. It added that taking into consideration the situation of diversification of use and other circumstances of operating drones, the City Government of Baguio considers measures to further contribute to the safety of the flight of drones and to contribute to the sound development of business using drones.
Furthermore, it will allow the drone enthusiasts as a whole to act together, under the same direction, to ensure a strong and robust future of the drone industry, and the plethora of sectors which may soon rely upon them.
In the City of Baguio, authorization to fly will be granted if operation of the drone does not present any risk to public safety or order, and if the rules on data protection and privacy are not violated. The proposal further quantified that in view of several circumstances surrounding drones, it is necessary to determine the airspace forbidden for flight of drones and the method of flight in order to prevent the occurrence of harm caused by the flight of drones.
Once the said proposal is approved, any person who wishes to operate a drone must adhere to certain requirements or face penalties which also include imprisonment.