MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has received drones that will help in monitoring traffic and flood-prone areas in the metropolis.
MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said the four new drones, donated by a private group that requested not to be identified in public, will be utilized for traffic management during the opening of classes.
“These drones are significant tools to help us in our decision-making since real-time footages of ongoing events can be provided,” Lim said during the MMDA’s flag-raising ceremony Monday.
The equipment will help supplement the CCTV cameras of the MMDA Metrobase that are currently being used for traffic management and enforcement of its no-contact apprehension policy.
The drones will also be able to map out flood-prone areas in Metro Manila which is important for flood control and immediate evacuation of residents in times of typhoon or heavy rains.
“Thus, we can immediately send teams with portable pumps to mitigate flooding,” Lim said.
Drones can stay in the air for 20-30 minutes, have altitude limit of 400 feet, and can fly up to a seven-kilometer range.
Twelve personnel coming from various offices of the MMDA who have undergone training will operate the four units.
“These drones will serve as our eye in the sky. We thank the people who donated these drones,” Lim said.
The donation also comes with a tablet, remote control and set of batteries. Three of the drones cost at least PHP100,000 while one costs at least PHP400,000. (Aerol John Pateña/PNA)
