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THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 7 launched the Central Visayas Drone Industry Development Action Plan on July 13, 2026, to strengthen catastrophe response and help neighborhood wants.
The plan was unveiled through the opening of the 2026 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) on the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. mentioned the roadmap will enhance the area’s use of drone know-how to enhance catastrophe response and agricultural growth.
Drone makes use of
“For example, in agricultural areas, we use artificial intelligence, whether flying or a robot, to get images of agricultural crops so that we can evaluate the growth and detect diseases and the disease can be identified using the optical image of what they are looking at,” Solidum mentioned.
“There are new technologies used to scan bridges, buildings and faults or cracks in buildings,” he added, stressing how drone know-how can be utilized in catastrophe danger discount.
Drones can even assist responders ship medicines, meals packs and different emergency provides when land and air transport is unavailable.
The Drone-Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Industry Development Initiative was one of many key applications featured through the three-day RSTW. The occasion introduced collectively universities, researchers and native authorities models (LGUs) within the area to debate how rising applied sciences may also help deal with urgent social points.
DOST 7 Director Tristan Abando mentioned this system goals to construct a coordinated, innovation-driven and sustainable drone ecosystem for a safer and extra resilient Central Visayas.
“We need to harmonize and align our initiatives to create an entire ecosystem to support the development of the drone industry,” mentioned Abando.
Three-phase plan
The Central Visayas Drone-UAS Technology Transfer Roadmap will probably be carried out in three phases.
The program is at the moment in its foundation-building part, which incorporates stakeholder mapping, data trade and benchmarking to develop the roadmap.
DOST mentioned Phase 2, protecting 2025 to 2026, will concentrate on constructing a collaborative ecosystem and rushing up business and functionality growth. This consists of establishing the Drone Industry Alliance of the Philippines, increasing adoption amongst LGUs and nationwide authorities companies and supporting startups and micro, small and medium enterprises.
By Phase 3, from 2028 to 2030, the company goals to place Central Visayas because the nation’s hub for drone options. / VEEJAY CATADMAN, UP CEBU INTERN