(Eagle News)–Senator Koko Pimentel is seeking the regulation of drones of private individuals.
In filing Senate Bill No. 1098, which sets certain criteria for a private individual to be allowed to use drones, Pimentel noted that drones that are used for recreational and commercial purposes “might be exploited by terrorists, used to violate rights, or could pose a hazard to aircraft.”
For this, he cited the drone attacks claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on two key oil installations inside Saudi Arabia, damaging facilities that process the majority of the country’s crude output and raising the risk of a disruption in world oil supplies.
“With this ubiquity (of drones), comes the need for regulation,” Pimentel said.
Under the Senate bill, only a registered commercial drone owner may apply for a permit to operate, which shall be issued periodically only after he or she complies with the following criteria:
-shows proof that he or she qualifies for a radio operator’s certificate of proficiency
-has been awarded a passing rating in an aviation license theory examination
-has completed a training course in the operation of the type of drone that will be operated
-has at least five hours of experience operating drones outside of controlled airspace
-has valid insurance over the drone
– has not incurred any violations for drone ownership or use in the five years immediately preceding an application for permit
The bill regulates only drones purchased, owned and operated by private persons, whether used for hobby or commercial purposes and does not cover drones by the government.
Under the bill, it is the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines that is “authorized to prohibit the use of drones, whether for hobbyist or commercial use or both, in any part of the Philippines, whether permanently or for a designated period of time, subject to notice that must be published in at least two newspapers of national circulation.”
The notice must delineate the no-drone zone and must be published at least three weeks prior to the effectivity of the prohibition, the bill said.
The bill also requires all drone owners, whether the drones are for hobbyist or commercial use, to periodically register themselves and their drones with the CAAP’s Public Safety and Security Command Center.
Failure to register a drone and its owner shall result in the confiscation of the drone by the CAAP.
Operating a drone for commercial purposes without a permit, on the other hand, shall result in the confiscation of the drone and a fine between P50,000 and P100,000.
The bill said any violation of the general safety regulations and restrictions on drone usage shall result in a fine between P100,000 and P500,000, “without prejudice to any separate civil or criminal charges that may be brought against the drone.”
