BAGUIO CITY – No private drones will be allowed during the twin grand parades of the Panagbenga Festival street-dancing and float parades on Feb. 28 and March 1.
In an advisory on Thursday, Evangeline Payno, chief of staff of the Executive Committee of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc., said only the foundation, the Baguio City Police, and the Philippine Military Academy would be allowed to use drones during these events.
Earlier, Executive Committee chairman Anthony De Leon said only drones covered by a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) are allowed.
He said the use of drones for the event must first be approved by the city police.
The prohibition, he said, is to ensure public safety by ensuring that the drones are in good condition and that they are only operated by licensed individuals.
“We cannot afford any drone falling from the sky and hitting any person. We are expecting thousands of people on the streets, and a simple mistake of crashing drones will cause major injury and damage,” De Leon said.
The CAAP guidelines on the use of drones prohibit their use over people, populated areas, or public events, specifically requiring drones to maintain a distance of at least 30 meters from any person not associated with the operation.
Meanwhile, Maj. Marcy Grace Marron, Baguio City Police information officer, said their drone will be connected to the Baguio City Command Center as an additional security feature for the event.
About 1,529 police personnel in uniform and plain clothes will secure the festival.
More than 200 force multipliers from the city government, public order and safety division, emergency medical service, city disaster risk reduction and management office, and health services office will also be deployed for the event.
Marron added that about 606 criminology student-interns will also serve to ensure peace and order during the twin parades.
She, meanwhile, encouraged the public to use the city police’s ViewBaguio online application to get updated information about the traffic situation, road conditions, and other pertinent information during the parades. **Liza Agoot
