Drone investors explore Iloilo site

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Foreign firms are exploring Iloilo as a potential site for drone development and assembly as the provincial government intensifies efforts to position the province as a hub for emerging technologies.

Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. met with representatives of international firm KVG and Ackerman Consulting during a business lunch at Tatoy’s Atria in Iloilo City on May 2 to advance discussions on possible investments in drone infrastructure.

The visiting delegation included KVG President Elisha Abbott, General Counsel Atty. Knicole Feliciano, and Ackerman Consulting President and CEO Consul David Ackerman.

They were joined by Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Dennis Ventilacion, and key department heads.

The visit was part of a scoping mission to identify strategic locations in Iloilo for drone development facilities, including a possible assembly line.

The discussions built on an earlier meeting April 20 in Manila, where the province was initially proposed as a viable site for such operations.

Defensor expressed support for the initiative, citing the role of drone technology in modernizing government services.

He noted its potential applications in agriculture, disaster response, and environmental monitoring, which are key sectors in the province’s development agenda.

Parallel to these investment talks, the Iloilo Provincial Board is advancing measures to institutionalize drone use in governance.

On April 22, the board convened its third joint committee hearing to refine the proposed “Protect, Defend and Preserve Iloilo Ordinance of 2026,” which includes the creation of an Office of Drone Operations.

The proposal includes deploying at least three high-capacity drones across northern, central, and southern Iloilo to monitor coastal waters against illegal fishing.

The drones would also track quarrying activities, especially at night, and assist in traffic and disaster response operations.

The drones are expected to be equipped with advanced capabilities such as LiDAR, high-altitude operation, night vision, and thermal imaging.

The provincial government is also considering operator training in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

Board Member Jo Jan Paul “JP” Peñol, who presided over the session, emphasized the need to refine drone specifications to ensure operational reliability.

He said the technology would also support enforcement against illegal logging and may be used in “hot pursuit” operations by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Iloilo Police Provincial Office.

The deliberations involved representatives from national agencies, including the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Air Force, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as provincial departments.

Officials said integrating drone technology into governance could enhance environmental protection, disaster preparedness, and law enforcement coordination across the province.

KVG, according to its website, has more than 10 years of experience in mission support and logistics services worldwide.

With both investment interest and policy development gaining ground, Iloilo is positioning itself to support drone technology as part of its broader “MoRProGRes Iloilo,” or Movement for a Robust, Progressive, Globally Competitive, and Resilient Province of Iloilo, development agenda.