Cebu university, Japanese group team up to open Central Visayas’ first drone school

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CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Cebu Institute of Technology-University has collaborated with a Japanese group to set up the first drone school in Central Visayas with the goal of making the Philippines a “leading drone nation” in Southeast Asia in the next five years.

Drone applications go beyond cinematic photography, they have innovative uses in agriculture, disaster response, construction, among many other fields, said lawyer Corazon Valencia, CIT-U vice president for academics, during Drone Industry Stakeholders Forum in Cebu City on Thursday, January 23.

“Drones will become an inseparable part of humanity’s way of life, and they will be everywhere even before countries can decisively solve road traffic problems,” said Valencia.

CIT-U is working with the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association (JUIDA) to establish the first drone or unmanned aerial systems school in Central Visayas. 

The university’s officials said they are still finalizing the curriculum, including whether it will be integrated into existing degrees or offered as a stand-alone course. They pointed to opportunities to integrate drones into fields such as civil engineering for structural inspections and monitoring.

Valencia spoke to open the stakeholders’ forum organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Central Visayas Information Sharing Network Foundation (CVISNET), CIT-U, and JUIDA.

DOST-Central Visayas Assistant Regional Director Tristan Abando presented the Philippine UAS Industrial Development Plan, which aims to make the country a hub for UAS education and innovation. Abando noted that the challenge is that the country lacks “clear-cut policies” on drones and imposes restrictive regulations.

“So this is a time to really leapfrog and adopt this technology, and we need to support or develop the ecosystem, because I believe what is lacking is the ecosystem of actors that would support the utilization of this particular technology,” Abando said.

Abando called for the promotion of the responsible use of drones, a call echoed by Consul General Hideaki Matsuo of the Consulate-General of Japan in Cebu.

Matsuo said the importance of drones in disaster response was shown in JUIDA’s collaboration with local governments during the January 1, 2024 earthquake that hit the Noto Peninsula in Japan.

“I envision a future where drones play a vital role in disaster response, agricultural and environmental monitoring, package delivery, and various other aspects of daily life. However, to realize this vision, it is imperative to establish a solid institutional foundation to govern drone operations effectively,” said Matsuo.

“I am confident that the Philippines and Japan, with its vulnerability to natural disasters, can benefit greatly from the strategic use of drones. By fostering collaboration between our nations, we can ensure the safe and secure integration of drones into our respective societies,” Matsuo said.

Naoki Taguchi of JUIDA said Japan has over 200 drone schools, a number that showed the employment opportunities of drone pilots. This does not include ancillary opportunities such as in hardware and software, he said.

DTI-Central Visayas Industry Development Chief Ma. Theresa Sederiosa said, “We really need training for our people because we know that the skills gap is huge in the Philippines.”

Sederiosa said laws that are needed for drone companies to set up shops in the Philippines are already in place and DTI can help in investment promotions and other forms of assistance for investors.

Jeffrey Llanto, CVISNET executive director, said stakeholders should  “maximize the potential of this center and cultivate a skilled workforce that will propel the Philippines into a leading drone nation in Southeast Asia within the next five years.”

“I think the talking is done. Let’s start flying,” Llanto said. – Rappler.com