Grab tests drones for city deliveries

Grab tests drones for city deliveries | Daily Tribune

The feasibility of drone-powered commercial delivery in the country is being tested through a new pilot program launched by Grab Philippines, in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Transportation (DoTr) and Megaworld Corp.

Grab said on Tuesday that the initiative aims to assess whether unmanned aerial vehicles can help alleviate urban delivery bottlenecks and enhance logistics efficiency in Metro Manila.

Under the pilot, Grab delivery partners will handle pick-ups and drop-offs from designated drone landing stations, while drones carry out the mid-route transport to speed up fulfillment.

“We are constantly exploring new technologies that could help us serve our communities better, such as drone-powered deliveries,” said Grab Philippines managing director Ronald Roda.

“This pilot is an opportunity for us to learn and understand how drone deliveries might work in the Philippine context, from dense urban neighborhoods to underserved areas. We’re optimistic about the insights this pilot will bring, and we look forward to co-creating solutions that benefit everyone in the ecosystem — from consumers, merchant-partners, and our delivery-partners.”

Megaworld network

The drone delivery tests will take place between two Megaworld properties in Metro Manila.

The controlled environment allows Grab and its partners to examine the operational, technical and regulatory aspects of aerial logistics in real-world conditions.

For now, access is limited to select consumers and merchant partners within the chosen Megaworld townships.

To formalize the collaboration, the DICT, DoTr, Grab and Megaworld signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining plans to study potential use cases, share learnings and raise public awareness of drone-enabled services.

“If we want to solve traffic and improve connectivity in a meaningful way, we have to think beyond roads,” said Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon.

“Drone logistics is one of the tools that can help us move faster, smarter, and more sustainably. This pilot reflects the kind of innovation we want to encourage as we build a truly modern transport ecosystem, without compromising the safety and security of our air transport through a meaningful and responsive regulatory framework.”

DICT Undersecretary for Special Concerns Christina Faye Condez-de Sagon said the agency supports the initiative as part of its goal to guide inclusive innovation.

Tyrone Tan, cluster general manager of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, stated that the pilot aligns with the company’s broader innovative city plans.

“We are committed to building future-ready cities. Partnering on drone delivery allows us to offer more sustainable, efficient, and forward-thinking services to our residents, office workers and mall partners.”