SENATOR Raffy Tulfo expressed serious concerns Tuesday over the vulnerability of Philippine airports and military installations to drone attacks. During a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Services, Tulfo questioned the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) about the lack of anti-drone countermeasures.
“Drones have been used in the Russian-Ukraine war, and there’s a possibility that terrorists will use drones here for specific targets,” Tulfo stated. “So, nobody is safe. Do we have anti-drone measures in our airports installed 24/7?”
Capt. Ian Michael Del Castillo, head of the CAAP-Aerialworks Certification and Inspection Division (AWOCID) Flight Operations Department, responded that currently, no anti-drone measures are in place at airports due to the high cost of the technology. He cited one subscription-based system costing $1 million per month as an example.
Castillo explained that CAAP is exploring alternative options, noting that technology prices tend to decrease as advancements are made. He also pointed out that CAAP regulations already prohibit drone operation within a 10-kilometer radius of airports and above 120 meters.
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