The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) received on Tuesday, July 18, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) which was proudly made by Filipino developers.
*(Photo: Dodeca Research and Development Team)
* One unit of hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone was turned over to PCG Commandant Adm. Artemio Abu by International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Advisor Mark Everson, UNODC-Global Maritime Crime Programme National Programme Officer Frances Damaso, and the Dodeca Research and Development Team, the company that developed the prototype of the drone. Dodeca's research and development team said the donation was the "very first hybrid VTOL drone built by Filipinos to be owned and operated by the Philippine government." "This will enhance our country's monitoring capabilities, ensuring safe coasts and shorelines," Dodeca it added.  Drone technology has been integrated in the systems of key government agencies in the security sector, the latest of which is the PCG. It is often utilized in different areas of operation such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), surveillance, delivery, mapping, and intelligence gathering. Meanwhile, Abu thanked the UNODC and Dodeca for the donation which will help the PCG to conduct surveillance missions more effectively and safely. It will be utilized by the Coast Guard Aviation Force (CGAF). "Words cannot express the gratitude and appreciation to the support of UNODC and we look forward to continuing this partnership as we work together to navigate the future of maritime law enforcement," he stated. "We look forward to continuing this partnership as we work together to navigate the future of maritime law enforcement," the PCG Commandant added.