Liloan uses drones to fight COVID-19

CEBU, Philippines —  To further strengthen its efforts in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, the municipality of Liloan, Cebu is deploying drones equipped with 360-degree cameras to monitor its barangays and streets for compliance with Enhanced Community Quarantine protocols.

Dubbed as Project LUPAD or Liloan UAV Patrol Augmentation Division, the drones will serve three purposes: deterrence, monitoring, and response.

“COVID-19 is an enemy unlike any other. We must augment traditional governance with innovation to have a better chance of defeating it," Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco said, in a statement.

Frasco said that the use of drone technology intensifies their fight against COVID-19.

"We reduce the risk of spreading the virus, enhance the public’s safety and give assurance that laws are being implemented," said Frasco.

She added that lesser interaction with the crowd also protect their law enforcers, auxiliary peace forces and frontliners.

The mayor said that all the drones are voluntarily provided by Mataverse, Inc. for free.

"The LGU has not purchased these drones and it has not spent a single centavo on these drones," the mayor said in her Facebook post.

She said that this is a public-private partnership where Mataverse provides the done, while the LGU and the PNP provide coordination and base stations.

The statement further said that through the use of drone technology, patrolling the streets and far-flung areas of Liloan can be done remotely.

Response time to dispersing illegal gatherings will be faster, and monitoring of social distancing will be more effective since video monitoring by law enforcement is in real time.

The municipal government’s use of smart technology through drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) is in partnership with Mataverse, Inc., a technology company, which will provide at least 10 drones to monitor the town's 14 barangays as well as the Philippine National Police, which will monitor and act on violations.

Mataverse founder Ryan B. Tan Yu, in the same statement, said they are providing the drones as a way of making life easier through technology and to give back and help government amidst the global pandemic.

Mataverse is funded by the Department of Science and Technology.

Liloan’s smart technology-based approach to fighting the spread of COVID-19 is a first in the Province of Cebu. Last week, Liloan also pioneered the use of online medical consultation with GugMed, which provides free virtual medical consultations and online monitoring of persons.

To date, Liloan does not have any COVID-19 case.  GAN (FREEMAN)