The Quezon provincial government is using aerial drone technology to gather accurate data for disaster preparedness and manage its natural and agricultural resources.
‘The drone mapping aims to collect geospatial data and aerial imagery that can serve as a basis for improved planning in agriculture, disaster preparedness, environmental protection, and resource management,’ the provincial government’s Public Information Office (PIO) said in a report on Wednesday.
From Sept. 22 to 24, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), in coordination with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO), conducted aerial mapping using a VTOL Griffin Pro unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The mapping covered 2,377 hectares in selected areas, including portions of Sariaya, Mount Banahaw, and watershed areas in Atimonan.
The PIO said advanced technology facilitates data gathering in vast, hard-to-reach areas, enabling government offices to develop more appropriate programs and interventions for Quezon’s communities and natural resources.
The provincial government continues to promote technological innovation and inter-agency collaboration to obtain more accurate information, improve development planning, and ensure a more proactive response.
Quezon, located in the southeastern portion of Luzon, is the largest province in the Calabarzon region, covering 870,660 hectares, or 8,706.60 square kilometers.
Its terrain is characterized by rugged mountains dominated by the Sierra Madre range, interspersed with plains, river valleys, rolling coastal lowlands, and extensive forestlands.
Of its 42 municipalities, 34 are coastal: 17 along Lamon Bay facing the Pacific Ocean, 12 along Tayabas Bay, and five along Ragay Gulf.
Quezon’s diverse topography supports extensive agricultural activities, particularly coconut production, as well as abundant forest and marine resources