EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
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Ornate
of t!j» # *p frffa r)»
'19 
SEP 24 PI -47
SENATE
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
REGULATING THE SALE, LEASE, OWNERSHIP AND OPERATION OF 
DRONES, MANDATING THE REGISTRATION OF DRONE DEALERS AND 
DRONE OWNERS/OPERATORS, AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR THE
VIOLATION THEREOF
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly becoming 
commonplace in today's world. Enthusiasts and hobbyists can now easily purchase 
simple drones by browsing through online shops and stores, for prices reaching as low 
as less than Php2,000.001. Commercially, drones are also being used in videography 
and imaging, surveying, package or cargo deliveries, disaster relief and even in 
agricultural applications.
However, the seemingly benign applications of drones are tainted by its 
potential to be used in the commission of crimes and terrorist activities. Just recently, 
coordinated drone strikes knocked out various oil facilities and sites in Saudi Arabia 
which caused a disruption to approximately 5% of the daily global oil supply2. Drones 
were reported to cause collisions with airplanes3, prolonged grounding of airplanes4
1 https:// shopee .ph/search?key word=drone
2 https://edition.cnn.eom/2019/09/14/business/saudi-oil-output-impacted-drone- 
attack/index.html
3 https://web.archive.org/web/20171016170044/https://fmance.yahoo.com/news/drone-hits- 
commercial-plane-tlrst-134300420.html
4 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/l 9/gatwick-flights-halted-after-drone- 
sighting


and smuggling of drugs and other contrabands in prisons.5 The Armed Forces of the 
Philippines (AFP) also revealed that drones were used by the terrorist groups during 
the Marawi siege for surveillance purposes and the use of this technology in carrying 
out future attacks is "not a remote possibility."6
To address this security risk, this proposed measure provides for the regulation 
of the sale, lease, ownership and operation of drones. Drone dealers and drone 
owners/operators will be required to register with the Civil Aviation Authority of the 
Philippines (CAAP). The CAAP is further mandated to promulgate regulations 
concerning the general safety and restrictions on the use of drones and the 
designation of No-Drone Zones in the country. Under this bill, penalties shall be 
imposed for non-registration and the violation of the general safety regulations issued 
by CAAP.
In view thereof, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
<::m S S u EL "L I-W " M. LA P ip
Senator
https://www.npr.Org/2017/l 1/15/564272346/prisons-work-to-keep-out-drug-smuggling- 
drones
6 https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/708289/afp-reveals-they-had-long-been-
aware-ot-drone-use-by-terror-groups/story/


I
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
)
^cnalT
of tijf 5 *rcrrM i'^
•19 
SEP 24 P T 4 7
SENATE
Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid
AN ACT
REGULATING THE SALE, LEASE, OWNERSHIP AND OPERATION OF DRONES, 
MANDATING THE REGISTRATION OF DRONE DEALERS AND DRONE 
OWNERS/OPERATORS, AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATION
THEREOF
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled.
SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Drone Regulation
Act”.
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. -  It is the policy of the State to maintain peace 
and order, and protect the life, liberty and property of all people. Pursuant to this, 
this Act shall regulate the sale, lease, ownership and operation of drones by private 
persons.
Sec. 3. Definition. -  As used in this Act, “Drones” shall refer to an unmanned 
aerial vehicle (UAV), which is a powered, aerial vehicle that does not carry a human 
operator, uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift, can fly autonomously or 
be piloted remotely, and can be expendable or recoverable.
Sec. 4. Coverage. -  This Act shall regulate only drones as defined herein, 
purchased, leased, owned and operated by private persons. The use of drones by
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the Government shall not be subject to this Act.


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Sec. 5. Registration of Drone Dealers. -  No private person, natural or
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juridical, shall be allowed to sell or lease drones without first registering with the
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Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
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The CAAP is hereby empowered to impose reasonable requirements and
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fees for the grant of registration under this Section.
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Sec. 6. List of Buyers and Lessees. -  All drone dealers are hereby required to
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maintain a list of buyers or lessees of their drones or unmanned aerial vehicles
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(UAVs), containing the names and addresses of such buyers or lessees as reflected
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in their valid identification cards. If the sale or lease of said drones is done through
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agents, the dealers shall ensure that said agents submit to them the verified names
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and addresses of the buyers or lessees within five (5) days from the date of sale or
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contract of lease.
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Such list shall be submitted to the CAAP within ninety (90) days from the
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effectivity of Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act. Thereafter, a drone
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dealer shall update such list with the CAAP on a quarterly basis.
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Sec. 7. Registration of Drone Owners/Operators. -  All drone owners/operators
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are also mandated to register their drones with the CAAP. The CAAP shall then
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issue a certificate of registration and a unique identification number for each
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registered drone.
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The CAAP is hereby authorized to impose reasonable requirements and fees
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for the grant of registration under this Section.
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Sec. 8. Disclosure of Information. -  Upon issuance of a proper court order or
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a valid request from government law enforcement agency showing proof that a
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particular drone was used in the commission of a crime or for an unlawful purpose,
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the CAAP shall be mandated to reveal the identity and personal circumstances of
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the owner or lessee of such drone.
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Sec. 9. Establishment of No-Drone Zones. -  The CAAP is hereby authorized
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to prohibit the use of drones, for any or a specified purpose, in any part of the
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Philippines, whether permanently or for a designated period of time, subject to a
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notice that must be published in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation


for at least two (2) weeks prior to the effectivity of the prohibition. This notice 
requirement may be waived in emergency situations, as determined by the CAAP.
This is without prejudice to the power of other government agencies to 
regulate airspace, particularly in emergency situations that may require the 
establishment of no-fly zones.
Sec. 10. General Safety Regulations and Restrictions on Drone Usage. -  The 
CAAP shall periodically update and publish safety regulations and restrictions on 
drone usage. Such regulations shall be published in at least two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation for at least two (2) weeks prior to the effectivity of the said 
regulations.
Sec. 11. Penalties. -  Failure to register a drone shall result in the confiscation 
of the drone.
Sale and/or leasing by unregistered drone dealers shall result in a fine of not 
less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php100,000.00) but not more than Five 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php500,000.00) and the closure of its business 
operations.
Any violation of the general safety regulations and restrictions on drone 
usage shall result in a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(Phpl 00,000.00) but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php500,000.00) 
and the confiscation of the drone, without prejudice to any separate civil or criminal 
action that may be brought against the drone owner/operator for any injury or 
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damage resulting from the violation.
Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The CAAP shall issue the 
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act not later 
than ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.
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Sec. 13. Retroactivity Clause. -  Sections 4, 5 and 6 of this Act shall have
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retroactive effect. All existing drone dealers and drone owners/operators are given
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ninety (90) days from the effectivity of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of
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this Act to comply with the registration requirements.
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Sec. 14. - Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act or the
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application thereof to any person or circum stance be held invalid, the other
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provisions or sections of this Act shall not be affected thereby.
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Sec. 15. - Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
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regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
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amended or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 16. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
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following its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
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general circulation.
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Approved,