IN a bid to transform urban logistics, Grab Philippines said it has partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and property giant Megaworld Corp. to test drone-powered commercial deliveries in Metro Manila.
The initiative, formalized through a memorandum of agreement signed on Tuesday, aims to explore how drones could improve last-mile logistics in the country, Grab said in a statement.
The pilot study, initially operating between two Megaworld properties in Metro Manila, is designed to test a hybrid delivery model. Under the setup, Grab’s delivery partners will handle the pick-up and final drop-off of packages from designated drone landing stations, while the drones will manage the mid-air transport segment effectively, bypassing traffic-clogged roads.
This controlled setup allows Grab and its partners to assess the operational, technical, and regulatory considerations of drone deployment in a real-world environment. Initial access will be limited to select consumers and merchant partners within the chosen Megaworld townships.
“This pilot is an opportunity for us to learn and understand how drone deliveries might work in the Philippine context, from dense urban neighborhoods to underserved areas. We’re optimistic about the insights this pilot will bring, and we look forward to co-creating solutions that benefit everyone in the ecosystem – from consumers, merchant-partners, and our delivery-partners,” Ronald Roda, managing director in the Philippines for Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading super-app, said.
The MOU sets the stage for future pilot activities and opens up opportunities to jointly examine possible use cases, assess learnings, and help build public awareness of drone-enabled services.
Department of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the project reflects “the kind of innovation we want to encourage as we build a truly modern transport ecosystem, without compromising the safety and security of our air transport through a meaningful and responsive regulatory framework.”
“If we want to solve traffic and improve connectivity in a meaningful way, we have to think beyond roads. Drone logistics is one of the tools that can help us move faster, smarter, and more sustainably,” he added.
Christina Faye Condez-de Sagon, DICT Undersecretary for special concerns, stressed the government’s interest in shaping innovation that fills meaningful gaps in access and logistics. She said the initiative is an opportunity to guide the responsible use of drone technology, and DICT’s role is to ensure it benefits people while supporting the nation’s digital transformation agenda.
With cities across the Philippines facing rising delivery demand and gridlocked thoroughfares, the drone pilot offers a potential blueprint for integrating aerial logistics into commerce nationwide, Grab said.
If proven viable, the company said, it may explore expanding the initiative to more locations and building drone corridors that relieve pressure from road networks.
