Grab and partners launch pilot study on drone-powered delivery in the Philippines

Grab, together with stakeholders and partners, launched a pilot study on drone-powered delivery in the Philippines.

Officials from Grab, DOTR, DICT, and Megaworld sign a Memorandum of Agreement for a drone pilot study on commercial delivery in the Philippines. [L-R] Booey Bonifacio, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Grab Philippines; Allan Punay, Manager, CAAP Dumaguete Airport (representing DOTR); Undersecretary Christina Faye Condez-de Sagon, DICT; and Tyrone Tan, Cluster General Manager, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls.

Grab Drone Delivery study

The study is to test aerial logistics in Metro Manila's urban corridors.

Grab explained that this initiative is to see whether unmanned aerial vehicles can transform urban logistics in one of the region's most densely populated environments, exploring the potential of faster fulfillment of time-sensitive items by sidestepping traffic bottlenecks.

It will be tested in the form of a hybrid delivery model. Under this scenario, Grab delivery partners will handle pick-ups and drop-offs from dedicated drone landing stations, while drones take care of the in-between journey for "faster and more seamless" deliveries. 

According to Grab Philippines Managing Director Ronald Roda, this pilot goes beyond showcasing innovation.

We are constantly exploring new technologies that could help us serve our communities better, such as drone-powered deliveries. 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.

Grab said that the Philippines' achipelagic layout and growing reliance on e-commerce present an "ideal testbed" for drone-based logistics.

This is also a part of the company's broader push to modernize transport and delivery systems. 

The tests will happen in two Megaworld properties in Metro Manila.

According to Grab, this is a controlled setup to assess operational, technical, and regulatory considerations of drone deployment in real-world environments. 

Initial access to the pilot will be limited to select consumers and merchant partners within the chosen Megaworld townships. 

This study is in partnership with DICT, DOTR, Grab, and Megaworld.

The stakeholders recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to begin a collaborative effort exploring the use of drone technology for deliveries.

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.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon underscored the initiative's critical role in redefining mobility amid the country’s fast-paced urban growth

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. This pilot 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 meaningful and responsive regulatory framework.

DICT Undersecretary for Special Concerns Christina Faye Condez-de Sagon highlighted the government's commitment to driving innovation that effectively addresses critical gaps in accessibility and logistics.

We see this as an opportunity to guide the responsible use of drone technology. Our role is to ensure that it benefits people while also supporting the nation's digital transformation agenda.

Tyrone Tan, Cluster General Manager of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, added that the pilot supports the company’s vision for smarter communities.

We are committed to building future-ready cities. Partnering on drone delivery allows us to offer more sustainable, efficient, and forward-thinking services to our residents, office workers, and mall partners.

Grab adds that if proven viable, the company may explore expanding the initiative to additional locations.