FEF’s Drone Project Takes Off

Representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region IV-A CALABARZON and the Foundation for Economic Freedom attended the MOC Signing Ceremony for the “Drone Surveys for Land Tenure Security” project on February 10, 2023. Photo by Patrick Barbosa.

On February 10, 2023, the Foundation for Economic Freedom, Inc. (FEF) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region IV-A CALABARZON (DENR IV-A) officially launched the “Drone Surveys for Land Tenure Security” project by signing the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC). The signing ceremony was attended by DENR IV-A officials, including its Regional Executive Director (RED), key personnel from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Batangas, Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers, and representatives from FEF.

The said project aims to use drone technology in providing technical assistance to poor and marginalized land claimants with untitled properties as a first step to land titling and registration. In line with FEF’s advocacy in promoting secure property rights in the Philippines, the project is supported by the Freedom and Prosperity Grant of the Atlas Network and the Atlantic Council.

At the ceremony, RED Nilo B. Tamoria, and other officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region IV-A (DENR IV-A) expressed their appreciation for being selected as the target site for FEF’s project. They acknowledged the significant contribution of the project to the DENR’s vision of utilizing technology to manage the country’s natural resources. “With projects like these from FEF, [it] makes me believe that the acronym F-E-F stands for Friends of the Environment Forever,” said Tamoria.

FEF land lawyer Atty. Erwin Tiamson shared that the project is just an addition to many of its existing land and property reforms. He hopes that the partnership will open new doors in promoting better land administration and management in the Philippines.

The project, expected to run until April 2023, will begin its identification of suitable sites within the CALABARZON area, with initial target areas in Calaca, Batangas.

by Patrick Barbosa