TACLOBAN CITY, March 3 (PNA) — The Task Force on Yolanda Coconut Rehabilitation and Recovery Program will use drone in conducting aerial validation of areas in Leyte and Samar provinces cleared from coconut debris.
Secretary Francis Pangilinan of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization said the survey will be held this week until third week of March.
This is to check if the task force really accomplished its goal to remove and haul 2.8 million fallen or sheared coconut trees from areas pounded by super typhoon Yolanda.
“We need to validate reports through aerial survey and site visit because we don’t want to send inaccurate information to the President,” said Pangilinan after the task force meeting here Monday afternoon.
The task force, led by Pangilinan, will randomly select areas for drone-assisted survey based on the report of the PCA and local government units.
The government will utilize drones of the United Nations Development Programme used to assess the extent of damage during the aftermath of the 2013 super typhoon, according to Pangilinan.
As of Feb. 28, the Philippine Coconut Authority and partner local government units has already cut and converted 2.8 million coconut trees into logs.
The remaining 2.9 million is up for clearing by end of this month. Most of these trees are in Leyte province. (PNA)
