Grab Philippines to pilot test drone deliveries
In a statement on Tuesday (June 23), the super app operator said it would conduct a pilot study for the unmanned aerial vehicle delivery between two properties owned by Megaworld Corp. in Metro Manila.
The drone-powered commercial delivery will implement a hybrid delivery model where Grab riders handle pick-ups and drop-offs from dedicated drone landing stations. The drones will make the delivery between the two points.
Grab, Megaworld, Department of Transportation and Department of Information and Communications Technology inked a memorandum of understanding for this effort.
'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,' Grab Philippines managing director Ronald Roda said. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Emerging Markets - Asian currencies steady with US data, China tariff deadline in focus
MANILA (Reuters): Asian currencies held largely steady against a softer dollar on Monday, as investors refrained from taking big bets ahead of the USJuly inflation report and expiry of a US tariff deadline on China. The Philippine peso, Taiwan dollar and South Korean won slipped between 0.1% and 0.3%, while most other currencies were little changed. An MSCI index of global emerging market currencies was largely flat, while the dollar index dropped 0.2% following a 0.4% decline last week. Market players braced for U.S. consumer price data, due on Tuesday, for clues on the Federal Reserve's rate-cut path, with a hotter-than-expected report likely to jolt markets by tempering hopes of near-term easing. U.S. President Donald Trump's August 12 deadline for a U.S.-China deal also loomed over markets, with chip policy at the centre of the standoff. Expectations are growing for yet another extension. U.S. imports from Southeast Asia's biggest economies now carry tariffs of about 19%, well below the levels initially threatened. Last week, the Trump administration slapped tariffs of 10% to 50% on dozens of countries and tacked on 40% duties for products found to be illegally rerouted to conceal their origin. "We expect emerging Asian currencies will benefit from U.S. dollar softness in the second half of year. In particular, domestically driven economies with relatively higher yields on offer could be better positioned to gain from dollar weakness," said Lloyd Chan, FX strategist at MUFG. Elsewhere, changes at the helm of key U.S. monetary policy bodies also drew attention. While Trump's Fed governor pick, Stephen Miran, may not be in place to weigh in on a September cut, the race for a new chair has widened to about 10 contenders. Stock markets advanced, with Taiwan up 0.5%, while Indonesia and Malaysia climbed 0.5% and 0.8%, respectively. The Philippine central bank signalled it may deliver the first of two rate cuts planned for this year at its August 28 meeting, with inflation staying subdued. Manila shares dropped 1.3%. Thailand's stock markets were closed for a public holiday. The Bank of Thailand's policy rate decision is due later this week, with analysts at Nomura expecting the central bank to leave its policy rate unchanged. "We expect the BoT to sound dovish, flagging the risks of an economic slowdown in H2 and still-high uncertainty around the tariffs, among other factors," they said. - Reuters
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Philippine central bank signals August rate cut
MANILA: The Philippine central bank signalled on Monday (Aug 11) it may deliver the first of two remaining interest rate cuts this year at its Aug 28 policy meeting as inflation remained subdued. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona said it was "quite likely" the bank would lower its key policy rate later this month, reiterating its easing bias to support growth amid global uncertainties and as inflation continues to slow. "Things look good," Remolona told a forum organised by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines, adding that inflation could fall to 2% this year, the bottom of the BSP's target range. Cooling prices have underpinned domestic demand, with the economy expanding 5.5% in the second quarter, slightly faster than the 5.4% growth in the previous quarter. Annual inflation eased to 0.9% in July, the lowest since October 2019, bringing the year-to-date average to 1.7%. Remolona told Reuters on July 28 the BSP was on track to cut rates two more times in 2025. The key rate now stands at 5.25%, a two-and-a-half-year low. After this month's meeting, the BSP will have two more policy meetings before year-end. - Reuters
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Asian FX steady ahead of US inflation data, China-US tariff deadline
HONG KONG: Emerging Asian currencies were mostly steady on Monday against a firmer dollar, as investors remained on the sidelines ahead of US July inflation data and a critical Washington-Beijing deadline to avoid higher tariffs. The Indonesian rupiah edged 0.2 per cent higher, while the Singapore dollar notched up 0.1 per cent. The Philippine peso slipped 0.3 per cent, with most other regional currencies trading steady. An MSCI index of global emerging market currencies remained largely flat, while the dollar index held steady following a 0.4 per cent decline last week. Investor focus is on US consumer prices, scheduled for Tuesday, which will offer cues on the Federal Reserve's path for rate cuts. A hotter-than-expected reading could trigger volatility by dampening expectations for near-term interest rate reductions. An upside surprise in inflation data would challenge market wagers on a September rate cut, with markets currently pricing in about a 90 per cent probability of easing that month and at least one more cut by year-end. US President Donald Trump's August 12 deadline for a US-China deal also loomed over markets, with chip policy at the center of the standoff. Expectations are growing for yet another extension. US imports from Southeast Asia's biggest economies now carry tariff rates of about 19 per cent, well below the levels initially threatened. Last week, the Trump administration slapped tariffs of 10 per cent to 50 per cent on dozens of countries, and tacked on 40 per cent duties for products found to be illegally rerouted to conceal their origin. "We expect emerging Asian currencies will benefit from US dollar softness in the second half of year. In particular, domestically driven economies with relatively higher yields on offer could be better positioned to gain from dollar weakness," said Lloyd Chan, FX strategist at MUFG. Regional stock markets advanced, with shares in Taiwan up 0.7 per cent. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world's largest chipmaker, rose 1.3 per cent. Equities in Indonesia and Malaysia climbed 0.5 per cent and 0.4 per cent, respectively, while shares in the Philippines dropped 1 per cent. Thailand's stock markets were closed for a public holiday. Investors are awaiting the Bank of Thailand's policy rate decision later this week, with analysts at Nomura expecting the central bank to leave its policy rate unchanged. "We expect the BoT to sound dovish, flagging the risks of an economic slowdown in H2 and still-high uncertainty around the tariffs, among other factors."
