PhilSCA looks forward to revamp into Nat’l Aviation Academy of the Philippines 

The Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA) said on Tuesday that it is hoping that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will soon sign into law the measure seeking to reorganize the school into the National Aviation Academy of the Philippines (NAAP). 

“Ang Senado po at Kongreso ay inaprubahan na yung National Aviation Academy of the Philippines. Ito ay for signature na ng ating Pangulo. Ngayong August 7 ay nai-submit ito sa Malacañang at kami po ay excited na dito sa pagpirma ni Presidente sapagkat ito ang magiging formula para tayo ay makibahagi dito sa malaking pangangailangan po sa aviation industry sa buong mundo…Ito ay multi-trillion dollar na ekonomiya na makakatulong ho sa ating bansa kung makakakuha tayo ng share dito,” said retired Brigadier General Gerardo Zamudio, director of PhilSCA’s flying school, on the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon broadcast.

(The Senate and Congress have already approved the National Aviation Academy of the Philippines. It is now awaiting the President's signature. This last August 7, it was submitted to Malacañang, and we are excited for the President to sign it because this will be the formula for us to participate in the huge demand in the aviation industry worldwide... This is a multi-trillion dollar economy that will help our country if we can get a share of it.) 

The bill, titled “National Aviation Academy of the Philippines Charter Act” seeks to expand PhilSCA as the “leading higher education for aviation studies” and as “the national professional institution for aviation.” 

If passed into law, NAAP shall offer short-term, technical-vocational, undergraduate, and graduate programs in the field of aviation such as a bachelor’s degree in air transportation, and aeronautical engineering; as well as associates in aircraft maintenance technology, and aircraft electronic technology that could lead into baccalaureates. 

Citing data from Boeing and Airbus, Zamudio said that the aviation industry is in need of around two million workers in the aviation industry until 2043. Of which, over 600,000 must be pilots, he added. 

Zamudio is hoping the Philippines can provide highly-skilled technical workers in the aviation industry through the NAAP. 

“Napapanahon itong National Aviation Academy of the Philippines sapagkat dito talaga, ang requirement ng batas, ay mag-provide tayo ng world class aviation training and professional education. Maraming nakalagay doon sa bagong batas na ito na magbibigay daan sa amin na makapag-produce ng world class na aviators,” he said. 

(This National Aviation Academy of the Philippines is timely because, truly, the requirement of the law here is for us to provide world-class aviation training and professional education. Many provisions in this new law will enable us to produce world-class aviators.) 

“Magme-maintain tayo ng pool of local and foreign na mga experts, ng mga instructors at mga advisers, mga consultants na babayaran sila na kaparehas ng nakukuha nila sa pribado para makakuha tayo ng kinakailangan natin na mga knowledge, skills, kasama na rin yung attitude,” Zamudio added. 

(We will maintain a pool of local and foreign experts, instructors, advisors, and consultants who will be paid similarly to what they receive in the private sector so that we can acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and also the right attitude.) — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BM, GMA Integrated News