Senator Win Gatchalian is seeking the passage of a bill that renames the existing Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA) as the National Aviation Academy of the Philippines (NAAP), which will also be declared the national professional institution for aviation.
Gatchalian stressed the need to promote aviation safety and security following recent air crash incidents in the country.
A U.S.-contracted surveillance plane crashed in Maguindanao del Sur on February 6, killing all four personnel on board. On February 6, a female pilot died when a helicopter crashed in Guimba, Nueva Ecija.
“The NAAP shall produce efficient and well-trained professionals who can competently respond to the needs of the local and international aviation industry.”
The veteran legislator said that under the National Academy of the Philippines Charter Act (Senate Bill No. 2969), the NAAP shall be mandated to provide young Filipinos with world-class academic and professional training in the field of aviation and other related fields. The proposed measure also mandates the NAAP to produce efficient and well-trained professionals who can competently respond to the needs of the local and international aviation industry.
The bill further mandates the NAAP to strengthen aviation and other related programs by developing and offering industry-driven programs, spearheading collaboration between the academe and the industry, and leading to the implementation of innovative teaching and methods in aviation education.
The NAAP shall be mandated to offer short-term technical-vocational, undergraduate, and graduate courses on aviation and aviation-related programs. These programs shall include a Bachelor of Science in Air Transportation specializing in Commercial Pilot; a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, including Drone Technology; an Associate in Aircraft Maintenance Technology; and an Associate in Aircraft Electronic Technology.
The proposed measure also provides that the NAAP shall take affirmative steps to give equitable access to its programs and services for disadvantaged students, Indigenous peoples, poor but deserving students, valedictorians and salutatorians of public high schools, and students from depressed areas. The NAAP shall further provide scholarships and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students who qualify for admission to the NAAP.
“The NAAP shall develop aviation leaders in the Philippine aviation and aerospace industry.”
“In pursuing its mandate, the NAAP shall develop aviation leaders in the Philippine aviation and aerospace industry, both in the private or commercial sector and the government. the seasoned lawmaker said in the bill’s explanatory note.
From Academic Year (AY) 2014-15 to AY 2023-24, the PhilSCA system has maintained an average annual enrollment of 18,040 students, while producing an average of 3,266 graduates, on average, per year during the same period.
