SENATOR Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. is advocating for a measure to declare the Philippine State College of Aeronautics as the national professional institution for aviation.

In Senate Bill No. 2801, Revilla also proposes renaming PhilSCA to the National Aviation Academy of the Philippines.

In his explanatory note, the senator highlighted the aviation industry as one of the most lucrative sectors, with a persistent high demand for skilled professionals, a demand the country struggles to meet.

The January 1, 2023, NAIA air traffic fiasco, which affected over 75,000 passengers, exposed a shortage of qualified air traffic controllers, many of whom seek better pay abroad.

Revilla emphasized the urgent need to develop leaders for the country’s aviation and aerospace industries across both private and public sectors. He noted that PhilSCA, the only government institution focused solely on aeronautics and aviation-related education, plays a crucial role in meeting this need.

In its 50 years of existence, PhilSCA has earned recognition as a top-performing school, producing some of the best in Aeronautical Engineering.

The measure seeks to establish a new charter for PhilSCA, renaming it as the National Aviation Academy of the Philippines. It also aims to provide resources to enhance its status as a premier aviation center, including specialized training and education, and aligning its academic offerings with the Philippine Qualifications Framework Act and Civil Aviation Regulations of the CAAP.