Source: Public Relations and Information Department

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Lawmakers urged to address exodus of skilled aviation workers
30 August 2006 08:28:46 AM
Writer: Fidel Gumawid, PRID

Top executives of airlines companies have joined forces in prodding lawmakers to enact laws that will help stop the depletion of highly skilled and mission-critical workers in the country particularly in the aviation industry.

They raised their concern amid the exodus of highly qualified pilots and airline mechanics that leave in droves for abroad after undergoing intensive training in the country.

The top airline executives also admitted during a recent hearing at the House Committee on Labor and Employment chaired by Rep. Roseller Barinaga that huge investments in the form of training have gone to waste when these people leave and seek higher-paying work opportunity in other countries.

They asked Congress to enact measures that will provide more training for skilled workers to enable them to meet the requirements of the aviation industry.

Patricia Chong of Air Philippines said their company loss about 50 aircraft mechanics yearly due to attractive offers from other countries. “Yet so far no more than 20 trainees qualify for the regular training we conduct as replacement for those who leave,” she added.

Manuel Villegas, head executive assistant of the Air Transportation Office (ATO), told lawmakers that while 150 hours of training is needed to qualify as a licensed commercial pilot, only 25 percent of the total number of enrollees in aviation schools graduate and eventually become holders of commercial pilot license.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) Vice President Cesar Lamberle said their company spends some P15 million for the training of its airline workers.

He said PAL just recently allotted P8 million to P13 million for the training of a Boeing 747 pilot and P1.5 million for the six-month training of pilots manning its other commercial flights.

He suggested a moratorium in the deployment of skilled workers abroad to give them opportunity to train more skilled workers.

However, Undersecretary Danny Cruz of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said issuing a moratorium must be discouraged since it may push skilled workers to leave the country as undocumented workers.

Barinaga said they would support proposals that would address the problem and will look into measures increasing tax exemptions for aviation workers, including aircraft pilots and mechanics, to discourage them from migrating.

He proposed that Congress might consider sponsoring a student in a two-year or four-year aviation course to produce about 300 graduates to augment the depleting resource in the industry.