Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=November 2022}}
{{short description|State-owned aerospace and defense industry corporation of the Philippines}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation
| logo = PADC logo.svg
| logo_size = 180px
| logo_alt =
| logo_caption = Logo of the agency
| image =
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| trade_name = PADC
| type = Government-owned and controlled corporation
| traded_as =
| industry = Aerospace and Defense
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founded = {{Start date and age|1973|09|05}}
| hq_location = Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
| area_served = Philippines
| key_people = Raymond L. Mitra, President and CEO
| parent = Department of National Defense
| website = {{official website|name=padc.com.ph}}
| footnotes =
}}
The Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation (PADC) is a state-owned aerospace and defense technological development corporation integrated to the Department of National Defense through Executive Order No. 78, s. 2019.{{Cite web |date=2019-03-21 |title=Executive Order No. 78 s. 2019 - Transferring of the Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation to the Department of National Defense |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2019/03/15/executive-order-no-78-s-2019/ |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Official Gazette}} As of 2021, PADC is under organizational realignment with the Philippine Department of National Defense's and National Security Council's highly classified plans and programs, including but not limited to its vital functions under Presidential Decree No. 415 and amended by Presidential Decree No. 1081.{{Cite web |title=P.D. No. 415 |url=https://lawphil.net/statutes/presdecs/pd1974/pd_415_1974.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240307023428/https://lawphil.net/statutes/presdecs/pd1974/pd_415_1974.html |archive-date=2024-03-07 |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=The LawPhil Project}}{{Cite web |title=P.D. No. 1081 |url=https://lawphil.net/statutes/presdecs/pd1977/pd_1081_1977.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240307023636/https://lawphil.net/statutes/presdecs/pd1977/pd_1081_1977.html |archive-date=2024-03-07 |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=The LawPhil Project}}
PADC operates a joint venture with Airbus known as Airbus Helicopters Philippines.{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-04-26 |title=Airbus Helicopters PHL seeks to expand market share |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2022/04/27/444807/airbus-helicopters-phl-seeks-to-expand-market-share/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240307025106/https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2022/04/27/444807/airbus-helicopters-phl-seeks-to-expand-market-share/ |archive-date=2024-03-07 |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=BusinessWorld Online |language=en-US}}
History
The corporation was established on September 5, 1973, by the virtue of Presidential Decree No. 286, which was issued by then-President Ferdinand Marcos.{{cite news |last1=Carabello |first1=Mayvelin |date=December 28, 2017 |title=State-owned aerospace company to be abolished |url=http://www.manilatimes.net/state-owned-aerospace-company-abolished/370976/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240307023900/https://www.manilatimes.net/2017/12/28/business/state-owned-aerospace-company-abolished/370976 |archive-date=March 7, 2024 |accessdate=December 28, 2017 |work=The Manila Times}}{{cite news |date=September 5, 1973 |title=Presidential Decree No. 286, s. 1973 |url=http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1973/09/05/presidential-decree-no-286-s-1973/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101185900/http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1973/09/05/presidential-decree-no-286-s-1973/ |archive-date=November 1, 2017 |accessdate=December 28, 2017 |website=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines}} The decree served as the charter of the corporation was revised through Presidential Decree No. 696 issued by Marcos on May 9, 1975.{{cite news |date=May 9, 1975 |title=Presidential Decree No. 696, s. 1975 |url=http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1975/05/09/presidential-decree-no-696-s-1975/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228172215/http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1975/05/09/presidential-decree-no-696-s-1975/ |archive-date=December 28, 2017 |accessdate=December 28, 2017 |website=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines}}
The mandate of the firm is to establish a "reliable aviation and aerospace industry" in the Philippines, design, manufacture and sell "all forms" of aircraft, as well as to develop indigenous capabilities in the maintenance, repair, and modification of aviation equipment.{{cite web |title=Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation (PADC) |url=http://www.cab.gov.ph/dotc-sectoral-and-attached-agencies/item/philippine-aerospace-development-corporation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207002124/http://www.cab.gov.ph/dotc-sectoral-and-attached-agencies/item/philippine-aerospace-development-corporation |archive-date=December 7, 2016 |accessdate=December 28, 2017 |website=Civil Aeronautics Board}}
It attempted to develop local aircraft such as the PADC Hummingbird helicopter and the PADC Defiant single-engine trainer in the 1980s but the programs were scrapped due to licensing issues and lack of government support with problem of legal issues on intellectual property rights.{{Cite web |title=Opportunities and Challenges facing Philippine Defense Industrial Development |url=https://www.ndcp.edu.ph/opportunities-and-challenges-facing-philippine-defense-industrial-development/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230626030954/https://www.ndcp.edu.ph/opportunities-and-challenges-facing-philippine-defense-industrial-development/ |archive-date=2023-06-26 |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=National Defense College of the Philippines |language=en-US}}
Following a meeting of the Governance Commission for GOCCs in late 2017, the option of abolishing PADC was floated. Those present in the meeting citing that the PADC had failed its mandate particularly in successfully designing a plane for the last 45 years.
Then-PADC director, Rene Abad, called for the PADC's ‘revitalization’ instead, to contribute to the country's development and security in 2018.{{cite news |last=Caraballo |first=Mayvelin |date=January 4, 2018 |title=PADC director calls for state-owned firm's 'revitalization' |url=http://www.manilatimes.net/padc-director-calls-state-owned-firms-revitalization/372112/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240416012418/https://www.manilatimes.net/2018/01/04/business/padc-director-calls-state-owned-firms-revitalization/372112 |archive-date=April 16, 2024 |accessdate=January 22, 2018 |work=The Manila Times}}
On May 16, 2022, PADC signed a MOU with HAL to potentially acquire the Prachand [LCH], LUH and the Tejas [Light Combat Aircraft].{{Cite web |last= |title=Philippines eyes Indian made LCAs and LCHs, ties up with HAL to upgrade military aircraft fleet - ET Government |url=https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/psu/philippines-eyes-indian-made-lcas-and-lchs-ties-up-with-hal-to-upgrade-military-aircraft-fleet/91595678 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240414105030/https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/psu/philippines-eyes-indian-made-lcas-and-lchs-ties-up-with-hal-to-upgrade-military-aircraft-fleet/91595678 |archive-date=2024-04-14 |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=ETGovernment.com |language=en}}
On November 7, 2022, House Bill 3622 was passed in the Senate, which called for extending PADC.{{Cite web |last=Cervantes |first=Filane Mikee |date=7 November 2022 |title=House approves bill extending PADC's corporate life |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1187954 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240307024631/https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1187954 |archive-date=7 March 2024 |access-date=7 March 2024 |website=Philippine News Agency}} On March 21, 2023, Senator Imee Marcos passed Senate Bill No. 2033, which is currently pending in the Senate.{{Cite web |date=21 March 2023 |title=Extending the Life of the Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation (PADC) |url=https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=19&q=SBN-2033 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240416012744/https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=19&q=SBN-2033 |archive-date=16 April 2024 |access-date=7 March 2024 |website=Philippine Senate}} It called for the extension of the PADC by 50 years.
On May 19, 2025, it was reported that the PADC was being closed for failing to design/manufacture indigenous aircraft in the Philippines.{{Cite web |last=Vera |first=Ben Arnold de |date=2025-05-19 |title=Marcos Sr.-era aerospace firm shuttered for failure to design a plane |url=https://mb.com.ph/2025/05/19/marcos-sr-era-aerospace-firm-shuttered-for-failure-to-design-a-plane |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Manila Bulletin |language=en}}
Products
=Licensed Production/Assembly=
- MBB Bo 105 - 44 Units produced 1977-1997 {{cite news|title=Marcos Sr.-era aerospace firm shuttered for failure to design a plane|url=https://mb.com.ph/2025/05/19/marcos-sr-era-aerospace-firm-shuttered-for-failure-to-design-a-plane |agency=Manila Bulletin}}
- Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander - 67 Units produced 1975-1995{{cite news|title=Marcos Sr.-era aerospace firm shuttered for failure to design a plane|url=https://mb.com.ph/2025/05/19/marcos-sr-era-aerospace-firm-shuttered-for-failure-to-design-a-plane |agency=Manila Bulletin}}
- SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 - 18 Unitsproduced 2010-2011{{cite news|title=Marcos Sr.-era aerospace firm shuttered for failure to design a plane|url=https://mb.com.ph/2025/05/19/marcos-sr-era-aerospace-firm-shuttered-for-failure-to-design-a-plane |agency=Manila Bulletin}}
- SIAI-Marchetti S.211 - 25 aircraft delivered, including one partially completed airframe for spare parts and 15 assembled locally Units produced 1989-1991 {{cite news|title=Marcos Sr.-era aerospace firm shuttered for failure to design a plane|url=https://mb.com.ph/2025/05/19/marcos-sr-era-aerospace-firm-shuttered-for-failure-to-design-a-plane |agency=Manila Bulletin}}
- Lancair ES - 6 units 2010-2012 {{cite news|title=Marcos Sr.-era aerospace firm shuttered for failure to design a plane|url=https://mb.com.ph/2025/05/19/marcos-sr-era-aerospace-firm-shuttered-for-failure-to-design-a-plane |agency=Manila Bulletin}}
- Lancair IV - 2 units 2010-2012{{cite news|title=Marcos Sr.-era aerospace firm shuttered for failure to design a plane|url=https://mb.com.ph/2025/05/19/marcos-sr-era-aerospace-firm-shuttered-for-failure-to-design-a-plane |agency=Manila Bulletin}}
=Prototypes=
- PADC Defiant 300{{cite news|title=Philippines to close aerospace agency for inactivity|url=http://gulftoday.ae/portal/c7523d74-a4dd-4edf-b3fe-ab0ecdba2008.aspx|accessdate=December 28, 2017|work=The Gulf Today|agency=Indo-Asian News Service|date=December 28, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228172628/http://gulftoday.ae/portal/c7523d74-a4dd-4edf-b3fe-ab0ecdba2008.aspx|archivedate=2017-12-28}}
- PADC Hummingbird
Presidents of PADC
- Panfilo Villaruel (1996-98){{Cite web |last=Romero |first=Paolo |title=Villaruel: Crazy? No. Patriotic, yes |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2003/11/09/227239/villaruel-crazy-no-patriotic-yes |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=Philstar.com}}
- Gilbert S. Rueras (2015-2019){{Cite web |last=Sabillo |first=Kristine Angeli |date=2015-05-13 |title=Aquino nominates new ambassador to Pakistan |url=https://globalnation.inquirer.net/122861/aquino-nominates-new-ambassador-to-pakistan |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}}
- Raymond L. Mitra{{Cite web|url=https://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/AboutDBM/2022-Philippine-Government-Directory-of-Agencies-and-Officials.pdf|title=Philippine Government Directory of Agencies and officials 2022 |website=www.dbm.gov.ph}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Department of National Defense of the Philippines}}
{{commons category|Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Government-owned and controlled corporations of the Philippines
Category:Companies based in Pasay
Category:Technology companies established in 1973
Category:Aerospace companies of the Philippines
Category:Defense companies of the Philippines