The Board of Investments (BOI), the country’s lead investment and industry promotion agency, highlighted the Philippines’ strategic location and Filipino talent in high-tech aerospace manufacturing and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production during the recent Singapore Airshow 2026.
BOI Executive Director Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa said the Philippines’ Academe-Industry Matching (AIM!) Program is positioning the country as a premier, future-ready hub for the global aviation industry.
Talent
Addressing the global challenge of skilled worker shortages, the BOI is implementing the AIM! Program to help address skills mismatch and bridge the gap between education and industry needs. “For the aerospace industry, we have organized an AS9100 certification training series in collaboration with the Metals Industry Research and Development Council,” said Halili-Dichosa.
Currently, the BOI, in coordination with industry partners, is conducting awareness campaigns to junior and senior high school students on the different priority industries of the government. Activities include campus roadshows and company immersion with partners in several industries.
“We are likewise considering including the emerging SAF industry in the AIM! Program priorities. Mission findings highlight a critical need for specialized talent, including chemists for advanced feedstock analytics, engineers for refinery operations, and wastewater management experts to handle complex pre-treatment residues. AIM! helps ensure that these specific competencies are built into our local academic roadmap,” she added.
The AIM! Program is a strategic BOI initiative implemented through a multi-sectoral partnership involving the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), the Metals Industry Research and Development Council (MIRDC), development partners and industry associations.
By institutionalizing these academe-industry collaborations, the BOI ensures that the Philippines is not only ready for the future of flight but is also equipped to dominate the global market with a globally-competitive, innovative and sustainability-driven economy.
Location
In addition, Halili-Dichosa emphasized that the Philippines has established itself as a competitive location for aerospace manufacturing and services citing strong capabilities in parts production and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO).
“The Philippines hosts Tier 1 and 2 aerospace parts makers supplying critical components, such as flight control actuation systems and aircraft interiors including galleys, inserts, oxygen systems and seats to global giants like Boeing and Airbus. Further, the country’s MRO sector offers a wide range of services including base and line maintenance, fleet management, engine services, and cabin reconfiguration,” she said.
Building on the nation’s expertise in semiconductors and electronics, the government is also eyeing the production of in-flight entertainment systems.
“This would be a strategic addition to the world-class aircraft seat manufacturing currently being done in Batangas,” Executive Director Dichosa added.
With over 140 nations targeting Net Zero by 2050, the BOI is positioning the Philippines as a production powerhouse for SAF to supply the Asia Pacific region. The country boasts of over 15 million metric tons of biomass, which is sourced from rice, corn, coconut, and cassava, with its abundant feedstock available in various regions such as in Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Davao.
