Mayor orders closure of aeronautics school

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan last week ordered the closure of an aeronautics school along Legarda Road here for lacking the required registration from the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Al Indigo Airline College was found to be operating without a TESDA registration and transgressing the course curriculum as earlier claimed by its students.

The findings surfaced during a meeting last Thursday arranged by the composite team recently created by the mayor to investigate the complaints filed by the students against the school.

During the meeting, TESDA representatives Margarita Lamsis and Nancy Dasayon affirmed that Al Indigo did not apply for a new certificate of program registration when it transferred venue from Plaza Natalia along Naguilian Road where it originally operated as Subic Achievers Aviation Inc. to its new site along Legarda Road.

The TESDA representatives also said they will not accredit the subjects taken by the students in said school for its failure to abide by the required curriculum.

Mayor Domogan asked the TESDA to submit a copy of its order for the school to cease and desist from operating along with a certificate that the school lacked the required registration to support his closure order.

He also directed permits and licensing division chiefCristioLagyop to cancel the business permit issued to the school until its complies with the TESDA requirements.

Another meeting with the Indigo owner and the TESDA was set next week to discuss how it can rectify its status and comply with the requirements.

The mayor said this is to also address the welfare of its students who are affected by the school’s problematic situation as suggested by composite team head city administrator Carlos Canilao.

The students earlier filed a complaint before the mayor alleging that the school has no registration with government agencies, no definite curriculum, is charging excessive tuition fees and is imposing unreasonable penalty for delayed payment of fees, has no outdoor activities as promised and that it is located above a bar.

The students claimed to have paid at least P50,500 to P64,000 in tuition fees.