House Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Macapagal-Arroyo
House Senior Deputy Speaker and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is eyeing the upgrade of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) in San Narciso, Zambales. Arroyo, the Pampanga 2nd district representative, announced this at the PMMA herself when she visited the 200-year-old institution last Friday, April 21. She bared that the House of Representatives is now looking at turning the PMMA into the Philippine National Marine Academy (PNMA). She said this proposed conversion will place the would-be PNMA on the same level as the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA)--both premiere learning institutions for aspiring uniformed personnel. Arroyo said she would try to convince her House colleagues to support the proposal. At least one measure in lower chamber has been filed for this purpose, specifically, House Bill (HB) No.6503 by Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez. Arroyo went to PMMA last Friday to unveil the life-sized statue of her father, the late former president Diosdado Macapagal. PMMA celebrated its 200th year in 2020.