Company Profile
The Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) is the country’s biggest and oldest existing auto club. Founded in 1931 and formerly known as the Philippine Motor Association (PMA), AAP is a non-stock, not-for-profit organization committed to the general welfare of motorists in the Philippines.
The PMA was formed by a group of prominent motoring enthusiasts on May 25, 1931. The first set of Board of Directors of the PMA was composed of Jorge B. Vargas, the country’s first executive secretary, Carlos P. Romulo, the fourth and only Filipino president of the United Nations General Assembly, Albino Z. Sycip, the “Dean of Philippine Banking,” together with Percy Warner Tinan, James King Steele, L. C. Moore, J. Napoleon Wolfson, M. Elizalde, L. M. Hausman, Omar Schuman and Antonio Brias. Vargas, under-secretary of agriculture and natural resources at that time, was the first president of the PMA while Wolfson was the vice-president, Schuman was the secretary and Romulo was the treasurer.
The PMA became affiliated with the Alliance Internationale de Tourisme (AIT) in 1951 and after a few years, with the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). In 2004, both merged into the FIA, the world’s largest auto club federation and governing body for motor sports worldwide.
In 1953, the PMA was officially designated as the National Auto Club under the administration of President Elpidio Quirino. In 1963, it was authorized to issue the Philippine International Driving Permit (PIDP) following the policies of the 1949 UN Convention on Road Traffic of which the Philippines is one of the contracting parties.
The PMA’s first office was located in a room at the Manila Hotel. In 1927, it was relocated to one of the Legarda Hermanos buildings on R. Hidalgo St. in Quiapo, Manila. The PMA office was moved to a building owned by its late president, Juan Tuason, in Aurora Boulevard, Sta. Mesa, Manila in 1981. Two years later, the PMA acquired a property at 683 Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City, the present site of the AAP main office. The PMA changed its name to AAP on the occasion of its 70th anniversary in 2001.
Since its inception, AAP continues to live by its objectives, provide its members exclusive benefits and services, and champion the interests of Filipino motorists.
PAST PRESIDENTS
JORGE B. VARGAS
1931 - 1937 |
BENITO F. LEGARDA
1937 - 1973 |
DR. MANUEL LIM
1973 - 1981 |
JUAN E. TUASON
1981 - 1982 |
ATTY. CONRADO R. AYUYAO
1982 - 1999 |
ARCH. CARLOS D. ARGUELLES
1999 - May 2003 |
ANTONIO L. MAPA
2003 - 2005 |
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