@ratseal
The US FAA rates Philippine carriers as Cat 2 because of noncompliance with minimum safety standards - is this because the Philippine regulators (which interact with the FAA) can't verify the existing records of the airlines which would otherwise indicate their compliance, OR is it because the carriers, in this case PAL, are actually noncompliant?
The exodus of aircrew discussed in this thread suggests the latter - but I am new to the industry - any ideas from the graybeards out there?
You've been misinformed. The FAA IASA audit looks at the ability of the CAAP whether they are capable and competent to regulate civil aviation industry in the Philippines, sadly many of them at CAAP dont know what their doing. PAL was not the reason behind the Cat 2 it was the Philippine Government who is to blame.