TACLOBAN CITY – To provide and sustain the supply of water in the sixteen (16) buildings of the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) including its dormitories, the agency procured a brand new 6-Wheeler, 10 Tons Water Tanker which was delivered on 03 March 2021 by its supplier, BM Domingo Motor Sales (Isuzu Bulacan).

Considering that NMP is located at the outskirt of the city, near the foot of the famous San Juanico Bridge, it does not have a water line from the local water district up to the present making this a challenge to the management, specifically that water is a necessity and is essential to the operations and services of the agency.
To address this water scarcity, initially, NMP put up a deep well located at a strategic part inside its 17 hectares vicinity but the said water source produces salty water due to the fact that NMP is near the shore boundary of the city. The said deep well also dries up during summer and/or when temperature heightens.

At present, and as a continuous course of action of the management, NMP maintains a contract with an external private water supplier which delivers potable and non-potable water as needed. Nonetheless, this action entails additional funding vis-à-vis its usual budget allocation.

It can be recalled that in 2020, NMP included in its budget proposal the procurement of a water tanker as a replacement of its unserviceable water tanker acquired in 2010, but was totally destroyed with the occurrence of the Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

The brand-new water tanker was turned-over by the supplier on 03 March 2021 and was officially accepted by NMP officials headed by Executive Director Joel B. Maglunsod.

The unit is now being utilized by the Agency in fetching water from the local private supplier which expedited the water transport and proved to reduce cost in water expenses. On top of that, having the water tanker can provide continuous control on the part of NMP as it can fetch water in preference to its schedule.

Moreover, this will facilitate the need of the office and its operations specifically providing water to its two (2) dormitories with a total of one hundred ninety-one (191) room capacity which will cater to its trainees who are required to stay at the dormitories during the entire duration of their training in accordance with NMP’s implementation of health and safety protocol as approved by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and in compliance with the existing LGU protocols.

For more information, interested enrollees may visit the NMP website (www.nmp.gov.ph) or the agency’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/nmptrainingcenter) where all updates and relevant information on NMP programs are available. Likewise, for information on NMP research undertakings please visit the NMP website and access the e-Research Information System Portal (www.research.nmp.gov.ph) which is designed to disseminate NMP completed researches, present the Research Agenda, and engage the industry stakeholders to collaborate in the research activities.