NMP Celebrates 41st Founding Anniversary

Tacloban City – The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), the only government-owned maritime training and research center in the country celebrated its 41st Founding Anniversary on 03 May 2019 at the NMP Training Complex with the theme “NMP @ 41: Enhancing Accessibility and Ensuring Global Relevancy Through Digital Transformation in Maritime Training and Research”.

The celebration started at 5:30AM wherein NMP employees enjoyed in an early morning Fun Walk at the famous San Juanico Bridge. A Thanksgiving Mass was also celebrated at 9:30 AM at the front of the NMP Training Building that was followed by the inauguration of the newly repaired / rehabilitated NMP Auxiliary Building. The ceremony was graced by DOLE Undersecretary Renato L. Ebarle and DOLE Regional Coordinating Council Members led by its Chair, DOLE Regional Director Yahya A. Centi.

In the afternoon, NMP personnel were in full vigor as they compete in a fun and joyful atmosphere during the series of Gender and Development (GAD) Funshops which included some Filipino traditional games such as sack race, kadang-kadang race, fill the pail, egg journey, drink me challenge and secure the paper. These were fun ways of understanding and accepting gender differences. The most popular game “The Amazing Race” served as the final game which build group cohesion, encouraged team work and cooperation.

The highlight of this year’s celebration was the NMP Anniversary Program and Loyalty Awards Night where NMP officials and staff were dressed in their best Pirate inspired outfits.

In his welcome message, NMP Executive Director, Joel B. Maglunsod highlighted the significance of the celebration.

“Sa gabing ito ipinagbibigay pugay natin ang pagkatatag ng National Maritime Polytechnic at muli nating binabalikan ang mga alaala na sama sama nating pinagdaanan sa mga lumipas na panahon. Bagama’t sinusubok tayu ng panahon at pagkakataon, muli ay ating matagumpay na nalalagpasan ang mga alon ng paghamon. Isa itong patunay ng matatag at nagkakaisang mithiin patungo sa iisang layunin. Ngayon, humaharap tayo sa makabagong panahon at mabilis na pag usbong ng teknolohiya, nararapat lamang na sama sama nating harapin ang paghamon ng makabagong panahon at patuloy nating tugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga marino at ng maritime industry”, he said.

He also expressed his gratitude to the NMP Loyalty Awardees, “Ngayong gabi ding ito ay binibigyan natin ng pagpupugay ang mga empleyadong naglaan ng kanilang talino at kakayahan upang magbigay serbisyu at umambag sa pagkamit ng layunin ng NMP. Taos puso akong nagpapasalamat sa inyu at nawa’y magsilbi kayung modelo sa lahat ng empleyado ng ahensyang ito” , he added.

Only good words and appreciation were uttered by Undersecretary for Employment, Migrant Workers Welfare, Financial and Administrative Services Cluster, Renato L. Ebarle during his inspirational message.

“Through the years, NMP has left an imprint of professional excellence in terms of enhancing the global competitiveness of Filipino seafarers, a vital role which, I am sure, NMP shall continue to fulfill long after all of us are gone”, said Usec. Ebarle.

USec. Ebarle also commended NMP’s organizational resilience in midst of stormy seas.

“Rising above the hurdles, NMP continued to improve its core services of conducting training programs to enhance the qualifications of the country’s maritime professionals and provide relevant researches as input to seafarer labor and employment policy” he disclosed.

Likewise, USec. Ebarle challenged NMP to continue to implement strategies and programs towards enhancing the quality of the country’s maritime training programs to ensure that Philippines is not only the major provider of seafarers, but a seafarer workforce who are “choice seafarers” and are globally competent and qualified.

NMP also recognized employees who have been in the service for 20, 30, and 35 years of continued satisfactory performance. Awardees include Ms. Juvy Ann H. Lemosnero for 20 years; Engr. Gonzalo A Manadong and Mr. Abraham E. Pingol for 30 years; and Ms. Eufemia M. Balangbang and Ms. Evelyn T. Futol for 35 years. Each awardees received a plaque of recognition and monetary incentive.

“I never thought that I will be spending my 35 years in this institution which we all dearly love. Sabi nila loyalty awards is just counting the number of years in the same institution but for me, 35 years of going to the same office, working on the same mandate with different priorities and projects, working with different kinds of people, facing challenging situations made me realize that I am blessed and life with NMP is worth celebrating. The more I serve and dedicate my life in the government service, in NMP in particular, the more I find reasons to stay and love the NMP and the government service in general”, Ms. Balangbag shared in her response.

Also, five (5) Job Order Workers (JOWs) were given with tokens and awarded with Certificate of Appreciation for rendering satisfactory service with NMP for more than 15 years. Special awardees include Messrs.Pio B. Carabuena, Mardonio M. Timbobolan, Amador T. Veloso, Roberto V. Tiozon, and Ramil E. Ibarra.

Awarding of winners relative to the recently concluded NMP Sportsfest 2019 and various games also took place.

All NMP personnel went home with big smiles as they all won in the raffle draw conducted during the night.

It can be recalled that NMP was created on 01 May 1978 with the signing of Presidential Decree No. 1369 by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos as the country’s response to the challenges posed to Filipino seafarers in relation to the requirements of 1978 International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) International Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW). NMP began by offering the Basic Messman Course.

Today, NMP course offerings totaled to thirty-four (34) consisting of twenty-two (22) STCW courses, three (3) Professional Development Courses, and nine (9) value-added courses.

Meanwhile, NMP continues to upgrade its facilities and provide maritime trainings required pursuant to the STCW Convention as amended in 2010 including value-adding courses towards improving the qualifications of Filipino seafarers for their employment acceptability and enhanced competitiveness. It also regularly conducts maritime studies to come up with policies for the improvement of the manpower sector of the industry.

Those interested in NMP research undertakings may visit the NMP website (www.nmp.gov.ph) and access the e-Research Information System Portal which is designed to disseminate NMP completed researches, present the Research Agenda and engage the industry stakeholders to collaborate in the research activities.

For more information about NMP trainings viewers may visit the agency’s facebook page (www.facebook.com/nmptrainingcenter) where all related information on NMP trainings are available.

Further, NMP encourages seafarers to avail of the NMP-OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) Seafarers’ Upgrading Program (SUP) which entitles the beneficiary to receive financial assistance for training costs from the OWWA.