NMP Key Officials with the Resource Persons during the NMP Re-Direction Setting Workshop on 13-14 June 2018 From left to right (Ms. Grace Marie T. Ayaso – NMP; Capt. Emmanuel Jesus M. Laguitan- NMP; Capt. Rodolfo Aspillaga- MMAP; Atty. Ruben Y. Maceda – NMP; CE Alfredo Haboc – PAMTCI; Engr. Ephrem S. Dela Cerna, Jr. – Seaversity; Mr. Michael John R. Esplago – iMaritime Research Center; Dir. Romulo V. Bernardes – NMP; and Mr. Sergio O. Ramos, III – Seaversity)
The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) on its milestone year, with the theme – NMP @ 40: Geared up towards greater relevance in pursuing global competitiveness of the Filipino seafarers, crafted the NMP Strategic Plan 2018-2020. The plan pursues a vision for NMP as “The Philippines’ leader in maritime training including e-learning and research” with the mission statement “To develop and conduct maritime training, assessment and research to Filipino seafarers and the maritime allied workforce, which measure up to international standards and respond to the needs of the maritime industry, delivered through modern technology and by competent personnel imbued with integrity and commitment”.
The NMP Strategic Plan was developed aligned with President Duterte’s 10-Point Agenda, in particular, accelerating human capital development, through the enhancement of the employability and competitiveness of the country’s maritime professionals. It is also attuned to the existing and emerging requirements of the international and domestic maritime industry.
NMP has time and again been plagued with propositions to be merged with or to be under other departments and offices outside of its mother agency, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). It can be recalled that the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has articulated in several venues its desire to annex or transfer NMP to them.
In support to maintaining the status quo on NMP’s placement under the DOLE and to strengthen NMP’s relevance, DOLE Undersecretary Jacinto V. Paras during the 2018 First Quarter Cluster Performance Assessment of the Human Capital Development, Legislative and Media Affairs and Administrative Services Cluster conducted on 24 April 2018 in Tacloban City, issued the directive to NMP as a way forward to conduct workshops for an organizational re-direction setting.
The organizational re-direction setting workshop was held on 13-14 June 2018 at the NMP Training Complex, Tacloban City, aimed to flesh out the strategic directions in the NMP Strategic Plan by identifying the specific training courses and research activities to be undertaken by NMP for the period 2019-2021 in pursuit of the NMP Vision and Mission and incorporate the directives of the DOLE. It was participated in by the agency’s key officials and employees.
Three (3) industry stakeholders were invited who provided inputs on the current and future competency requirements of seafarer-officers beyond the Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) and researchable topics that can contribute to evidence-based decision-making, policy formulation and program development in the maritime manpower sector.
Further, in line with the NMP vision and mission to integrate the use of modern technology in its core services, another resource person from the industry provided information on the importance of web applications in the delivery of services as well as its relevance when applied to MET.
The workshop results identified the priority training courses for development and offering, the short-listed courses for e-learning, and the research agenda for the period 2019-2021.
Meanwhile, NMP continues to upgrade its facilities and provide maritime trainings required pursuant to the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention as amended in 2010 including value-adding courses towards improving the qualifications of Filipino seafarers for their employment acceptability and enhanced competitiveness.
Those interested to take NMP training programs may visit the NMP website (www.nm.gov.ph) and its facebook page (www.facebook.com/nmptrainingcenter) where all related information on NMP trainings are available.
Approved for Release :
FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR III
ROMULO V. BERNARDES, D.M., CESO V:
(Sgd.)MAYLA N. MACADAWAN
Agency Officer-In-Charge /
Deputy Executive Director III