Press Briefing in connection with the National Maritime Week Celebration 2021 attended by NMP officials and representatives of different government agencies.
Tacloban City – To start off the National Maritime Week Celebration 2021, the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) conducted a virtual Press Briefing on September 23, 2021, during the program of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) dubbed as “Panindugan sa PIA, a Virtual Kapihan with PIA and Friends” hosted by Ms. Gemma T. Tabao, PIA Leyte Manager.
The Press Briefing was attended by the station managers of PIA in Eastern Visayas, as well as the different maritime industry-related agencies such as the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Regional Office 8, PCG Coast Guard Station (CGS) Eastern Leyte, and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) PMO Eastern Leyte/Samar. Some of the attached agencies of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) who were also present are the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
ED Maglunsod opening statement
In his opening statement, NMP’s Executive Director Joel B. Maglunsod expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to present the different activities relative to the celebration of the National Maritime Week as a tribute to Filipino seafarers who serve as the frontline workforce of the maritime industry.
During the open forum, Ms. Gold Amir Tabao, Provincial Manager of PIA Samar, asked what are the assistance extended to the seafarers who are affected by the COVID19 pandemic. ED Maglunsod responded that NMP continues to perform its mandate to develop and conduct maritime training, assessment and research, in order to help the Filipino seafarers and the maritime allied workforce who need to update, upgrade and review basic trainings. NMP also offers trainings in other regions through the off-site training programs especially the Professional Development Courses (PDC). In-house training is also implemented, wherein the trainees are billeted in the dormitories inside the NMP premises. As an added safety protocol, trainees are required to submit a negative RTPCR/saliva test result.
Engr. Ponciano V. Trinidad, Head of the Maritime Training and Assessment Division (MTAD) of NMP, responded on the inquiry of Ms. Ailene Diaz, Information Manager of PIA Samar, on how the seafarers from Northern Samar can avail of the trainings. He said that since the onset of the pandemic, NMP has been utilizing the online registration and enrollment. In the meantime, the face-to-face trainings only accommodate trainees within Region 8, on a first come-first served basis. Likewise, aside from the negative Rapid Antigen or RTPCR/saliva test result valid within 72 hours prior to entry to NMP, the number of trainees has also been reduced to 50% to ensure that physical/social distancing is followed for their safety.
Ms. Elena Santos, Head of the Maritime Research Section (MRS) also shared that some of the researches undertaken by NMP in support to the maritime manpower and development, education and training, have been refocused to cope up with the challenges faced as an offshoot of the COVID19 pandemic. One of the completed researches in 2020 was the study on the “Assessment of NMP’s capability to conduct Online Training” to gauge the agency’s readiness to adopt the new training platform in adherence to the policy issued by MARINA. The result of this study will be presented in the Research Forum on September 29, 2021 as part of NMPs celebration of this year’s National Maritime Week.
The representatives of the participating agencies presented the various activities they have lined-up for the National Maritime Week Celebration in observance of the World Maritime Week, with the theme “Seafarers at the core of shipping’s future.”
For NMP, Engr. Trinidad announced the scheduled events from September 24-30, 2021, starting with a Flag dress-up on September 24, Blood-letting facilitated by the Philippine Red Cross on September 27, Tree planting on September 28, Beach clean-up, National ID Registration of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and Research forum on September 29, while the Culminating program will be done on September 30.
Meanwhile, the NMP continues to the conduct trainings via online, blended and face-to-face mode with the observance of the minimum health and safety standard protocols, and regularly conducts maritime studies to come up with policies for the improvement of the manpower sector of the industry. Those interested to take NMP training programs may visit the NMP website www.nmp.gov.ph and its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/nmptrainingcenter) where all related information on NMP trainings are available.