Tacloban City – As the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) marks its 44th Founding Anniversary, a series of activities were lined-up to celebrate this milestone anchored on the theme: “NMP @44: Navigating Through Current Challenges, Embracing Transformations in Maritime Training and Research and Fostering Resiliency and Excellence in Filipino Seafarers.”

This year’s anniversary theme exemplifies the vigor and resilience that NMP obtained through the years in order to sustain and further improve the delivery of its mandates, most especially in bringing about positive transformations in the maritime industry through the persistent conduct of up-to-date trainings and relevant researches. Each breakthrough that the agency achieved can be attributed to the concerted efforts of all its employees, along with the support of its partner agencies, including the Maritime Higher Education Institutions (MHEIs) and other maritime training institutions.

The strong alliances that the NMP established with industry stakeholders, both local and abroad, strengthened the agency’s capability of providing quality service and honing competent and highly-skilled Filipino seafarers.

As a kick-off of the 44th Anniversary, NMP launched the “Ano Ang Kwentong NMP Mo?” contest through its Facebook account where employees, trainees, and alumni shared their most memorable moments and experiences in NMP. The entries with the most number of reactions and captivated the judges’ interest were declared winners during the unveiling of the 100 days countdown marker last 21 January 2022.

Being a gender and development advocate, NMP ensures that the agenda of women and gender equality are integrated in its programs and activities. Thus, one of the planned events for the founding anniversary included the Elementary First Aid (EFA) Training to female employees, both regular and Job Order Workers, in time with the celebration of the National Women’s Month in March. Along with this, the “Serbisyo Para Kay Juana,” Program was implemented where it offered free training and dormitory fee for female trainees on the said month. This program will likewise be offered in June and September during the Seafarers’ Day and the National Maritime Week celebration, respectively.

Moreover, the members of NMP’s Board of Trustees (BOT) met face-to-face for the first time after the pandemic, during their 1st Regular meeting for CY 2022, at the DOLE Central Office, Intramuros, Manila on 21 April 2022. NMP’s CY 2021 accomplishments were presented as well as the way forward activities to set the agency’s direction for the year.

Also part of the activities for NMP’s 44th anniversary celebration in May, included the Clean-up drive/Pintakasi last 22 April 2022, participated by all employees and trainers. The agency will also be holding a Filipino Food Fair on 26 April 2022, in observance of the Filipino Food Month or Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino, where various Filipino dishes and native delicacies or products will be showcased to promote the vast culinary tradition of Filipinos, and support the local industries, farmers and agri-communities.

An Employees’ Relations Program (ERP) will also be part of the celebration of NMP’s founding anniversary which will be conduct on May 5-6, 2022. Employees who have rendered continuous service to the agency for 10 and every 5 years thereafter will be recognized during the program.

Going far and beyond its mandate, NMP also gives utmost importance on the promotion of basic safety of life at sea as part of the agency’s corporate social responsibility. With this, NMP has been relentless in conducting Free Basic Safety Training for Motorboat Handlers/Operators and Fishermen (BSTMHOF) with Typhoon Preparedness in various communities.

As early as January, the training team conducted the BSTMHOF in Hernani, Eastern Samar with 53 participants composed of fishermen, motorboat handlers/operators, and members of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) of the City/Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO). The same training was also extended in Mindanao, wherein three (3) trainings were facilitated last February 16-18, 2022 in Davao region, particularly in Lupon, Davao Oriental, Daliao, Davao City and in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur with a total of 169 participants. It was also conducted in Guiuan, Eastern Samar with 44 training participants last March 4, 2022. NMP’s services for the said training were also engaged by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – City Environment & Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Inopacan, Leyte last April 6, 2022 with 33 participants.

This manifests the strong tie-ups established with the Local Government Units (LGUs), with the support of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and its partner-agencies such as the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

For more information about NMP trainings, interested stakeholders may visit the NMP website at www.nmp.gov.ph/ or https://register.nmp.gov.ph/ to register online, while NMP’s ongoing and completed researches may be accessed through the e-Research Portal at https://research.nmp.gov.ph/.