TACLOBAN CITY – The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), the country’s premier and sole government-owned maritime training and research center, presented the CY 2021 accomplishments and the proposed plans and programs for CY 2022 the coming year in a Media Partnership Forum held on 21 December 2021 at the NMP Conference Room, Administration Building.

In coordination with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Tacloban, various media outlets and media correspondents in the region responded to NMP’s invitation to the said event including those in print, radio and television outlets. The forum served as a venue to broadcast the agency’s achievements vis-a vis its targets for the current year and way forward activities and programs for the coming year.

NMP, through Executive Director Joel B. Maglunsod, announced that out of the targeted 6,000 trainees trained for 2021, the institution trained a total of 9,911 trainees as of 20 December 2021. The online registration system was also modified with the addition of online payment system to make it more convenient for the clients to transact and enroll in their chosen courses. Aside from the agency’s face-to-face and online trainings, NMP also offered blended mode of trainings.

To disseminate to the stakeholders its completed and ongoing research studies, NMP conducted three (3) research fora this year carrying the theme: Navigating the Future of Maritime Education and Training Through Collaboration in Maritime Research. During the recently concluded forum on December 22, 2021, two (2) of the completed researches were presented: 1) Employment Acceptability of Women in Philippine Domestic Ships; and 2) The Capacity of the Philippine Maritime Industry to Produce Officers-in-Charge per STCW Requirements: Focus on the Onboard Training (OBT) of Cadets.

These achievements were highlighted in a video presentation which also showcased this year’s completed infrastructure projects and two (2) of its ongoing projects namely, the installation of free-fall lifeboat and the construction of NMP training pool.

In a statement, Executive Director Joel B. Maglunsod expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the media partners in recognition of their vital role in helping the agency expand its reach and strengthen the visibility not only in the region but all throughout the country.

Deputy Executive Director Mayla N. Macadawan added that NMP is grateful of the assistance of the media being an arm to explore and disseminate the services of the institution and for providing the platform to update the public of the status of its programs for the seafarers and the maritime industry as a whole.

Noteworthy that aside from sustaining the collaborations with Maritime Higher Education Institutions (MHEIs) for the conduct of Professional Development Courses (PDC), NMP has likewise fulfilled its corporate social responsibility, by creating more collaborations with the Local Government Units (LGUs) to provide basic trainings to fisherfolk and operators in their community with the assistance of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The NMP management is optimistic that as the agency continues to conduct and develop new courses for the maritime workforce, these trainings will not anymore be limited to the seafarers within the region but will rather be expanded to cater more seafarers outside Eastern Visayas.

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