(Upper Photo) NMP women employees participate in the “Women’s Walk” during the International Women’s Day (Lower Photos) NMP women employees pampered with free haircut, massage and manicure/pedicure.

 

TACLOBAN CITY – The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), a premier government-owned maritime training and research institution in the country located at Brgy. Cabalawan, Tacloban City, organized a month-long activities for its employees and trainees in observance of the National Women’s Month Celebration (NWMC) CY 2018 with the theme “We Make Change Work for Women”.

NMP put-up an NWMC Display Booth at the Administration Building lobby where it exhibits “Today in HERSTORY” honoring the historical contributions of Filipino women of every class, religion and ethnic background to the growth and strength of the nation. It likewise portrayed “Juana Says”, a collection of inspirational quotes from empowered and successful Filipino women from different fields or profession.

On 08 March 2018, in celebration of the International Women’s Day, some NMP women employees joined the Women’s Walk which started from the Magsaysay Boulevard (Kanhuraw Side) to the Tacloban City Convention Center. Said undertaking was organized by the City Population Office through its Office of the City GAD Focal Point. The event was likewise participated in by women from different government agencies as well as private institutions and organizations in region 8.

As a way of giving recognition and appreciation to women employees, trainees and clients, NMP offered “Serbisyo Para Kay Juana”, wherein they were pampered with free massage, manicure, pedicure and haircut.  Said activity was made possible in coordination with the Office of the City Mayor and Cristina’s Learn and Earn Program (CLEP).

Other NMP activities include playing of the All-Women Cast Lupang Hinirang Video during flag raising ceremonies; conduct of zumba, taebo fitness sessions and other sports activities every Fridays, showing of films that showcase and celebrate women’s empowerment, gender equality, or issues confronting women in the marginalized and vulnerable sectors every Fridays; and uploading of the official logo and other NWMC advocacy materials in the NMP website and facebook account.

Aforementioned activities were spearheaded by the NMP Gender and Development (GAD) Committee to give recognition to the significant contributions of women to nation-building and development and to promote the general well-being and health of NMP personnel for individual productivity and institutional solidarity.

The NMWC is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 224 and 227 s. 1988, and Republic Act. No. 6949 s. 1990 which provide for the yearly observance of the month of March as National Women’s Month and March 8 as National Women’s Day.  Also, said celebration is part of the lined-up activities for the NMP’s 40^th Founding Anniversary under the GAD programs of the Agency.

Moreover, with sustained commitment and hope for gender equality and along with the need to address gender related problems and issues in the maritime sector, specifically the low level of awareness on GAD concepts among seafarers caused by lack of interventions for seafarers as a specialized workforce group, the NMP came up with a training course on the Gender Sensitivity Training for Seafarers (GSTS).  This is a non-STCW training course developed by NMP for its clients, the Filipino seafarers.  The course was designed to increase the level of awareness and appreciation on GAD concepts as well as to encourage advocacy among Filipino seafarers, specifically NMP trainees, on the promotion of gender equality directed towards developing a gender sensitive maritime sector.  GSTS is being conducted by NMP for FREE and for the month of March 2018, a total of twenty-nine (29) trainees took the said training.

In CY 2016, NMP conducted a research entitled “NMP Gender Sensitivity Training for Seafarers (GSTS) Course: A Program Evaluation”.  Said research serves an assessment of the program which is pursuant to the guidelines of the government encouraging agencies to assess the gender-responsiveness of its major programs and projects.

Aforementioned completed research will be presented during the Stakeholders’ Forum on NMP Completed Research slated on 22 March 2018.