NMP Participates in the International Coastal Clean-up Day

NMP Beachurero Program conducted on 22 September 2018

In observance of the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) Day, National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) Executive Director Romulo V. Bernardes, led the NMP officials, employees and job order workers and some members of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) in a clean-up activity, dubbed as “Beachurero” on 22 September 2018 from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM, along the coastline of the NMP premises.

Traditionally, the ICC Day is being celebrated every 3rd Sunday of September. This year, it should have been conducted on 15 September 2018, however it was postponed due to the expected arrival of Typhoon “Ompong” (Mangkut – International Name) which was forecasted to develop into a super typhoon.

Thirty (30) bags of garbage were collected composed mostly of non-biodegradables made of rubbers, plastics, glass and synthetic fibers. The area covered was from the coastline at the back of the NMP Training Building, lagoon area and mangrove area.

The Beachurero Program has become a customary practice of the Agency in the promotion of cleaner seashores and the ultimate preservation of our marine environment.

The ICC Day was established by the Ocean Conservancy. It is the world’s largest volunteer effort for the ocean’s health participated by thousands of volunteers around the globe.

The Philippines also declared every 3rd Saturday of September of each year as the International Coastal Clean-up Day through Presidential Proclamation No. 470 s. 2003, consistent with Presidential Proclamation No. 244 declaring September as National Clean-up Month and the 17th to 23rd of September of each year as the World Clean and Green Week.

Meanwhile, NMP continues to upgrade its facilities and provide maritime trainings required pursuant to the STCW Convention as amended in 2010 including value-adding courses towards improving the qualifications of Filipino seafarers for their employment acceptability and enhanced competitiveness. It also regularly conducts maritime studies to come up with policies for the improvement of the manpower sector of the industry.

Those interested in NMP research undertakings may visit the NMP website (www.nm.gov.ph) and access the e-Research Information System Portal which is designed to gather inputs for NMP’s research, dissemination of NMP completed researches and other articles pertaining to maritime research.

For more information about NMP trainings viewers may visit the agency’s facebook page (www.facebook.com/nmptrainingcenter) where all related information on NMP trainings are available.

Further, NMP encourages seafarers to avail of the NMP-OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) Seafarers’ Upgrading Program (SUP) which entitles the beneficiary to receive financial assistance for training costs from the OWWA.