NMP Participates in the International Coastal Clean-up Day
TACLOBAN CITY – In observance of the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) Day, personnel of the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) led by Executive Director Joel B. Maglunsod, participated in a clean-up activity, dubbed as “Beachurero” on 21 September 2019 from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM, along the coastline of the NMP premises.
NMP personnel were grouped into four (4) teams and the area covered was from the coastline at the back of the NMP Training Building, lagoon area and mangrove area.
The clean-up yielded several bags of segregated garbage composed of mostly non-biodegradables made up of plastic, rubber, synthetic fiber and glass. The garbage were weighed and will be turned-over to the Department of Environment Natural Resources (DENR) Region Office VIII.
The amount of trash items collected during the clean-up totaled to 94 kilos out of the 17 trash bags filled.
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.
Likewise, NMP employees who were members of the 1101st Squadron of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) – District Eastern Visayas took part in the coastal clean-up activity in Brgy. 83-A, Burayan, San Jose, Tacloban City initiated by the PCGA.
The ICC Day was established by the Ocean Conservancy, an organization that work to help protect the ocean from the challenges it faces every year. The organization engages volunteers in collecting marine debris from the world’s waterways. During the cleanup, volunteers act as “citizen scientists,” tallying the items they find on data cards. The information is used to identify the sources of marine debris, examine trends in debris items, and increase awareness about the threats of marine debris. Cleanups may also be done along the shore, from watercraft, or underwater.
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.
Further, with the ultimate aim of preserving the marine environment through the prevention of pollution by oil and other harmful substances and the minimization of accidental discharge of such, NMP regularly offers Consolidated MARPOL 73/78 and Oily Water Separator Course.
Meanwhile, in its sound efforts to fulfill and realize its mandate, 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.nmp.gov.ph) and access the e-Research Information System Portal which is designed to disseminate NMP completed researches, present the Research Agenda and engage the industry stakeholders to collaborate in the research activities.
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 OWWA registered seafarers to avail of the NMP-OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) Seafarers’ Upgrading Program (SUP) and Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP) which entitles the beneficiary to receive financial assistance for training costs from the OWWA.