TACLOBAN CITY– The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) has successfully maintained its ISO 9001:2015 Certification after passing the 2nd Surveillance Audit conducted by SOCOTEC Certification International Philippines, at its main office in Tacloban City on 27-28 March 2023 and Manila Office on 13 April 2023.

The audit team, composed of Mr. Jose Emmanuel Thomas Diel and Capt. Nicanor Altares, reviewed NMP’s quality procedures, manuals, and other systems documentation against the requirements set by the ISO 9001:2015 standard. Using the 3P Methodology (People, Paper, and Physical Environment), the team evaluated NMP’s compliance with the Quality Management System (QMS) through interviews with process owners and internal auditors, review of documented information, and inspection of facilities and equipment.

During the audit, the SOCOTEC team lauded NMP for its exceptional performance in various aspects. The updated inventory of property, plant, equipment, and supplies, which had zero discrepancies, was particularly noteworthy. The auditors also commended NMP for its excellent monitoring, and preventive maintenance of its training equipment, as well as for its compliance with the standards set by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). In addition, the Agency received praise for exceeding its targets in most areas, with plans to further improve collaboration with international stakeholders such as the International Labor Organization (ILO), Antwerp Maritime Academy of the Kingdom of Belgium and International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) – Philippines.

The audit report, received by NMP on 09 May 2023, revealed no non-conformances. However, some observations were raised, which the Agency may look into as opportunities for continual improvement. With the said findings, the NMP QMS was recommended for continued certification.

As an Agency that commits to continuous enhancement of seafarers, maintaining ISO Certification of its QMS confirms the Agency’s relevance in carrying out its mandate of upgrading the qualifications of Filipino seafarers and providing maritime industry researches.