NMP Receives Lot Donation from ARENA XI

A regional government center will soon rise at Bago Oshiro which will house 55 government offices. A solution to decongest the city and have a seamless transaction all in one place. Source: PTV

TACLOBAN CITY – The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), the sole government maritime training and research center in the Philippines received a 5,000 square meter lot from the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies in Region (ARENA) XI.

In a letter dated 12 February 2021 from the Regional Director of Department of Science and Technology (DOST) XI and concurrent President of ARENA XI, RD Anthony C. Sales, CESO III, NMP was identified as one of the grantees among the national government agencies to establish an office in the proposed Davao Regional Government Center in Brgy. Bago Oshiro, Davao City.

It was also mentioned in the letter that the request of ARENA XI for the issuance of Presidential Proclamation for the establishment of the said Regional Government Center is now with the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for General Administration of the Office of the President, for review.

The said good news was announced by NMP Executive Director Joel B. Maglunsod to all employees and personnel during the flag raising ceremony held on 23 February 2021.

“This piece of land will be of great help in bringing the services of NMP closer to the public. This was NMP’s plan since 2018, to be visible in all major areas in the country and be able to respond and reach out to the needs of Filipino seafarers for both international and local fleets by providing quality trainings to them” said ED Maglunsod.

“We are truly grateful to the ARENA XI for the land donation. This will benefit our seafarers and maritime cadets and allied personnel as quality trainings and researches are now within their reach”, he added.
It can be recalled that NMP Deputy Executive Director, Ms. Mayla N. Macadawan being the designated Chairperson of the NMP Mindanao Expansion Project had a consultation meeting with the Office of the Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte in CY 2018 who suggested to NMP to submit its request to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XI for further endorsement to ARENA XI.

“I am thankful that our noble and lofty vision in CY 2018 is now transforming into reality. The fulfillment of this expansion project will go a long way in the development of the Philippine maritime manpower and in the same footing maintain the country’s position as the top provider of seafarers in the world shipping fleets and sustaining the employment of thousands of Filipino seafarers in ocean-going vessels” DED Macadawan disclosed.

In the interim, NMP is working on the documents relative to the development of the assigned lot consistent with its legal mandates. NMP is likewise scheduled to have a meeting with the
President of ARENA XI, RD Anthony C. Sales in March 2021 to discuss further the details of the utilization of the lot.

The soon-to-rise NMP Mindanao training and research center will be an addition to the 5 MARINA accredited Maritime Training Institutions (MTIs) in Davao and will cater to approximately 11,637 deployed Filipino seafarers from Region XI. (Sourced from the Preliminary data provided by POEA as of Aug. 2020)
Meanwhile, NMP continues to conduct face-to-face trainings to those residents of Region VIII with strict implementation of the Maritime Industry Authority’s (MARINA) approved Post-Enhanced Community Quarantine Operational Plan and other health and safety protocols as required by the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and local government unit (LGU) of Tacloban.

Those interested to take NMP training programs may visit the NMP website (www.nmp.gov.ph) and its facebook page (www.facebook.com/nmptrainingcenter) where all related information on NMP trainings including its online classes are available.

Likewise, NMP research undertakings can be accessed through the e-Research Information System Portal embedded in the NMP’s website which is designed to disseminate NMP completed researches, present the Research Agenda, and engage the industry stakeholders to collaborate in the research activities.

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.