NMP celebrates 37th Founding Anniversary

Press Release
May 21, 2015

TACLOBAN CITY – The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), a government maritime training and research agency located at Brgy. Cabalawan, this City, celebrated its 37th Founding Anniversary on May 8, 2015 at the NMP Training Complex with the theme “NMP at 37: Patuloy na Kaagapay ng Marinong Pilipino sa Paglalayag sa Buong Mundo.”

The highlight of this year’s celebration was on the inauguration of the newly-renovated Assessment Center. The ceremony was attended by DOLE Regional Coordinating Council Members led by its Chair, DOLE Regional Director Elias Cayanong. Other notable guests present were Executive Labor Arbiter Amelia B. Docena of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), Director Norma C. del Rosario and Evangeline Filamor of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) RO VIII, Board Secretary Florencio C. Aguilos, Jr of the Regional Tripartite Wages Productivity Board (RTWPB), Acting Station Commander CPO Alexander P. Rabuyo of the Philippine Coast Guard - Tacloban Station, Commo. Fernando Bautista of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, Police Chief Inspector Calixto C. Canillas, Jr. of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group Regional Maritime Unit 8, Director Alicia E. Nicart of the Philippine Information Agency RO VIII and Mildred Camino and Marivic Ramos from the Maritime Industry Authority RO VIII.

The inaugurated assessment center was originally School Bldg. No. 2 which was one of the first classroom buildings erected when NMP bought the 16-hectare lot in Brgy. Cabalawan, this City, in 1980 where the present training complex is situated. The plan to convert it into an assessment center pursuant to the required standards in the conduct of competency assessment came underway in 2010.

The renovation began in 2012 using the capital outlay regular fund of the Agency worth 9 million. The project was supposedly to have been completed in the last quarter of 2013 but was stopped due to the devastation of super-typhoon Yolanda.

NMP also recognized employees who have been with the agency for 15, 20, 25, and 30 years. Awardees include Nenita M. Morales and Ma. Jasmine J. Andrade for 15 years; Engr. Claro C. Coscos, Ma. Dessa Joy B. Bautista, Gina M. Alegro, and Leopoldo G. Abelinde for 20 years; Rosario A. Vinculado, Emilie R. Sudario, Rogelio R. Raagas, Abraham E. Pingol, Lydia S. Pacheco, Maria Sandra M. Gallardo, Ma. Nissa C. Espiritu, and Salvacion C. Caňete for 25 years; and Lilibeth N. Go for 30 years. There were a total of fifteen loyalty awardees who received a plaque of recognition and monetary incentive.

The celebration started with a Thanksgiving Mass that was followed by cutting of the ribbon, unveiling of marker and blessing of the assessment center and the conferment of the loyalty awards. It was capped by the NMP-Media Partnership Forum moderated by PIA-8 Regional Director Alicia E. Nicart. The forum paved way for the dissemination of the status of NMP’s accreditation of its training courses under MARINA STCW Office. NMP Executive Director Manuel C. Roldan together with DOLE Regional Director Cayanong also substantiated the contributions of the Filipino seafarers in the local maritime industry.

NMP also held another activity, the sports competition, as part of the founding anniversary. Employees grouped in teams competed for basketball and volleyball tournaments which started earlier in April 2015. The awarding took place on May 11, 2015 for the winning teams.

It can be recalled that NMP was created on May 1, 1978 with the signing of its Charter, Presidential Decree No. 1369, by then Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos as the country’s response to the challenges posed upon by the Filipino seafarers in relation to the requirements under the 1978 International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) International Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for seafarers. NMP began by offering the Basic Messman Course.

Today, it has a total of 32 training courses categorized into STCW Courses, Environmental Protection and Maritime Allied Courses, Professional Development Courses, and Faculty Development Courses. Some of these courses have been submitted to MARINA STCW Office for accreditation.