TIM eMagazine Volume 2 Issue 9 | Page 12

Maritime DOLE-NMP hits 10-K mark of trained seafarers T acloban City – The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), the only maritime training and research agency in the country, trained 10,231 seafarers in 2017 to meet the continuing domestic and global demands of the industry. In his report to Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, NMP Executive Director Romulo Bernales said the trainees are either aspirants to become seafarers, active seafarers, maritime instructors and assessors and/or other allied personnel in the maritime industry. NMP is an attached agency of DOLE. Additionally, NMP’s Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) courses are now in the process for MARINA accreditation and will soon be offered in the 2nd quarter of 2018. The NMP, which also integrates in its training programs values to social transformation for both merchant marine officers and ratings, also gained a 32 percent increase in the number of trainees taking Professional Development Courses. “NMP continues to upgrade its facilities maritime training services pursuant to the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers Convention, as amended in 2010, including value-adding courses towards improving the qualifications of Filipino seafarers for their employment acceptability and enhanced competitiveness,” Bernales said. Apart from training, Bernales added, NMP also regularly conducts maritime studies to come up with policies for the improvement of the manpower sector of the industry. Individuals aspiring to engage in teaching in maritime education and training institution (METIs) and those private individuals who plan to pursue a maritime career can also enroll for training at the NMP. NMP sits on a sprawling 15-hectare complex in Barangay Cabalawan, right at the foot of the San Juanico Bridge, in Tacloban City. Its Manila Office is located at the 2nd Floor of the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) Bldg. in Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City. dole.gov.ph Those who are interested to take NMP training programs may visit the NMP website at www.nmp.gov.ph and its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/nmptrainingcenter). “NMP continues to upgrade its facilities maritime training services pursuant to the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers Convention, as amended in 2010, including value-adding courses towards improving the qualifications of Filipino seafarers for their employment acceptability and enhanced competitiveness,” Bernales said. 12