THE Joint Manning Group has officially endorsed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the proposed reconstitution of the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) as an attached agency of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
In a letter of support addressed to the president last Friday, Oct. 23, the group emphasized NMP’s vital role in providing specialized training, education, and research programs, that contribute to the professional development, competency, and welfare of Filipino seafarers.
“As the country continues to strengthen its position as a leading supplier of maritime professionals to the global shipping industry, it is imperative to ensure that NMP remains responsive to the evolving needs of the maritime sector and aligned with the government’s policies and priorities concerning migrant workers and seafarers,” the letter stated.
It furthered that reconstituting NMP as an attached agency of DMW will harmonize maritime training and development initiatives with the protection, welfare, and career development efforts of DMW for Filipino seafarers.
JMG also said that such partnership can expand seafarers’ access to quality government-led maritime training, skills development, research, and other capacity-building programs.
The endorsement comes at a time when the maritime industry struggles with training gaps for cadets and seafarers amid the advent of dual-fueled ships and digitalization — innovations that both require the upskilling of seafarers.
“Closer institutional coordination between NMP and DMW can support implementation of policies that advance the welfare, protection, and competitiveness of Filipino seafarers in the international maritime labor market,” it added.
JMG is an umbrella organization of independent, well-established and long standing maritime and manning association sin the country. This includes the Filipino Association of Mariners’ Employment (FAME), Philippine-Japan Manning Consultative Council (PJMCC), Philippine Association of Manning Agencies and Shipmanagers Inc. (Pamas), International Maritime Association of the Philippines (Intermap), and Filipino Shipowners Association (FSA).
JMG is led by Marlon Roño, chairman and president of PJMCC; Josephine Francisco, president of Fame; Pedro Miguel Oca, president of Pamas; Dario Alampay, president of FSA; and Capt. Juanito Salvatierra Jr., president of Intermap.