TIM eMagazine Vol. 1 Issue 8 | Page 12

Maritime

final drawings and operation and maintenance manuals from Mr . Akira Kinoshita , General Manager of Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding ( MES ) to NMP Director Roldan . The final acceptance certificate was signed by Mr . Kinoshita , Capt . Sekine , DOLE Undersecretary Nicon F . Fameronag and Director Roldan .
Ms . Yuki Kawada , Project Formulation Advisor of JICA expressed that the JICA is pleased with the opportunity to extend their assistance . “ We commend the NMP for the initiative and importance in bringing back the facilities in its original state after facing difficulty resulting from the crisis and we thank all that made this project truly a successful one .”
She stressed that the JICA advocates the uplifting of social and economic conditions of partner countries like the Philippines through technology transfer and human resources development . “ We honestly believe that updating the knowledge is necessary in meeting the increasing global demands and challenges . We shall look forward to your continued support and cooperation
responsibility to properly maintain the donated equipment so that more generation of seafarers will benefit from it .
NMP OIC Deputy Executive Director Jeffrey D . Cortazar in his closing message mentioned the long story of friendship between the two countries and the kindness and generosity of the Japanese government . The NMP has been a beneficiary of the Japan ’ s assistance since 1984 through a technical cooperation program . He informed that the cooperation had gone a long way for the NMP in training more than 320,000 seafarers . Likewise , he revealed that an association of Japanese shipowners was happy to see the Japanese standards of training facilities and will be sending trainees to take up faculty development courses at NMP .
The hand-over ceremony was witnessed by Mr . Tadashi Okano and Prof . Kenji Ikenishi , JMS Consultant Group ; Mr . Kunihiko Murai and Mr . Junji Shirai , Project Engineers , MES , Mr Masayoshi Ueda , Mr . Hisao Uenishi and Mr . Katsuhide Akeno , Project Engineers from Terasaki
JICA-donated equipment and facilities ( Tanker-type Totally-enclosed Lifeboat and Davit , Fast Rescue Boat and Davit , Terasaki Engine Room Simulator , Furuno GMDSS Simulator , other Safety Equipment ) through proper upgrading and maintaining of these equipment in order that you may continuously deliver your task of lifting the seafarers towards the globally acceptable standards .” Ms . Kawada added .
USec . Fameronag read the acceptance message of the DOLE Secretary Silvestre H . Bello , III . He accepted the donation in behalf of the DOLE , the NMP and the Filipino seafarers and expressed his sincerest appreciation to the Government of Japan . “ I would like to commend the very quick response that JICA has made in assisting the NMP . Indeed , your generosity and commitment to help our country is truly invaluable ”, says part of the message of Sec . Bello , as read by the Undersecretary .
USec . Fameronag added his observations on the transformation the NMP has made two ( 2 ) years after the typhoon struck . He also emphasized the NMP ’ s
Electric Co ., Ltd ., Also in attendance were officials and representatives from the DOLE-Regional Coordinating Council 8 , the Commission on Higher Education , Maritime Industry Authority , other NMP officials and employees and media personnel .
The NMP is the only government-operated maritime training and research agency in the country . It continues to upgrade its facilities to provide quality maritime trainings that conform to the requirements of the Standards of Training , Certification , and Watchkeeping for Seafarers ( STCW ) Convention as amended in 2010 .
The NMP also encourages those interested to avail of its maritime training programs to visit www . nmp . gov . ph and the NMP facebook page ( facebook . com \ nmptrainingcenter ) where all related information on NMP trainings are available .

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