TACLOBAN CITY – The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) based here, will remain under the Department of Labor and Employment(DOLE)instead being attached to the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy(PMMA)-Visayas Extension Campus.
This after Cagayan de Oro Rep.Rufus Rodriguez withdrew his authored House Bill No. 6367 which calls for the conversion of the NMP as extension school of PMMA.
“After they have given the position paper, I see the light that the PMMA should not anymore convert NMP to be part of them. I see their vision of being able to also open other satellite schools that they will manage. So I am now withdrawing practically my bill because in due deference and in respect to NMP who has given their position paper objecting to my bill. So, I therefore reiterate my motion to table this, meaning that it will not be discussed anymore, it’s a dead bill”, Rep. Rodriguez disclosed on August 7.
NMP Executive Director Joel Maglunsod welcome the decision of the Cagayan de Oro solon as he stressed his opposition to any move to detach NMP from its current mother unit, the DOLE.
“We have no objection to the vision of Congress of expanding PMMA to the Visayas and Mindanao. However, we would like to reinforce our stand that NMP as a learning institution that provides world-class education and training to Filipinos, which purpose is aligned with the mandate of DOLE to promote gainful opportunities and develop human resources, consistent with its mandate as stipulated in Presidential Decree No. 1369”, Maglunsod said.
He added that NMP is also planning to establish a satellite offices in Cebu and Mindanao to provide an alternative maritime training center that provides accessible, affordable yet quality maritime trainings. (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
