SEAFARERS CAN HAVE FREE ONLINE COURSES

Filipino seafarers can now access maritime courses being offered by the government for free.

The online courses especially designed to enhance the skills of maritime workers are offered by the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP)  an agency of the Department of Labor and Employment.

Aside from upskilling, NMP is also offering personal safety courses, among which are STD/HIV/AIDS Prevention in Maritime Sector (SHAPIMS) and the Prevention of Alcohol and the Drug Abuse in the Maritime Sector (PADAMS).

NMP Executive Director Joel Maglunsod said the safe and free learning platform is an alternative to classroom-based education that Filipino seafarers can access while in the comfort of their homes or workplaces.

“This is our way of keeping our seafarers active and productive whether they are at their respective homes spending quality time with their families, in quarantine facilities, or even when onboard ships. They will be able to receive their Certificate of Completion upon successful fulfilment of the online courses,” Maglunsod said.

The safety courses were developed as part of the agency’s corporate social responsibility, in cooperation with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), geared towards addressing psychosocial issues in the maritime industry which is now implemented in nautical schools and private training centers in the country.

The schedules of personal safety and prevention courses are: SHAPIMS on September 16 and 30; October 14 and 28; November 11 and 25; and December 9; and PADAMS on September 17; October 1, 15, and 29; November 12 and 26; and December 10, 2020.

Another free online course that NMP has on deck is the Gender Sensitivity Training for Seafarers (GSTS) scheduled on September 15, 29, October 13, 27, November 10, 24, and December 8.

This course offering is part of the agency’s sustained commitment in promoting gender equality and in addressing gender-related problems and issues in the maritime sector, such as the limited awareness on GAD concepts among seafarers caused by lack of interventions for seafarers as a specialized workforce group.

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