The National Maritime Polytechnic Quality Management System (NMP QMS) maintains its ISO 9001:2015 Certification after passing the Surveillance Audit conducted by the Anglo Japanese American (AJA) Registrar Limited, simultaneously at its main office in Tacloban City and liaison office in Makati City on 6 March 2019.
Eugene Herradura and Capt. Nicanor Altares, AJA auditors, reviewed NMP’s quality procedures, quality manuals, and other systems documentation as against the standards.
The areas that were examined include registration and certification procedures; course delivery; assessment / examination; documentation, conduct of maritime researches; performance monitoring and assessment; provision of resources; and other administrative support services during the audit.
During the exit meeting, Herradura, audit team leader, expressed his appreciation for the NMP’s established QMS, proper documentation as well as the support and commitment of the top management for the continual improvement of its QMS. But somehow the audit report raised some observations and a minor non-conformity.
Thirty calendar days is given to NMP to submit the plan of action together with the objective evidence in addressing the non-conformance.
Nonetheless, the NMP QMS was recommended for continued certification.
NMP Executive Director Joel Maglunsod also acknowledged the contributions of all NMP employees for the continual improvement of the Agency’s QMS.
“Thank you for all that you do, this was made possible through the concerted efforts of everyone”, he said.
As a maritime training center providing quality delivery of services to Filipino seafarers, NMP aggressively pursued for the establishment of its QMS in compliance with the requirements of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping Convention (STCW) 1978.
Its first ISO Registration Certificate was obtained in April 2000. Since then, the NMP QMS has undergone continuous certification and surveillance audits, passed and was eventually re-certified over the years under ISO 9001: 1994, ISO 9001: 2000, ISO 9001: 2008, and the latest in 2018 under ISO 9001:2015.
The implementation of the NMP QMS is also in adherence to Executive Order (EO) No. 161 dated 05 October 2006 as amended by EO No. 605 dated 23 February 2007, which directs the institutionalization of quality management system in the government.
It can be recalled that in 2009, NMP received a special recognition from the Office of the President for being one of the forty (40) government offices across the country to be ISO-certified. Also in 2015, the Agency earned a commendation from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for continuously improving the efficiency and effectiveness of its quality system.
Meanwhile, NMP continues to upgrade its facilities and provide maritime trainings required pursuant to the STCW Convention as amended in 2010 including value-adding courses towards improving the qualifications of Filipino seafarers for their employment acceptability and enhanced competitiveness. It also regularly conducts maritime studies to come up with policies for the improvement of the manpower sector of the industry.
Those interested in NMP research undertakings may visit the NMP website (www.nm.gov.ph) and access the e-Research Information System Portal which is designed to gather inputs for NMP’s research, dissemination of NMP completed researches and other articles pertaining to maritime research. (PR)
