The study aimed to benchmark the practices and processes of the different maritime training centers in the country using the systems theory (input-process-output) framework. The input variables include human resources, physical/ material resources & training program implementation. The process variables were instructional process and classroom management, and management and administrative system. Likewise, the output variables were the trainee-seafarers knowledge and skills gained, and the degree of satisfaction on the services provided by the training center.

Study presented in the: - NMP Committee on Research Matters (CRM) meeting, June 5, 2007 & July 12, 2007

Through benchmarking, maritime training centers/ institutions will be able to identify the significant strengths and weaknesses of their present educational and training systems and find out ways to correct and improve them. Information gathered in this study will help find new solutions to common problems and reduce costs while optimizing the quality of service offered to students and clients. The study will likewise provide managers with an external point of reference or standard for evaluating the quality and cost of their organization's internal activities, practices and processes.

The study looked closely into the required training programs for operational and management level officers as laid out in the Management Level Training and Development Plan (MLTDP). It examined government policies in the delivery of training services vis-à-vis the supply and demand scenario in the provision of mandatory and other value-added trainings required of existing and potential MLOs.

Data were generated through the conduct of in-depth interviews with representatives of the employers sector comprised of ship owning, ship managing and manning companies; document analysis and administration of 2 sets of questionnaires to 50 shipping/manning companies and 34 training centers.

Risk/ Safety Management, Technical Report Writing, and Leadership Skills are the top three identified training needs of management level officers to make them more competitive.

The study revealed that provision of training courses for value-added qualifications outside of international standards and regulations aimed at addressing current and future skills gaps suffer from a number of shortcomings. Value-added training courses are generally not being offered by training centers, with course offerings primarily concentrated to mandatory trainings. Also, training needs identified by employers could not be adequately met locally, thus the need for companies to contact foreign training providers. While in-house trainings can be seen as pragmatic solution to changing and diverse set of needs, these solutions are reactive in nature and are driven by the necessity to undertake corrective action rather than as a proactive company strategy to update skills of crew.

Study presented in the:- NMP Committee on Research Matters (CRM) meeting, June 2007

The study recommends for the "right mix" of NMP training services.

The study involved a survey among Filipino seafarers to determine their stress management profile which includes sources of stress, its effect(s), coping styles or mechanisms employed and the infrastructure/ systems in place on board to manage stress. The study provides a baseline data on the scope of stress onboard ships as experienced by Filipino seafarers which could have an effect on their health and safety.

Results were generated from 1,988 Filipino seafarers coming from 61 shipping/ manning agencies and 15 maritime training centers conducted from August - September 2005.

The results indicate that respondents have multiple stressors that operate in combination with others, which can adversely affect the seafarer's health and well-being. Identified stressors are as follows: family concerns - the stability of home while the head of the family is not around, career of partner compound the stressful situations at work, anxiety about home life, work-related pressures such as having too much work to do and doing routinary works. Manifestation of respondents to negative physical reactions is fatigue. To cope with stressful conditions, respondents' resort to support network and task oriented activities. The study also found significant relationships between manifestations and coping styles, and coping styles and resources on board.

Study presented in the:- NMP Committee on Research Matters (CRM) meeting, August 2006

NMP-BOT meeting, August 25, 2006

Paper presented in the 2006 NMP Symposium Series
Manila-Sept. 21, 2006
Cebu-Sept. 26, 2006
Davao-Sept. 29, 2006

Poster presentation for the 28th International Congress on Occupational Health (ICOH) 2006, Milan, Italyv

Abstract submitted for the 11th Annual GlobalMET Conference on Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, 2007, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Results of the study will make seafarers and employers aware of job conditions that are potential stressors and the risks associated with it. This also serves as input in formulating interventions to remedy such risks and make them available to the seafarers on board.

The study scrutinized and analyzed the human factors in marine casualties and incidents in the Philippines. Greater focus was given to human element/ factors to which they are involved in and interact with environmental and technical factors.

In the Phils., the conduct of maritime casualty investigations for purposes of apportioning blame and liability is conducted by the BMI of PCG while marine casualty investigation to comply with the legal requirements of the relevant maritime authorities are within MARINA's purview. This review of thirty vessel accident reports - collisions, groundings, fires or burning, conducted by the study confirms the dominance of technical data in accident reports. While there is nearly no data gaps as far as technical details are concerned, there is however, a huge data gap in terms of the human element involvement. Identified underlying factors for the data gaps are as follows: missing uniform approaches to marine casualty investigations, missing definitions, models of the accident process and its components and lack of common taxonomies. It was also found out that some information particularly in the area of the Performance Shaping Factors (PSF) was lacking in the investigation.

Study presented in the: - Agency research forum, April 2002

Revised Study presented in the:
NMP Committee on Research Matters (CRM) meeting, August 2006
NMP BOT Meeting, August 2006

The study will give us better understanding of the nature and extent to which the crew onboard were involved in marine casualties and incidents.

The study addressed the question as to what personal, job-related and organizational factors may have contributed or hindered the career progression of Filipino merchant marine officers.

Data were generated from 705 management level officers and 85 manning/ shipping cos.The study revealed that the strongest motivator in a Filipino merchant marine officer's decision of pursuing the highest position onboard is his need for achievement followed by a challenge for higher responsibility. Management level officers have consciously planned out their career progression with the end goal of attaining the highest license thru maintaining good performance and continuous updating of knowledge and skills through trainings. Willingness to undergo training has surfaced to be a predictor of success in the attainment of the highest license and the occupation of management level positions onboard vessels. Other significant predictors of officers' success include age, father's educational attainment, number of children, and examination as a screening method for entrance in a company. Scarcity of promotion and training opportunities contributed to the propensity of management level officers for frequent company hopping, that is even compounded by the contractual nature of their employment and poaching of management level officers among manning/ shipping companies.

Study presented in the:
NMP Committee on Research Matters (CRM) meeting, November 2005

Agency research forum, November 2005

NMP-BOT meeting, August 25, 2006

Paper presented in the 2006 NMP Symposium Series
Manila-Sept. 21, 2006
Cebu-Sept. 26, 2006
Davao-Sept. 29, 2006

Abstract submitted and paper accepted for presentation at the 11th Annual GlobalMET Conference on Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, 2007, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Results of the study will serve as baseline data to be used in formulating appropriate employment programs and policies.

The study determined the profile of employed Filipino ratings in terms of their qualifications, and analyzed their motivations to pursue a career in the maritime profession. It also identified bottlenecks encountered in their pursuit of his career towards becoming an officer.

The study involved 1,643 rating-respondents and 175 shipping and manning companies.The study identified the bottlenecks encountered by the seafarers in the pursuit of his career towards becoming an officer. For licensed ratings they are not given the opportunity to occupy an officer's position, their difficulty in complying with the required trainings, deficient in the required sea experience, and poorly motivated, among others, while unlicensed ratings they have poor/ lack in motivation to pursue an officers career, scheduled examinations do not jibe with the day's off of employment, lack of required sea experience, difficulty to comply with the mandatory trainings and financial problems. The research also addressed the question on whether the Philippines can produce a greater number of officers to supply the global demands.

Paper presented in the:
DOLE Round Table Discussion (DOLE-RTD), March 31, 2003

NMP 25th Foundation Anniversary Symposium Series, "Challenges to Philippine Q-MET",
Manila - July 17, 2003
Cebu - September 25, 2003
Davao - November 21, 2003

Published in the Philippine Journal on Maritime Education and Training (PJMET), January - June 2004, Vol. 2 No. 1, issued by NMP

Results of the study will serve as baseline data to be used in formulating appropriate employment programs and policies.

The study aims to establish the profile of Filipino ratings to be able to find out if the Philippines has the quantity and quality potential officers from its stock or pool of ratings employed onboard ocean-going vessels and therefore produce officers in response to the current officers requirement of the international seafaring market. The study also aims to find out if there are bottlenecks that prevent potential seafarers from becoming employed as marine officers onboard vessels

Results indicate that the profile of most of the potential officers are young, between the ages of 25 to 34, are mostly married, majority coming from NCR and regions 4,6,7 & 8, and most have 1 to 10 years of shipboard experience.The stock of employed Filipino ratings have the potentials to become officers considering that about 45% of them are graduates of marine courses - 70% have taken BSMT and 30% have taken BSMarE course. Only few of the employed ratings are licensed, with more passers of licensure examination for 4th Engrs than 3rd mates. Unlicensed ratings who are graduates of marine courses seemed to lack motivation to prepare and take the licensure examination. On the contrary, ratings with potentials to become one truly desire to become one so that they will be able to practice their profession but stays as ratings primarily due to lack of the required training.

The study's findings could be very useful for policymakers as input towards reviewing and revising policies which have contributed in limiting the career growth of Filipino seafarers to that of remaining as ratings instead of becoming full-pledged officers.The findings was made as basis/ offshoot to the paper of NMP entitled "Can the Philippines Produce a Greater Number of Filipino Officers Out of its Current Pool of Ratings to Comply with Global Demand", published in the PJMET and presented in the DOLE-RTD and NMP symposium series.

In its effort to develop the psychosocial component of seafarers, the NMP conducted the survey. Data on seafarers' awareness, attitude and experience on the health-related problems such as stress, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, HIV/ AIDS, and violence were gathered.

Data were generated from 301 seafarer-trainees of NMP both officer and ratings. Onboard inter-island/domestic or ocean-going vessels.

Findings indicate that fatigue and loss of memory or concentration are manifestations of stress. They are particularly stressed by their shipboard jobs. More than half (59%) of the respondents are non-smokers, majority (87%) are alcohol drinkers while only very few (about 1%) have taken drugs, they are well aware of the risks of sexual promiscuity thus majority (60%) do not engage in sex while at their workplace, that is either onboard or in port. They also lack knowledge on what behaviors constitute psychological violence.

Study presented in an international forum

The NMP in its effort to develop the psychosocial component of seafarers, conducted the survey to get an indicative data on the seafarers' awareness, attitude and experience on the problems.

The NMP conducted the study as a continued commitment to develop gender-responsive programs to support the overall goal of IMO's Women in Development (WID) Programme and to support the overall goal of women empowerment.

The study covered 74 women executives from maritime schools and training centers, shipping and manning companies and government-maritime related agencies.

Results of the study showed that women executives in the maritime industry still have to break the glass ceiling in management. Despite their best efforts, women who choose to pursue, careers in the industry have to contend with stereotypes and exert a lot more effort to prove their worth. They need to push twice as hard as their male counterparts to reach the top level. Their main problem encountered was the stereotyping of roles and misconceptions about women's capability to do work as mirrored by their aspirations to be fully acknowledged by their male colleagues. To survive in the industry, they have to be entrepreneurial, a risk taker, more aggressive, innovative and business oriented and cited technical deficiency in maritime education as the skills gap that needed to be addressed.

Study presented in the:
Agency research forum, May 2002

DOLE Round-Table Discussion (DOLE-RTD), Sept. 19, 2002

Printed in Malaya Shipping, January 13, 2003

The study was made as basis in the formulation of gender-responsive policies and training programs for women in the industry in support to the IMO's Women in Development (WID) Programme.

The study aims to document the different problems/ issues encountered by Filipino seafarers in their relationship with other nationality crews.

The study covered 1,140 Filipino seafarers representing 160 shipping companies.Results of the study showed that in a mixed crew vessel, 94% are comprised of Filipino seafarers making them a dominant nationality onboard. Frequently interact nationalities are Japanese, Greeks, Germans, Koreans and Indians. Filipino seafarers claimed that mixed nationality is not a problem onboard owing to the behavioral adaptability and flexibility strengthened by their English language proficiency and technical competence. The problems they usually encounter are culture-based, and can be addressed through cultural awareness and understanding program interventions through undergoing training, which will help them, improve their social interaction in a multiracial crew.

Study presented in the:
Agency research forum, April 2002

DOLE-Round Table Discussion (DOLE-RTD), June 2002

Paper presented in the:
5th Asia-Pacific Manning and Training Conference

Published in the Philippine Journal on Maritime Education and Training (PJMET), July - December 2003, Vol. 1 No. 2, issued by NMP

Printed in Japanese Seafarers Union (JSU) News, 2002

Findings of the study were made as basis or input in the formulation of training programs or other related activities aimed at providing Filipino seafarers the needed knowledge, skills and attitudes to be able to cope or deal with culturally-oriented problems related to multinational crewing of vessels.

The National Maritime Polytechnic has embarked on this study with the end view of coming up with evidence-based policy and program recommendations to be used by management.

Recognizing the expediency of determining its performance outcomes, the NMP envisioned this research undertaking to provide analysis on the impact, relevance and effectiveness of NMP training to the employability of its graduates. Specifically, it aimed to establish the profile of graduates during training at NMP from 2003 to 2006 as well as determine the knowledge and skills to be acquired from courses taken at the NMP. The study shall likewise generate the sampling frame to be used for the Phase 2 surveys.

Completed in the end of 2007, this phase of the tracer study is the first among two parts. Upon completion of its second phase targeted for end of 2008, this undertaking shall be institutionalized as part of the regular institutional monitoring and evaluation to be spearheaded by the Planning Section of the NMP.

Study presented in the NMP Committee on Research Matters Meeting dated February 8, 2008.

Findings of the study will provide baseline data that could help NMP set and communicate priorities, formulate and justify budgets, allocate resources and improve on its services. Forming a crucial part of the agency's performance assessment, the study will enable NMP to monitor its effectiveness in achieving its goals and objectives, manage its services and ensure costumer/ client satisfaction.

This research undertaking aims to generate and provide a coordinated and coherent maritime labor market information that are at the same time complete, accurate and timely as basis for more proactive specific actions in effecting appropriate changes in maritime manpower education, training, planning and management to ensure adequate and sustainable supply of competent, and globally competitive Filipino seafarers. Such an integrated network will allow a more holistic approach in generating the maritime labor market information.

Specific objectives of the study are expressed on its three (3) components: (1) data identification, collection and compilation, (2) data computerization, and (3) data analysis.

Data/information from various Philippine administrative and regulatory agencies that generate maritime labor market information/statistics will be solicited and analyzed. Additional data will be collected from manning/shipping companies in the country to validate POEA data on crew orders and deployment, among others, as well as cover views on the current and future labor supply situation and review of wastage rates.

The study intends to ascertain the impact of NMP training to the employability of its graduates. In response to the need for the NMP to explore ways by which its performance outcomes could be determined, this study will establish the profile of NMP trainees as well as assess the qualification-enhancing aspects of its training programs on graduates' employment outcomes.

This phase of the study aims to (1) establish and compare the profile of NMP graduates, 2003 to 2006, 'before' and 'after' training at the NMP, (2) determine the employment, absorption and skills utilization rates of NMP graduates of the years 2003 to 2006, and (3) determine the NMP graduates' employment mobility in terms of progression in license and rank.

Findings on NMP's graduates' employability measured in terms of employment, absorption and skills utilization rates, can be used as an important yardstick by which the Agency's effectiveness, relevance and relative success in the provision of training services will be measured.