OFFICIALS of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) visits the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) on November 8 to have a look at the various donated equipment covered by their assistance under the grant aid from the Government of Japan for the implementation of the NMP Program for Rehabilitation and Recovery from Typhoon “Yolanda.”

The government-subsidized NMP was almost totally “wiped out” after Yolanda devastated the area, and it is still recovering many years after.

JICA Officials were warmly welcomed by NMP Executive Director Mayla Macadawan along with engineer Ponciano Trinidad, NMP head of the Maritime Training and Assessment Division.

Macadawan expressed her gratitude to the government of Japan for its generosity and commitment to helping NMP recover from the devastation of Super Typhoon Yolanda following its interventions through the JICA grant.

After a short talk, the visitors were taken on a conducted tour around the NMP Complex where JICA’s donated state-of-the-art maritime training equipment is located.

The visit was aimed at assessing the present status and maintenance operation of the turned-over projects. The results of the evaluation will be used to come up with possible recommendations for the sustainability and improvement of the said projects.

NMP, through a technical cooperation program, has been a beneficiary of Japan’s assistance since 1984. The cooperation had gone a long way and proved to be beneficial in strengthening the NMP’s functions in advancing the quality of maritime education and training in the country.

JICA officials present were Akema Sakamoto, chief representative of the JICA visiting team; Masanari Yanagiuchi, senior representative; Takumi Kanazuka, representative; Shin Nemoto, JICA expert; and Cathy Palanca, senior program officer.