PTC Honored with MARINA Timonel Award

Official eBulletin of the PTC Group
08/2016 Volume 12 Issue 6
PTC Honored with MARINA Timonel Award
Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. (PTC) was honored by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) with the
Timonel Maritime Achievement Award during ceremonies held in celebration of the Day of the Seafarer last June
25, 2016 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. International Maritime Organization (IMO) SecretaryGeneral Kitack Lim, together with MARINA Deputy Administrator Atty. Gloria Banas, presented the award to PTC
CEO Gerardo Borromeo.
The award was given in recognition of PTC’s exceptional and invaluable contributions to the Philippine maritime
industry over the last 10 years, particularly for the company’s efforts in continuously evolving its human resource
development platform to encompass a holistic value chain designed to properly mold the Filipino Global Maritime
Professional (GMP). Beginning with the Sea Mariners program for students in Grades 7 to 10, which utilizes
an outcomes-based approach towards competency building; a Senior Maritime High School track; a college
education with cutting edge expertise in Science & Math; and finally, a world-class professional development
course by the World Maritime University (WMU) and other international academic institutions, PTC has endeavored to increase awareness of and professional
development in the Philippine maritime industry. Going beyond this, PTC has also ensured the overall well-being of its GMPs and their families by providing
support services including short-term emergency loans; life skills coaching and seminars; health and wellness programs; youth activities like sports, reading and
the arts; and opportunities to own homes in socially vibrant, gated and safe communities through a nationwide seafarer housing program and long-term bridge
financing. Finally, PTC has strived to maintain a balance between growing its operations and at the same time contributing to global goals toward sustainability.
Taking active roles in organizations that advocate for stronger gender equality measures; the standardization of maritime education and deployment systems
to promote transparency and fair compensation; the promotion of safe and efficient shipping; and the formulation of
international maritime policies, among others; PTC has been able to help shape the face of maritime on various levels.
Together with the country’s maritime party ANGKLA, PTC was also recognized for its efforts in initiating Project Balanghay,
the pilot-testing of the K-12 Senior High School Maritime - TechVoc Track. Inspired by the ancient sea vessel called
“Balangay,” Project Balanghay is a tripartite initiative between PTC, ANGKLA, and the Department of Education (DepEd).
Three early implementer schools were adopted by PTC for the project, with the curriculum developed for the program now
being used by over 40 schools nationwide.
The Timonel Awards is given by MARINA every two years to recognize outstanding and exemplary achievements and
remarkable contributions of private and public entities or individuals in the maritime industry which have provided a major
impact of national, regional or international significance.
ICS Highlights Role of Merchant
Seafarers in Migrant Rescues
PTC
CEO
Gerardo
Borromeo, Vice-Chairman of
the International Chamber of
Shipping (ICS), highlighted
the courage exhibited by
seafarers of all nationalities
with respect to the rescue at
sea crisis in Europe and in
the Mediterranean. Speaking
at the International Seafarers’
Welfare and Assistance
Network (ISWAN) celebration
of the Day of the Seafarer,
Mr. Borromeo praised the
seafarers for going beyond their call of duty but also pointed
out the need to look into mechanisms for professional rescue.
“Seafarers move the world and in doing so, they make
tremendous sacrifices and can be called upon to take on
other extraordinary tasks, beyond the call of normal duty. The
shipping industry fully accepts its humanitarian responsibility
to come to the assistance of anyone in distress at sea. But
one aspect of this terrible situation which is often overlooked,
is the effect that this has on merchant seafarers.”
“Many seafarers have now been involved in large-scale
rescue operations, saving the lives of thousands of people,
and witnessing great suffering. It has to be remembered
that seafarers are civilians, they are not professional rescue
personnel.” He emphasized that while the politics surrounding
the migrant crisis are complex, ICS will continue to urge
governments to do more. Mr. Borromeo concluded: “The
Day of the Seafarer is a day of celebration. On behalf of ICS,
and in cooperation with our colleagues from the seafarers’
unions, we remain committed to promoting recognition of the
extraordinary role of merchant seafarers and the important
and vital work they do for the global community.”
During
ISWAN’s International Seafarers’ Welfare Awards 2016 held
on June 24 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Mr.
Borromeo, together with IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim
presented the Dr. Dierk Lindemann Welfare Personality of
the Year Award. Sponsored by the ICS, the award was given
to the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of
the Philippines (AMOSUP) for the organization category and
to Reverend Stephen Miller for the individual category.
PTC Celebrates Day of the Seafarer
PTC paid tribute to the unsung heroes of shipping global maritime professionals (GMPs) worldwide - by
joining the celebration of the Day of the Seafarer last
June 25, 2016. Spearheaded by the International
Maritime Organization (IMO), this year’s campaign was
anchored on the theme “At Sea for All,” which highlights
the role of seafarers in moving the world.
To illustrate how important seafarers are to their lives,
PTC Group employees answered the question “What
do Global Maritime Professionals (GMPs) Bring to You?” on colorful sticky-notes that they posted on the
At Sea For All Board located at the lobby of First Maritime Place in Makati. With answers ranging from
simple yet essential everyday goods and supplies like food, clothing and gadgets, to their immense role
in sustaining world trade and their contribution to the Philippine economy, it is undeniable that seafarers
truly are indispensable to the world. Photos of this activity were shared on social media using the hashtag
#AtSeaForAll to help create greater awareness of the event and to support IMO’s Day of the Seafarer
campaign. Also in support of the event, PTC’s Family and Crew Relations organized an online contest
where allottees of PTC crew submitted photos showcasing the importance of GMPs to the global economy,
the country and their respective families, and posted them at the PTC Facebook page with the hashtag
#AtSeaForAll. Eight winners were selected to win brand new action cams while consolation prizes were
given to the rest of the participants. At the Day
of the Filipino Seafarer program organized
by MARINA and held at the SMX Convention
Center in Pasay City, PTC hosted a lunch
in honor of visiting IMO Secretary-General
Kitack Lim. Officers of MARINA, IMO, Women
in Maritime Philippines and other maritime
industry stakeholders graced the event.
WIMAPHIL and MARINA Launch “WOW ang Byahe”
Women in Maritime Philippines (WIMAPHIL) and the Maritime
Industry Authority (MARINA) unveiled the “WOW ang Byahe”
passenger safety campaign poster during the Day of the Seafarer
last June 25 at the SMX Convention
Center in Pasay City. The poster contains
basic safety tips for sea transport and
is one of the undertakings provided in a
Memorandum of Agreement signed in
2014 between MARINA and WIMAPHIL.
Designed to enhance public awareness of
safety requirements at sea, the poster urges the public to assume an active role in
ensuring compliance with safety regulations by sea transport operators. The “WOW
ang Biyahe” posters will be displayed at prominent areas in passenger terminals and
piers and eventually onboard all domestic passenger ships.
IMO Sec-Gen Kitack Lim Officiates WIMAPHIL Oath-Taking
Members of the Women in Maritime Philippines (WIMAPHIL) Board of Trustees were sworn in during an oath-taking
ceremony administered by visiting International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Kitack Lim last June
24, 2016 at the Manila Hotel. The newly-elected Board of Trustees Board is comprised of Ms. Merle JimenezSan Pedro, President; Ms. Carla S. Limcaoco, Vice-President; Atty. Brenda V. Pimentel, Corporate Secretary; Ms.
Normie S. Hernandez, Treasurer; Rowena S. Quiogue, Auditor; Ms. Christina S. Manzano, Trustee and Dr. Teresita
Sarabia, Trustee. Atty. Josephine Uranza, IMO Regional Coordinator for East Asia, was present to witness the event.
Dr. Max Mejia Takes BT Course at PHILCAMSAT
Dr. Maximo Mejia Jr., former Administrator of the Maritime
Industry Authority (MARINA), recently completed his Basic
Training Course, a pre-requisite to obtaining a Seaman’s book,
at the Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Simulation
and Training, Inc. (PHILCAMSAT) and at the MAST Campus
in Maragondon, Cavite from June 13 to 21, 2016. The course
covered mandatory minimum requirements prescribed in
Regulation VI/1 and Section A-VI/1 of the
Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping (STCW 2010) comprised
of modules on Elementary First Aid, Fire
Prevention and Fire Fighting, Personal Survival Techniques, and Personal
Safety & Social Responsibilities. Administrator Mejia expressed his
satisfaction with the conduct of both the theoretical and practical course
modules. During his practical examination, he even clocked the fastest time
in donning the immersion suit, posting a record of 10 seconds instead of the
usual 20-30 second standard time.
OPITO Courses Now Offered at
PHILCAMSAT
The Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime
Simulation and Training Inc. (PHILCAMSAT), in
partnership with Northern Marine Management
Management, was officially accredited by the
Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization
(OPITO) last June 30, 2016 to deliver offshore
survival training courses. With the accreditation,
PHILCAMSAT now offers courses on Basic Offshore
Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET),
Further Offshore Emergency Training (FOET) and
Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET)
at its MAST Campus in Maragondon, Cavite. The
accreditation is yet another testament to the ability
of PHILCAMSAT to deliver quality training programs
in accordance with international standards.
PTC at Posidonia 2016
PTC joined over 1,800 exhibitors and
22,000 delegates from 90 countries in
one of the biggest international shipping
exhibitions in the world, the Posidonia
2016, held last June 6 to 10, 2016 at the
Metropolitan Expo in Athens, Greece. Now
on its 5th decade, the biennial exposition
has developed a strong reputation as a
forum where crucial discussions, debates and deliberations on issues and regulations affecting
the global maritime industry take place among policy makers, government officials and captains
of the global industry. Representing the PTC Group at the conference was PTC Executive
Director Mark Parco. Constellation Travels Inc. Head of Operations, Jon Marnic Adriano,
attended the exhibition, as well.
PTC at the 10th FAME Fun Run
PTC employees joined more than 4,000 runners at the
“Go Marino Go! Healthy Body, Healthy Mind Fun Run”
organized by the Filipino Association for Mariners’
Employment (FAME) held last June 25 at the Mall
of Asia grounds in Pasay City. Now on its 10th year,
the fun run was held as part of the global celebration
for the International Day of the Seafarer. Proceeds
of the event will be used to support the mangrove
tree planting project of the World Wildlife Foundation
(WWF) Maritime Environment Conservation Program.
MIT Coffee Hour Presents Platform Revolution
The PTC-MIT Coffee Hour gathered executives and managers of the PTC
Group for another knowledge sharing session, this time centered on an
exciting and timely topic - the platform business model. Held last June 29 at the
Legaspi Room of First Maritime Place, the session looked at how cutting-edge
companies including Google, Facebook, Uber and Airbnb are revolutionizing
today’s digital economy through platform businesses, as illustrated in the book
“Platform Revolution” written by Geoffrey G. Parker, Marshall W. Van Alstyne,
and Sangeet Paul Choudary from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Platform Revolution charts out the brilliant future of networked markets and
explains how entrepreneurs, as well as, traditional companies - can thrive in this
new world by harnessing the potentials of this transformed economic landscape.
PTC at the FSA Cup Golf Tournament
The Filipino Shipowners Association (FSA) held its 4th FSA
Cup Golf Tournament last June 10, 2016 at the Palmer Course
of the Orchard Golf & Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite. A
total of 68 avid golfers comprised of FSA members and marine
suppliers participated in the yearly tournament where part of
the proceeds were donated to Caritas Manila and several other
charitable organizations. PTC, CCI Marine, Health Metrics,
Constellation Travels, PTCAT and PHILCAMSAT were among
those who sponsored the event.
SIRB Validity Extended through ANGKLA’s Recommendation
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has issued Memo Circular
2016-05 which extends the 5-year validity period of the Seafarer’s
Identification and Record Book (SIRB) to 10 years in response to a
recommendation made by Cong. Jesulito A. Manalo of ANGKLA.
“A longer validity period of the SIRB containing more pages will alleviate
the burden of seafarers as far as time, effort and money they spend for
renewing or revalidating their seaman’s books are concerned. In the
same way, MARINA can also save in their manpower and other costs
relative to its regulation, processing and printing of these documents,”
said Cong. Manalo in a letter addressed to MARINA Administrator Maximo Mejia, Jr. dated May 8, 2016.
The extension of the SIRB validity period was made effective on June 29, 2016.
DepEd Expresses Gratitude to
PTC for Project Balanghay
The Department
of
Education
( D e p E d )
recognized PTC
for its efforts
as one of the
proponents
of
Project
Balanghay or the
Maritime Senior
High School Program. As a symbol of their gratitude,
a plaque of appreciation was awarded by outgoing
DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro to PTC during the
Department of Education Adopt-A-School Partners
Appreciation Event held last June 10, 2016 at the
Meralco Multi-Purpose Hall in Ortigas Center, Pasig
City. PTC Business Development Manager Marcus
Leslie Suntay received the plaque on behalf of the
company. “The previous years have indeed been
more challenging for the Department in light of the
implementation of major education initiatives, such
as the K-12 Basic Education Program,” said Sec.
Luistro. “As the implementation of such programs
goes into full steam, more challenges are expected
to be immediately addressed. We are therefore
grateful to note that through the help of various
stakeholders and partners from different sectors,
the Department was successful in narrowing down
most of the educational requirement gaps. DepEd’s
strengthened partnerships and collaborative efforts
with education partners have been truly instrumental
in making the goal of providing quality education for
all a reality.”
Dutch Delegation Visits PTC and
the MAST
Members of the Dutch delegation to the 17th
Philippines-Netherlands Joint Committee on
Maritime Affairs visited PTC and PHILCAMSAT,
as well as, the MAST in Maragondon, Cavite
last June 15 for a tour of the Center’s worldclass training facilities. The delegation
consisted of officials from the Dutch Ministry
of Infrastructure and the Environment, together
with representatives from the Dutch maritime
sector and the Dutch Shipowners Association.
The group was in the country to meet with
the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and
express their commitment to maintain the strong
maritime cooperation between the Netherlands
and the Philippines.