NEWSIM-Bacolod Celebrates Its 5th Year Anniversary By James U. Sy Jr.

NEWSIM officials and employees from four provincial branches together with (from left, seated) MARINA Region VI Director Engr. Rizal J. Victoria, NEWSIM CEO Capt. Ramil L. Limocon, and Bacolod CTO Engr. Edison T. Batalla, MMET, MSM, pose for posterity during NEWSIM Bacolod’s 5th year anniversary last July 21, 2017 (James U. Sy Jr. Photo).

NEWSIM officials (from left): Bacolod CTO Engr. Edison T. Batalla, MMET, MSM, Ms. Christine Cardenas, CEO Capt. Ramil L. Limocon, Rev. Fr. Casimiro Batalla, and C/O Stephen Sampalucia during NEWSIM Bacolod’s 5th year anniversary last July 21, 2017 (James U. Sy Jr. Photo).

Capt. Ramil L. Limocon (right), CEO of NEWSIM, and Engr. Edison T. Batalla, MMET, MSM, Chief Training Officer (CTO), NEWSIM Bacolod, awarding the Certificate of Appreciation to Special guest Engr. Rizal J. Victoria, Region VI Director, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), during NEWSIM Bacolod’s 5th year anniversary last July 21, 2017 (James U. Sy Jr. Photo).

NEWSIM Bacolod CTO Engr. Edison T. Batalla, MMET, MSM, addressing the attendees during NEWSIM Bacolod’s 5th year anniversary last July 21, 2017 (James U. Sy Jr. Photo).

NEWSSIM CEO Capt. Ramil L. Limocon addressing the attendees during NEWSIM Bacolod’s 5th year anniversary last July 21, 2017 (James U. Sy Jr. Photo).

MARINA Region VI Director Engr. Rizal J. Victoria addressing the attendees during NEWSIM Bacolod’s 5th year anniversary last July 21, 2017 (James U. Sy Jr. Photo).

Negros Daily Bulletin (NDB) Columnist/Feature Writer James U. Sy Jr. with NEWSSIM CEO Capt. Ramil L. Limocon during NEWSIM Bacolod’s 5th year anniversary last July 21, 2017 (James U. Sy Jr. Photo). New Simulator Center of the Philippines, Inc. (NEWSIM)-Bacolod Branch under the leadership of Engr. Edison T. Batalla, MMET, MSM, Chief Training Officer (CTO), formally celebrated its 5th year anniversary last July 21, 2017 at the 4/F LKC Bldg., Locsin-Burgos Sts., Bacolod City. The celebration was attended by officers and staff from New Simulator Center of the Philippines, Inc. (NEWSIM) Makati, Cebu, Davao, and Iloilo Branches as well their seaman clientele. Rev. Fr. Casimiro Batalla conducted a Eucharistic rite for the opening of the anniversary celebration. Capt. Ramil L. Limocon, CEO of NEWSIM, a native of Victorias City, Negros Occidental, welcomed all employees, trainees, and guests and talked about the opportunities and threats of the seafaring industry. He reiterated the continued need for higher standards and stringent certification in training seafarers for the world market, and assured its clientele that NEWSIM is always in its toes to continuously improve its standards and training facilities to equip its trainees with global competencies and competitiveness. Special guest was Engr. Rizal J. Victoria, Region VI Director, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), who gave attendees updates on new trends and forecasts in the industry. Shipping consists of over 90% of world trade and the Philippines is the seafaring manpower capital of the world, supplying 30% of the more than 1.2 million mariners in the world and the top supplier of maritime officers in the world, with 86,636 Filipino maritime officers deployed overseas in 2013, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). The Philippines has per capita income levels of less than US$3,000 per annum, but the income for maritime industry professionals is over US$13,000 in 2013, according to World Bank figures. NEWSIM, launched on December 8, 2000 with head office in Makati City, is among the academies in the forefront of training and equipping Filipino seafarers that makes them much in demand in the global market and is the first ever seafarer training center in the Philippines to offer simulation training in its maritime program. NEWSIM-Bacolod Branch alone has already trained about 16,000 seafarers in its first 4 years of its operation, two of which were under the management of Engr. Batalla. NEWSIM training and updating are classified into Safety Courses, MLC and OIC Courses, Tanker Courses, and Other Courses. NEWSIM-Bacolod offers the only simulation training courses recognized by MARINA in Bacolod City at this point in time. Employees who had served NEWSIM for 5 years were awarded with recognition, namely C/O Stephen Sampalucia, Chief Training Solutions Officer (CTSO) and Chief Training Officer (CTO) of NEWSIM-Iloilo, C/E Ronald Allan Gutierrez, C/O Ricardo Reyes, C/O Bertram Vilalestiva, and Capt Eugenio Ynion. Special Awards were given to C/E Enrico S. Niolar and OWWA, Appreciation certificates were given to TOP REVIEW CENTERS that have endorsed their reviewees to NEWSIM Bacolod, namely Cebu Gems, RMM, and Deck Man, and Appreciation certificates were also given to TOP COMPANIES that have endorsed their CREW to NEWSIM Bacolod, including Leonis, ODFJELL, and NEWFIL. The celebration was capped with a boodle fight for the officials, guests, employees, and trainees. Then an ISO seminar was conducted for all branches of NEWSIM. Interested parties may visit the NEWSIM website at http://newsim.ph/, its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/newsim.bacolod/, or contact NEWSIM Bacolod Branch through email bacolod@newsim.ph, mobile no. 0925-850-1790, or landline (034) 435-0701.