PTC Waves November Issue

THE OFFICIAL E BULLETIN OF

Volume 16 Issue 5 November 2020

PTC Holdings

celebrates 10 years serving as both anchor and driver of the PTC Group

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Editor’s Note PTC Holdings Marks 10th Anniversary PTC CEO Gerardo Borromeo Again

Elected as Vice-Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping by Unanimous Vote

PTC’s

Preferred Healthcare Partner Launches In-House Molecular Laboratory

ICS Launches Leadership Insight Series to Discuss Post-COVID Directions of Shipping

Jebsen PTC Holds Blessing for New Office PTC Celebrates National Maritime Week PHILCAMSAT Conducts Mental Wellbeing Seminar to Mark World Suicide Prevention Day

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PTC Strengthens Partnership with the World Maritime University PTC Inc. Passes BCM and EMS Audits PTC Inc. Provides Full Complement for New Principal Berge Bulk

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Seaspan COSCO Malaysia

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PTC Holds Online Job Fair

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Conducts Rescue Operation in Florida

Ambassador Salinas Donates Children’s Storybooks to SAVES Students

PHILCAMSAT Pilot Tests New STCW Course on Oil Tanker Operations

PTC-CSJ Donates Tablets to Muntinlupa Students

It is our honor to present the brand-new look of the PTC Waves e-newsletter now delivered all over the globe via the digital publishing platform Issuu.

The launch of the latest evolution of our newsletter comes fittingly as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of PTC Holdings which, over the last decade, has allowed PTC to strategically expand its footprint across many industries in the pursuit of our vision to move the world in more ways than one.

Driven by this spirit of innovation, PTC continues to serve its partners, global Filipino professionals, the industry and our country through a variety of new activities as you will see in this issue. To bring meaningful careers to more of our fellow Filipinos during this pandemic, we launched our online job fair streamed weekly via the PTC Careers Facebook page.

Cognizant of the importance of mental health especially in these challenging times, our training partner PHILCAMSAT presented a webinar for our GMPs last World Suicide Prevention Day.

And to further help the country in its COVID-19 testing efforts, our health care partner Health Metrics, Inc., has opened their very own molecular laboratory at their in-house testing facility.

Our GMPs meanwhile continue to shine and excel in their profession, keeping world trade moving as they are deployed to the vessels of our newest partner Berge Bulk and displaying heroism in a rescue operation onboard Seaspan’s COSCO Malaysia.

We hope you enjoy reading this issue and we look forward to bringing you more news from the PTC Group in the succeeding editions. We also welcome your feedback and suggestions which you may email to marcom@ptc.com.ph. In the meantime, please continue to stay safe and healthy and see you in the next one!

The PTC Waves Editorial Team

Aside from its strong Shipping legacy, the Group’s footprint today encompasses Real Estate, Healthcare, Aviation, Energy and Infrastructure, International Professional Placement and now Agriculture.

PTC Holdings Corporation, the holdings entity for the entire PTC Group, marked its 10th anniversary with a positive outlook, despite the COVID 19 pandemic.

“In such times of crisis, individual and collective concerns rise to their highest levels. And yet, it is in times of crisis that the best in an individual and humanity come out front and center in a show of resilience and fortitude,” emphasizes PTC CEO Gerardo Borromeo.

“We have spent the past seven months of a year like no other, in PTC mode - putting the customer first - with sleeves rolled up, hard at work, making the impossible possible.

It is a proud commitment to serve our communities here and around the globe.

This is our ‘ true grit’ which has become the hallmark of the PTC Group.”

Committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), PTC Holdings has broadened its contribution to society through a value chain of services that enable it to move the world in more ways than one.

Over the last 10 years, through PTC Holdings, PTC has created a platform for all its units to come together and work collaboratively to deliver meaningful outcomes for and across each line of business.

To commemorate the anniversary, an online mass was held on October 8 officiated by Fr. Tito Caluag and attended by employees of the PTC Group. In his homily, Fr. Caluag encouraged the Group to continue building networks of compassion by entering the lives of the people that it serves. He also asked employees to pray for God’s grace so that the PTC Group may further pursue its mission of empowering global Filipino professionals, communities, and the country as it moves the world in more ways than one.

Mr. Borromeo has represented the Filipino Shipowners Association (FSA) since 2006 at the International Shipping Federation (ISF) which was later amalgamated with the ICS. He was then elected as a Vice-Chairman serving until 2017. Having been elected again last month, Mr. Borromeo will have a two-year term supporting ICS Chairman Esben Poulsson along with three other Vice-Chairmen namely, Mr. Lasse Kristoffersen of Norway, Mr. John Adams of the Bahamas, and Mr. Emanuele Grimaldi of Italy. The ICS Vice-Chairmen also serve with the Chairman as Directors of the MARISEC Board.

“It is an honor to again serve a world shipping body like the ICS, as a Vice-Chairman, representing our country, our industry, and our company. The work at such global associations helps shape the policies and strategies that will positively impact the future of shipping and international trade in the years to come,” said Mr. Borromeo of his election. “Having PTC and the Filipino Shipowners Association participating in these efforts ensures that our voice will be heard and made part of the outcomes that will move the world in more ways than one.”

The International Chamber of Shipping is the principal international trade association for shipowners, with member national associations from 36 countries representing all sectors and trades of over 80% of the world merchant fleet.

Health Metrics, Inc. (HMI), the PTC Group’s preferred healthcare partner, is now operating its own molecular laboratory to serve as its in-house COVID-19 Testing Facility, accelerating the organization’s ability to provide healthcare and diagnostics with quality and accuracy.

HMI has been at the forefront at providing superior maritime health care and diagnostics, taking the lead in COVID testing among seafarers since the start of the pandemic in March of this year. HMI has provided COVID-19 testing to as many as 20,000 seafarers who have come home from overseas as well as those being deployed to ships outside the country.

“When the initial repatriation of Filipino seafarers started at the end of March, HMI hit the ground running. We were at the quarantine hotels doing health checks on our returning seafarers and overseas Filipino workers, preparing quarantine certificates so that they could safely go home to their families,” shared Dr. Toby Abaya, Chief Medical Officer of HMI. “When RT PCR’s were required starting April, we sprang into action and immediately contacted accredited laboratories so that we could swab at the airports, on board the cruise ships in Manila Bay,

at the various hotels around Metro Manila and at our own clinic,” continued Dr. Abaya.

“It is only fitting then that Health Metrics be the first maritime clinic to open a molecular lab to serve our Filipino seafarers who continue to be our heroes during this crucial time.”

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“Our staff have undergone stringent selection processes as well as appropriate training to prepare them for the rigors and demands of As seafarers continue to be deployed on working in the lab. Necessarily, very strict bio ships globally during this pandemic, HMI safety protocols will be observed at all times.” dedicates the molecular laboratory to the country’s heroes at sea who are helping The HMI Molecular Laboratory is located at move the world and sustain life despite the HMI Makati Clinic, Merry Land Plaza, 1157 present challenges.

Chino Roces Ave, Makati. For more details on their COVID-19 testing schedule, please visit The laboratory also serves as a testament facebok.com/HealthMetricsPH. to the Filipino health worker’s continuing resilience on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19.

Using the highest standards of medical diagnostics, HMI’s molecular laboratory is equipped to process real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests (RT-PCR) which is required for all inbound and outbound seafarers and OFWs. HMI likewise offers antigen nasal swab testing at its clinics and can also arrange off-site and home testing for their clients.

“It is our intention to provide accurate and timely PCR test results at reasonable rates, in the most convenient way possible to serve our clients,” said HMI Chief Operating Officer Rene Paningbatan.

The session chaired by ICS Chairman Esben Poulsson featured industry leaders as panelists including International Labour Organization Secretary General Guy Ryder, ICS Secretary General Guy Platten, DNV GLMaritime CEO Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, EuroNav CEO Hugo De Stoop and PTC CEO Gerardo Borromeo who spoke on the wider impact of the pandemic on labor supplying countries and the crucial issue of crew change.

“For a country like the Philippines, our overseas Filipino professionals bring in as much as USD 33 billion in annual remittances and they are normally considered as heroes and welcomed with open arms,” shared Mr. Borromeo. “But when this pandemic hit, everyone considered all the people working outside the country as transmission vectors or virus carriers because the systems weren’t in place to adequately test people and ensure that they were healthy and could be allowed to move and go home to their country.”

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) launched a series of digital events to give shipping industry leaders an insight to postCOVID directions of national policies and corporate strategies that will impact the future of shipping and international trade.

Borromeo adds that being able to swiftly distinguish and differentiate who can and should move as essential workers during a crisis is very important.

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This necessitates a logistics solution combined with a human development platform that will address similar issues in the future. By reviewing current processes and utilizing appropriate technologies, Mr. Borromeo suggests that the shipping industry will be able to build the necessary bridges to ensure the movement of seafarers when and where they are needed.

If we look at it from the Philippine perspective, one of the reasons Filipinos go to sea, is not so much because we are a maritime country or an archipelagic country. But it is the sacrifice that Filipinos are prepared to do in order to assist their families. The significant economic benefit that the Filipinos have by being maritime professionals, far outdoes any of the negatives.”

On the issue of crew change, Mr. Borromeo noted that The Philippines is one of the few countries who implemented the green lanes concept to facilitate the movement, not only of Filipino maritime professionals, but also of foreign nationals. He credits the partnership between the country’s seafarer union, shipowners’ association and the government for this initiative which established protocols for inbound and outbound movement of essential workers.

He points out however that there are costs involved. And this is where ship owners, ship managers and crew managers, together with multilateral associations, need to be cognizant of the great pressures that are put on seafarers in such situations that is why a concerted effort to address their mental health needs is important.

Another crucial issue discussed during the session was the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of seafarers. “What we are doing at PTC is to really address this matter front and center and begin to develop programs which provide our global maritime professionals (GMPs) a means to communicate with their loved ones and access to professional help should they need it,” he shared. “The present situation has evolved where crew members have had to spend extended time at sea.

The ICS Leadership Insights Series is designed to help senior decision makers better understand the changes taking place in the operating environment. It brings together industry leaders, policymakers and financiers to discuss the global shifts that have arisen in the wake of the pandemic and chart the path back to economic growth, stability and resilience. Providing a high-level perspective for the maritime sector, the Series focuses on how other industries are responding to this new world, and how this will impact their respective businesses.

As part of PTC’s strategic expansion of its global footprint, the company entered into a partnership in 2014 by acquiring interest in the Aboitiz-Jebsen Group (Abojeb) whose businesses span from maritime and manpower management to high-value Last August 19, Jebsen PTC (JP) held a blessing business support service. for its new office located at Pilgrim Building, 111 Aguirre Street, Legazpi Village, Makati.

The blessing was officiated by Fr. Patrick Villasanta and was attended by members of the PTC Group Management Team and JP Department Heads and Senior Managers.

The rest of the employees joined the ceremony remotely via Microsoft Teams.

After the blessing, PTC CEO Gerardo Borromeo addressed JP employees and commended them for their resiliency in the face of tremendous pressure and disruption brought by the global pandemic.

This has resulted in a combined pool for PTC of more than 51,000 maritime professionals with 25,000 on board over 1,000 vessels worldwide at any one time.

PTC joined the country in celebrating National Maritime Week from September 20 to 27. Anchored on the International Maritime Organization’s theme of “Sustainable Shipping for a Sustainable Planet,” the weeklong celebration had the participation of PTC Global Maritime Professionals (GMPs) visiting First Maritime Place.

GMPs were given multivitamins and treated to free snacks and coffee. Webinars on various maritime topics organized by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) were also streamed live at PTC’s GMP Receiving Center in Libao Building.

its initiatives supporting economic growth, quality education, gender equality, life below water, and climate action.

Enabling global Filipino excellence through inclusive educational programs and innovative training courses, the PTC Group has The company also marked World Maritime helped provide meaningful global careers Day last September 24 by highlighting its for Filipino professionals of all genders, on efforts in building a better tomorrow through land, at sea, and in the air for over 40 years.

To protect the waters all life depends on, the company’s “Plastic-Free Starts with Me” project reduces plastic waste that goes into the oceans by re-purposing single-use plastics into ecobricks.

worldwide action to prevent suicides and raises awareness on mental illnesses associated with suicide.

“We at PHILCAMSAT have always recognized the value of mental health in maintaining the overall wellbeing of our Global Maritime Professionals (GMPs),” said Mr. Roy Akker, PHILCAMSAT Director for Business Operations and Development.“As part of our commitment to building the resiliency of our GMPs, especially in our current environment, we organized this webinar to give our seafarers and their families a deeper understanding of how they can maintain their mental wellbeing both at sea and on shore.”

The Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Continued on Page 11 Simulation and Training, Inc. (PHILCAMSAT) presented a discussion on “Mental Wellbeing and Overall Wellness at Sea” to mark World Suicide Prevention Day last September 10 via Facebook Live.

Organized by is the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), World Suicide Prevention Day promotes

“Emotions do not work in silos,” she reminded the viewers. “We must connect with each other to break the cycle of negative thoughts.

If someone is in crisis, reach out to them because they may just be waiting to make a social connection, to be heard and to be listened to.”

Mr. Mark Que, In-House Psychology Consultant of PHILCAMSAT also emphasized The webinar featured an inspiring testimony the importance of connection to one’s from Ms. Chi Cruz, a GMP who shared her story mental health by introducing the In Touch of dealing with and overcoming depression Community Services which provides free, while she was quarantined onboard during anonymous, and confidential helpline the COVID-19 pandemic. support to anyone in need of counseling.

Addressing her fellow seafarers who may be going through similar challenges, she advised, “It is okay to not be okay. Do not be overcome by the stigma associated with mental health problems and be too afraid to ask for help. It does not make you a lesser person to ask for help, that is only being human.”

Expert advice on mental health was provided

by Ms. Pam Kern, Founder of Happiness at Sea - an organization that designs prevention and intervention programs for crew welfare and wellness.

Capt. Ronald Enrile, PTC Senior Executive Director for Government Affairs in Maritime and Sectoral Representation, closed the session with a message of encouragement for all the seafarers in attendance. Ms. Benjie Bautista of PTC Marketing Communications moderated the event.

The virtual signing ceremony was held on October 23 and attended by WMU President Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, PTC CEO Gerardo Borromeo, PTC COO Edgar Milla, PHILCAMSAT Executive Director Capt. Pol Winston Haboc, PHILCAMSAT Business Development and Operations Director Roy Akker, PTC Inc. Programs Manager Leslie Suntay and PHILCAMSAT QA and Program Director C/E Alfredo Haboc.

The PTC Group signed a memorandum of understanding with the World Maritime University (WMU) to strengthen their partnership in four areas of cooperation: delivery of Executive and Professional Development Courses, training exchange for WMU students, academic information exchange, and publication of research materials.

Headquartered in in Malmรถ, Sweden, the WMU is a postgraduate maritime university founded by the International Maritime Organization to be the world center of excellence in postgraduate maritime and ocean education, research and professional training, while building global capacity and promoting sustainable development.

With zero non-conformity (NC) findings, Mr. Rafael Magsino, Lead Auditor, and Mr. Ramoncito Puyat, Auditor, have recommended the ISO 22301:2012 certification of PTCI immediately after the audit.

PTC Inc. is proud to announce that it has successfully passed the stringent onsite certification audit conducted by TÜV Rheinland Philippines on the company’s Business Continuity Management System (BCMS ISO 22301:2012) last September 2.

The company has likewise successfully passed the Second Follow-Up audit on its environmental Management System and thus retains its ISO 14001:2015 Certification.

Mr. Rolando Remitar of TÜV Rheinland conducted the onsite audit at First Maritime Place on October 19.

PTC Inc. has successfully dispatched its crew for the first two vessels of the company’s new principal Berge Bulk, one of the world’s leading independent dry bulk owners.

The fleet ranges from handy-size to capesize, to some of the largest vessels ever built, serving the major miners, steel mills and charterers of the world.

The initial batch of PTC global maritime professionals joined Berge Dinara on October 2 in Singapore while another batch joined Berge Bintumani on October 6 in Mundra, India. A third vessel, Berge Bimberi, was taken over on October 23 in Yeosu, South Korea.

Named after mountains of the world, Berge Bulk’s vessels have an outstanding record for its reliable, safe and efficient delivery of commodities around the world.

Berge Bulk owns, operates and manages a fleet of over 80 safe and fuel-efficient vessels –equating to over 15 million DWT.

PTC salutes the officers and crew of Seaspan’s COSCO Malaysia for responding to a request from the United States Coast Guard to assist a small sailboat in distress roughly 27 nautical miles off the west coast of Florida, USA on the morning of September 13, 2020.

All four individuals aboard the sailing boat were rescued, given aid by COSCO Malaysia’s crew, and taken ashore to Tampa, Florida where they were endorsed to the proper authorities.

The PTC Group held its first-ever online job fair via the PTC Careers Facebook page last October 14 to reach out to seafarer applicants all over the country.

“With our high rate of crew retention, we can assure our GMPs that they will be carefully guided through our training platforms, coached by our competent team of mentors

The premiere live stream focused on maritime careers offered by PTC Inc. (PTCI) and was hosted by Alain Garillos, PTCI Crewing Manager, and Cherry Mae Follero, PTCI Recruitment Assistant.

onboard and ashore, and be empowered to achieve their goals as they sail onboard and move the world.”

The career fair continued the following week with another session for maritime applicants “At PTC Inc., we plot the course of our Global hosted by Jake Concepcion of Crewing and Maritime Professionals’ (GMPs) professional Cherry Mae Follero. growth and steer them towards a rewarding career onboard the most diverse and This was followed by a session for land-based advanced ships owned and managed career opportunities offered by Lifelinks in by the most respected principals and ship the health care, hospitality, and engineering owners around the world,” said Mr. Ronald sectors. The live stream was hosted by Lifelinks’ Macalintal, PTCI Fleet Manager.

Mark Villon and Iris Dulla.

In celebration of National Maritime Week, the office of IMO Maritime Ambassador Carlos C. Salinas donated 200 copies of the children’s storybook “Esmeralda: The Lucky Little Turtle” to the students of the San Antonio Village Elementary School (SAVES) on September 16.

The book is produced by the Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association and is distributed in the Philippines by the PTC-CSJ Foundation to promote marine environmental awareness protection among the youth.

School and office supplies including reams of legal bond paper and inkjet sets were also donated for the printing of the students’ learning modules. The donation was received

by SAVES’ Acting Principal Paulo C. Badua, Master Teacher Elvie R. Cabebe, and School Custodian Rocky Gabitanan.

PHILCAMSAT conducted a pilot test for its Advanced Training for Oil Tanker Cargo Operations (ATOTCO), the 4th STCW course developed by and pilot tested at PHILCAMSAT. The participants included MARINA RDD Head Marissa Dasmarinas and was conducted from October 12 to 21 at First Maritime Place in Makati.

The course is based on the standards of the International Maritime Organization and is intended for masters, chief engineers, chief mates, and other officers with immediate responsibility over loading, unloading care in transit, handling of cargo, tank cleaning or other cargo related operations on oil tankers.

To provide students with access to online learning materials, the PTC-CSJ Foundation donated 300 tablets to public elementary students in Muntinlupa City.

The donation supports the Department of Education’s thrust on “blended learning” Three hundred outstanding Grades 5 and 6 which uses online and printed learning students were identified from marginalized materials, as well as television and radio as families with no access to any electronic means of instruction online device and have other siblings in grade school to share the tablet with.

In total, 869 students from PTC-CSJ’s 10 public school-partners in Muntinlupa are benefiting from the 300 tablets. The donation was made possible through the financial support of PTC and Wallenius Marine AB.

Copyright © 2020 The PTC Group of Companies, All rights reserved.