In line with the 2022 celebration of the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo), NAMRIA conducted an Abot-Mapa activity covering various primary and secondary public schools in Pangasinan and Navotas. The activity aimed to provide educational campaign materials on Philippine maps, charts, and maritime information. With the theme Our Seas, Our Livelihood, Our Life Source: A Whole-of-Nation Approach towards Raising Maritime and Ocean Awareness, this year’s MANA Mo focuses generally on environment preservation. With the approval and support of NAMRIA Administrator, Usec. Peter N. Tiangco, PhD, the celebration of MANA Mo has been a NAMRIA activity every September since 2020.

 

Ltjg. Angelica B. Prado from the Maritime Affairs Division of the Hydrography Branch officiated the activity in six public elementary schools in San Nicolas and Natividad, Pangasinan on 15-16 September 2022. The schools NAMRIA visited were Cabitnongan Elementary School, Calaocan Elementary School, Cacabugaoan Elementary School, Talingkapor Elementary School, Nining Elementary School, and San Eugenio Elementary School. Lieutenant Junior Grade Prado gave a brief discussion on NAMRIA’s role as the central mapping agency of the Philippines; and highlighted the maritime areas emphasized in the country’s nautical charts which include the West Philippine Sea, Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), Philippine Rise, Sulu Sea, and North Borneo (Sabah). She also provided the teachers with instructional materials that they can use afterwards.

 

 

In collaboration with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxilliary (PCGA), Lieutenant Junior Grade Prado also represented NAMRIA in conducting the activity in Tangos National High School in Navotas City on 30 September 2022. She discussed with the school’s Grade 9 students and Aralin Panlipunan faculty the importance of using the correct maps and charts. Lieutenant Junior Grade Prado also held a mini-workshop on getting and plotting coordinates, and measuring distance in a nautical chart.

 

 

The Abot-Mapa activity is adherent to NAMRIA’s strategic initiative in educating and encouraging schools to use the correct Philippine maps and charts.

 

Even after the conclusion of the 2022 celebration of MANA Mo, the activity will be further conducted in various primary and secondary schools in Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas, and other schools who will show interest in the campaign.