SEAFARERS' LEARNING HUB. A portion of the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) training complex in Tacloban City. NMP unveiled on Monday (Aug. 12, 2024) its PHP1.33 billion four-year modernization plan to enhance training for Filipino seafarers. (Photo courtesy of NMP)
TACLOBAN CITY – State-run National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) unveiled on Monday its PHP1.33-billion four-year modernization plan to enhance training for Filipino seafarers.
With support from the House of Representatives, the NMP is upbeat about securing funds from 2025 to 2028 to improve its maritime training equipment and facilities, as well as the infrastructure within its 16-hectare complex in Cabalawan village here.
“This is to improve the delivery of services for the benefit of our Filipino seafarers and the maritime industry in general. We’re supposed to be the standard of excellence in terms of the delivery of maritime training since we are a government-owned training center,” NMP executive director Victor Del Rosario said in a press conference.
Of the PHP1.33 billion budget, the NMP expects to secure PHP888.20 million in 2025; PHP166.99 million in 2026; PHP176.47 million in 2027; and PHP105.93 million in 2028.
“We are optimistic that we will get allocation since this is aligned with the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for a modern and future-ready maritime industry in the country. NMP is a project of his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, and our training complex is situated in the district of Speaker Martin Romualdez,” Del Rosario said.
With the modernization, the NMP expects to enlist 26,617 trainees by 2028, up from 15,260 in 2023. Its income is expected to rise to PHP79.86 million by 2028, up from PHP31.43 million last year.
The modernization plan will allow NMP to offer advanced training on chemical tanker, liquified gas tanker, and oil tanker cargo operations; electro-technical officer and ratings; and marine engineer officers; among others.
“The realization of the plan would enhance the delivery of existing maritime training courses and complete the offering of all mandatory courses based on the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers and its amendments,” Del Rosario added.
Modernization, he said, is part of the government's efforts to raise and strengthen the quality of the maritime workforce.
The total number of deployed Filipino seafarers reached 478,924 in 2023, with USD6.9 billion in remittances.
NMP is a government maritime training and research center created by Presidential Decree 1369. It is mandated to offer specialization and upgrading courses for merchant marine officers and ratings and to conduct research and studies on the latest maritime technologies and other related matters for the maritime industry.
The law established the NMP in Tacloban City, Leyte in 1978. The strategic location of NMP in this city, directly at the base of the San Juanico Bridge, made maritime training services accessible to seafarers from Eastern Visayas, Southern Luzon, Central Visayas, and Northern Mindanao.
The existing NMP training complex houses the administration building, maritime training building, and generator house building, all built in the early 1980s.
Support facilities such as the school buildings, gymnasium, general services building, staff houses, dormitories, and other support structures were completed through government appropriations. (PNA)
