Philippines’ National Maritime Polytechnic sets sail for modernization

Philippines’ National Maritime Polytechnic sets sail for modernization
Liz Lagniton October 30, 2025 https://maritimefairtrade.org/philippines-national-maritime-polytechnic-...

Seafarers undergo training at the National Maritime Polytechnic in Tacloban City. The state-run school trained over 19,500 Filipino seafarers in the first nine months of 2025.
When the world shut down during the pandemic, ships kept moving, and so did the Filipino seafarer. Behind that resilience stood a quiet force ensuring those men and women at sea were prepared not only for today’s voyages but also for the digital horizons of tomorrow.

Since its establishment in 1978, the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) in Cabalawan, Tacloban City, has played a steady yet essential role in the Philippine maritime sector. Today, it is steering into a new era of modernization and global competitiveness — driving a nationwide effort to digitalize maritime training, expand access, and strengthen the global readiness of Filipino seafarers.

As the only government-owned maritime training and research institution, operating under the Department of Migrant Workers, NMP has continuously adapted its programs to meet the shifting tides of global shipping.

In an interview with Maritime Fairtrade, NMP’s executive director Victor Del Rosario offered an in-depth look into the institution’s sustained growth, modernization initiatives, and strategies to keep Filipino seafarers at the forefront of international standards.

At its core, NMP’s modernization is not simply a technological upgrade — it represents a long-term investment in the sustainability of the Philippine maritime workforce, ensuring Filipino seafarers remain globally competitive, future-ready, and aligned with international standards in an era defined by automation and smart shipping.

“My long-term vision is for NMP to become a world-class center of maritime training, research, and innovation that equips Filipino seafarers with the skills, adaptability, and character to lead in the era of smart shipping and digitalized vessel operations,” Del Rosario said.
Expanding training capacity through technology and reform

NMP has seen remarkable growth in its training programs. In the first three quarters of 2025 alone, the agency trained 19,550 active and aspiring seafarers, nearly surpassing its total for the entire previous year. For Del Rosario, this milestone underscores the success of NMP’s sustained reforms and modernization programs.

“This sustained growth is driven by a combination of strategic initiatives, including the offering of 56 training courses, composed of 21 STCW-mandatory and 35 STCW non-mandatory courses, 32 of which are offered free of charge,” he said.

The STCW (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping) convention, which underpins many of NMP’s courses, sets the global benchmark for maritime education, ensuring graduates are equipped with internationally recognized competencies.

The increase in enrollment also reflects operational improvements, from the full implementation of the Maritime Industry Authority’s (MARINA) prescribed trainee intake to partnerships with schools offering maritime and allied programs nationwide. These collaborations, formalized through memorandums of agreement, enable NMP to expand its training delivery and reach seafarers in more regions.

At the center of this efficiency drive is digitalization. Following the pandemic, NMP overhauled its administrative and academic processes, streamlining service delivery and eliminating inefficiencies that once burdened trainees and staff alike.

A major innovation is the online registration system, which allows seafarers to register, upload documents, and process payments even while onboard ships. The platform synchronizes with the cash collection information system, automating payment processing and enabling online approvals, reducing queues and manual transactions.

“NMP has implemented several reforms and digital innovations to maintain efficiency and enhance service delivery,” Del Rosario said. “In line with the government’s thrust for ease of doing business and swift, transparent, and efficient public service, NMP has streamlined and digitalized its systems and processes to ensure a lean and responsive organization.”

The agency’s Learning Management System (LMS) also plays a central role in digital training, offering flexible, distance-based instruction that allows trainees to access course materials, attend classes, and complete requirements anywhere in the country, or even while onboard ships.

This system ensures continuity of learning, especially for seafarers in remote locations, and complements NMP’s wider digital ecosystem, including the Computer-Based Assessment System and e-Research portals.

“Recent studies such as ‘Maritime Technology Trends: Implications on Filipino Seafarers’ Employment in Oceangoing Vessels’ (2024) and ‘Investments on Distance Learning in Philippine Maritime Training Institutions’ (2023) reflect NMP’s proactive stance in understanding and adapting to emerging technologies and evolving modes of training delivery,” Del Rosario said.

Through these initiatives, NMP ensures Filipino seafarers are not only technically competent but also digitally literate, ready to operate and adapt in increasingly automated and connected shipboard environments.
Bringing maritime training closer to home

The Philippines has long been known as the world’s leading supplier of seafarers. With over 460,000 trained since 1983, NMP stands as a pillar of that legacy.

But for Del Rosario, legacy alone is not enough. What defines NMP today is accessibility — ensuring quality maritime education reaches even the country’s most remote coastal communities.

“NMP maximizes its Tacloban City facilities by offering affordable on-campus dormitory accommodations, effectively minimizing lodging costs for trainees traveling from distant provinces,” he said, noting that the agency also extends training opportunities to more seafarers through offsite courses conducted in partnership with maritime education training institutions (METIs) nationwide.

While the Tacloban campus serves as the main hub, NMP is actively pursuing the establishment of regional training centers to reduce geographic and financial barriers.

In Luzon, the Tanza, Cavite Regional Training Center is already in the planning stages. NMP has partnered with the Development Academy of the Philippines to conduct a feasibility study for the 2.2-hectare site, backed by a P10-million (US$179,000) allocation. The center is envisioned as a modern facility with simulation-based laboratories and specialized classrooms that will serve both seafarers and maritime students in the region.

In Mindanao, NMP is preparing for a training center in Davao City, with a P5-million (US$87,000) feasibility study funded under the 2026 National Expenditure Program. The proposed 5,000-square-meter site within the Davao Regional Government Center in Barangay Bago Oshiro is expected to become the hub for maritime training and assessment in Southern Mindanao.

“Beyond these initiatives, NMP is also exploring future expansion in other major maritime hubs across the Visayas and Mindanao, particularly in Cebu, Iloilo, and Misamis Oriental, to make maritime training more accessible and inclusive for Filipino seafarers nationwide,” Del Rosario said.

To supplement physical expansion, NMP continues to partner with local METIs, conducting offsite courses that bring training directly to communities that might otherwise lack access. Combined with the LMS and digital systems, this approach ensures equitable access for trainees regardless of location or financial capability.

Modernization in motion

Modernization is perhaps the most defining theme of NMP’s current trajectory. From state-of-the-art simulators to large-scale infrastructure projects, the Polytechnic is making unprecedented investments to upgrade its facilities and technologies.

“The agency has pursued an aggressive modernization agenda to transform its training facilities and programs in line with global maritime standards,” said Del Rosario.

In 2024, the institution allocated P52 million (US$897,000) to acquire advanced simulation systems — a full mission bridge simulator, liquid cargo handling simulator, and upgraded engine room simulator software. These systems replicate real-world shipboard scenarios, immersing trainees in digital environments that closely mimic actual maritime operations.

Building on that foundation, 2025 brings an even larger P63-million (US$1.09 million) modernization package. This includes upgrades to the global maritime distress and safety system, new fireman’s apparel, electrical and electronic trainers, interactive displays, CPR mannequins, and inflatable life rafts — critical tools for hands-on, competency-based instruction.

“Looking ahead to Fiscal Year 2026, NMP has secured P249.6 million (US$4.3 million) under the Department of Migrant Workers’ National Expenditure Program for major capital outlay projects that will significantly expand training capacity and improve trainee welfare facilities,” Del Rosario said.

Among these are a two-storey ratings dormitory, rehabilitation of the officers’ dormitory, a training pool, and a MARPOL (marine pollution) boardwalk to support environmental and pollution-control training.

“All these initiatives underscore NMP’s commitment to modernization, not only through technology and infrastructure, but also in continuously elevating the overall training experience of Filipino seafarers and ensuring that the Philippines remains a global leader in maritime workforce development,” he said.
Research and workforce development

Modernization at NMP is not limited to infrastructure or technology. The institution also leverages research to enhance workforce development and ensure that training remains responsive to global maritime trends.

Del Rosario said NMP conducts studies on emerging technologies, evolving industry needs, and best practices in maritime training. The findings inform curriculum updates, the creation of new courses, and policy recommendations that guide both national and institutional decisions.

“NMP conducts evidence-based research that informs policy and program development to continually enhance maritime education standards and workforce strategies,” he explained.

Among its specialized programs are courses addressing the psychosocial well-being of seafarers, such as the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse in the maritime sector, STD/HIV/AIDS prevention in the maritime sector, gender sensitivity training for seafarers, and mental health awareness courses.

These courses complement technical training by promoting mental resilience, responsible behavior, and positive shipboard culture, a holistic approach that supports both personal and professional development.

“Through these initiatives, NMP ensures that its programs remain responsive and relevant to the rapidly changing maritime landscape,” Del Rosario said.

Through this combination of practical training, research, and policy guidance, NMP contributes not just to the competence of individual seafarers but to the strength and reputation of the Philippines as a leading supplier of maritime professionals.
Global and local partnerships

Del Rosario emphasized that modernization also includes global engagement. NMP participates in international networks such as GLOBAMET, providing access to best practices, benchmarking opportunities, and collaborative training initiatives.

The institution is also reviving discussions with the Antwerp Maritime Academy in Belgium to enhance faculty development, curriculum design, resource sharing, and information exchange. These international linkages ensure NMP’s training programs remain competitive and aligned with global standards.

“As an agency under the Department of Migrant Workers, NMP can also leverage the global network of Migrant Welfare Offices to explore additional international linkages, partnerships, and opportunities for collaboration,” Del Rosario said.

Domestically, NMP works closely with MARINA, the Commission on Higher Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and key industry stakeholders to ensure that programs remain relevant to the needs of the maritime sector while supporting continuous workforce development.
The road ahead

Looking toward the next decade, Del Rosario envisions NMP as a fully integrated, multi-campus smart institution that blends state-of-the-art facilities, advanced simulators, and digital learning platforms.

He said initiatives such as the Maritime Research, Education, and Training Summit and other knowledge-sharing platforms will continue to drive collaboration and innovation.

“NMP continues to foster innovation and knowledge exchange that promote global alignment and competitiveness.”

“Ultimately, NMP’s modernization is not just about infrastructure or technology. It is about empowering people, ensuring that every Filipino seafarer trained by NMP remains globally competitive, future-ready, and proud to carry the banner of Filipino maritime excellence across the world’s oceans,” Del Rosario concluded.

By investing in modernization, research, and nationwide accessibility, NMP aims to align maritime training with global industry standards. As the shipping sector moves toward automation, digitalization, and smart technologies, the institution is implementing an integrated approach to help Filipino seafarers adapt to evolving demands and remain competitive worldwide.