AS the international shipping industry adapts to new environmental regulations, automation, and changing crew requirements, the DMMA College of Southern Philippines (DMMA-CSP) is updating its academic framework. The Davao-based institution is expanding its curriculum beyond standard technical instruction to introduce advanced management and leadership training for Filipino seafarers.
This development comes ahead of the 2026 International Day of the Seafarer on June 25. This year, under the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) theme “Carrying World Trade. Carrying the Risks,” the global community highlights the operational safety challenges and market shifts currently facing maritime personnel. Administrative officials at DMMA noted that aligning with this theme requires training cadets to handle both shipboard operations and high-level administrative responsibilities.
In celebration of the International Day of the Seafarer, the DMMA campus is organizing a series of institutional activities, including its annual Day of the Seafarer Colloquium. The event brings together senior cadets, faculty, and industry representatives to discuss risk management, crew welfare, and updated training protocols for the regional and national maritime sectors.
New institutional partnerships
To address gaps in executive education within the local maritime sector, DMMA-CSP established an educational partnership with the Asian Institute of Management’s School of Executive Education and Lifelong Learning (AIM-SEELL) on May 21, 2026.
The collaboration introduces the Postgraduate Certificate in Maritime Leadership and Officer Development Program. The hybrid curriculum incorporates strategic decision-making, personnel management, and organizational communication into the standard maritime course of study.
“The agreement marks the beginning of a program dedicated to shaping leaders who are ready for the world, ready for the sea, and ready to serve,” said Gloria Uriarte, president of DMMA-CSP, during the memorandum of agreement signing at the AIM Aboitiz Tech Space.
“Before a ship reaches its destination, someone must lead with clarity, courage, and judgment,” Uriarte added. “We are opening a new formation pathway for our maritime students, one that prepares them to think beyond procedures and towards purpose, beyond compliance and toward responsibility, beyond becoming crew members and toward becoming leaders.”
Adapting to global crewing requirements
The new training track is integrated into the third- and final-year curricula, prior to the students’ mandatory shipboard apprenticeships. This follows the school’s implementation of the Strategic Operations Management for Institutional Excellence (S.O.M.I.E.) framework, which standardizes administrative and training workflows.
These upgrades are timed to match evolving Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) guidelines as international fleets adopt cleaner propulsion technologies.
Florence Alejandre, vice president of DMMA-CSP, stated that maintaining compliance with global standards directly impacts graduate employment rates.
“Today is more than a formal agreement — it is a shared commitment to strengthen how we lead, how we serve, and how we deliver excellence,” Alejandre said, describing the school’s long-term strategy. “DMMA remains open and ready with any shifts in global crew requirements.”
Regional and international ties
DMMA continues to serve as a key training hub in Mindanao through established international agreements, including its ongoing enrollment in the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA) Philippine Cadetship Program. Since 2006, the school has served as the exclusive partner institution for the NSA in the region, providing sponsored tuition and housing pathways to berths on European-flagged vessels.
The campus maintains regular institutional audits and certifications from Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and the Norwegian Maritime Authority. It also serves as an official testing venue for the National Merchant Marine Aptitude Test (NaMMAT).
During the 51st Philippine Association of Maritime Institutions (PAMI) Annual Convention, Capt. Rogelio Paramio, head of the DMMA-CSP Maritime Department, emphasized the regional importance of updated training facilities. Paramio noted that developing specialized programs in Mindanao supports the broader national strategy to keep Filipino maritime professionals competitive in international shipping lines.