AS global shipping faces a widening deficit of ship officers and a rapid shift toward green technology, Philippine maritime leaders are calling on the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) to help address these critical challenges by realigning its national training strategy towards advanced officer upskilling and future-ready maritime skills.
During a stakeholder validation forum held at the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) building in Makati City, industry executives emphasized that NMP, as the sole government maritime research and training agency, must lead the country in bridging critical technical skill gaps — not just through its planned P2-billion Regional Training Center (RTC) in Tanza, Cavite, but across its entire organizational program.
The recommendations build upon warnings from the Baltic and International Maritime Council (Bimco) and International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Seafarer Workforce Report, which highlights an escalating global shortage of qualified officers alongside a surplus of general ratings.
For seasoned mariners, the industry’s call marks a potential return to NMP’s historic roots as a proactive government response to international labor demands.
A veteran maritime officer, speaking on anonymity, recalled that NMP in its early inception, served as one of the country’s first direct answers to emerging global requirements for Filipino mariners.
“NMP in its early stage was actually one of the first responses of the country to an emerging need for Filipino seafarers,” the officer said. “It was one of the country’s answers to the call of the global shipping community for a concrete response that the Philippines can sustain and continue producing world-class seafarers.”
“NMP can be this answer again in today’s call for more skills among seafarers in order to answer the growing needs for the upskilling of seafarers and creating more officers,” the officer added.
Focus on emerging technologies
Industry representatives at the forum stressed that while physical expansion — such as the Cavite project — improves access for local seafarers, NMP’s nationwide curriculum strategy must adapt to changing vessel technology.
Dr. Glenn Mark Blasquez, vice president for operations at the Southern Institute for Maritime Studies (Sims), pointed out that local mariners often travel overseas for specialized certifications due to a lack of domestic programs.
“The Philippines currently has no clear training programs for cybersecurity, Electro-Technical Officer (ETO), Electro-Technical Rating (ETR), autonomous ships, and alternative fuels,” Blasquez said.
“NMP can focus on these because until now, we are still sending our seafarers to India and Singapore because there are no training centers here that offer these. ... Let’s concentrate on emerging technologies because this will be the future trend for shipping.”
Echoing these concerns, Karen Avelino, senior vice president for cruise operations at Philippine Transmarine Carriers (PTC), noted that the domestic market is already saturated with private basic training providers, urging NMP to focus its state resources on bridging structural training gaps.
Presca Lugo, maritime education and training representative from the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), suggested a phased approach to implementation. “If NMP intends to help seafarers be competitive, you may focus the Phase 3 of your training on emerging technologies,” Lugo advised.
Government commitment
Speaking on behalf of DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Director Augusto San Diego III of the Sea-Based Accreditation Bureau noted that NMP was established specifically to identify market weaknesses, resolve skill deficits, and ensure training programs remain future-ready.
Meanwhile, NMP Executive Director Victor Del Rosario assured stakeholders that their inputs — particularly regarding advanced officer tracks, non-mandatory technical courses, and alternative fuel competencies — will be evaluated for inclusion in the agency’s overall offerings and its final proposal presented for presidential approval.
Pending executive approval, construction of the P2-billion Cavite training facility is targeted to commence by 2028 as part of NMP’s broader mandate.
