President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) in Tacloban City on Friday, December 12, 2025, to inspect the training center’s recently upgraded equipment and facilities. The President’s visit underscores his administration’s commitment to modernizing the training of Filipino seafarers to maintain and enhance their competitiveness in the global maritime industry.
The NMP, established in 1978 under Presidential Decree No. 1369 by his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, provides essential maritime training courses and conducts crucial research and studies on industry issues. It was placed under the Department of Migrant Workers in 2021 by Republic Act 11641, or the Department of Migrant Workers Act.
President Marcos Jr. inspected the state-of-the-art training equipment completed in early December 2025 and scheduled for use beginning January 2026. These upgrades include:
-
Full Mission Bridge Simulator: This high-fidelity simulator allows trainees to experience real-world navigation, ship handling, and comprehensive bridge operations.
-
Liquid Cargo Handling Simulator: Providing hands-on training for the safe operation of pumps, valves, pipelines, and auxiliary equipment essential for liquid cargo vessels.
-
Engine Room Simulator Software Upgrade: This comprehensive system offers simulations of a ship’s main propulsion plant, electrical power generation systems, and auxiliary machinery.
The President received a detailed briefing on the simulators, which are designed to replicate real-world vessel operations, enabling trainees to develop critical competencies in navigation, cargo handling, engine room operations, emergency response, and effective decision-making.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized the President’s focus on modernization. “President Marcos Jr. is dedicated to ensuring the NMP’s equipment and facilities meet the highest international standards, thus securing the excellence of Filipino seafarers,” Castro stated.
She further reiterated the President’s vision, saying, “The President believes the government must work hard to modernize the training equipment and facilities of the National Maritime Polytechnic so that Filipino seafarers can keep pace with international standards.”
Castro concluded with a powerful declaration of the administration’s priority: “For President Marcos Jr., Filipinos first, seafarers first.”
The investment in the NMP’s facilities highlights the administration’s recognition of Filipino seafarers as vital economic contributors and global maritime professionals.
