Tacloban city: The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) has opened enrollment for 56 maritime training courses scheduled for the first half of 2026 to strengthen Filipino seafarers' competencies.

According to Philippines News Agency, the lineup includes 22 mandatory Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention courses and 34 non-mandatory programs, with 32 courses offered free to qualified trainees. The NMP stressed its attendance policy, emphasizing that trainees who fail to attend the first session of any paid course will be delisted and may apply for re-enrollment in a later schedule. Participants in free programs who miss the first session will be barred from re-enrolling for one year.

Trainees can enroll online or at NMP offices in Tacloban City and Makati City. The NMP reported that it trained 22,741 seafarers this year as of December 5, marking its highest annual total since its founding in 1983. The increase was attributed to larger class sizes, additional training batches, and expanded partnerships.

The NMP noted that about 87 percent of its trainees secure maritime jobs, with 97 percent of those working in the international seafaring industry. The Philippines is estimated to supply 25 percent to 30 percent of the global maritime workforce.