Reverting NMP as an attached agency pushed, Visayas-leg consultation concluded

By GERICO A. SABALZA
June 11, 2026

PALO, Leyte – The proposed reconstitution of the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) as an attached agency of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) gained support from various stakeholders during the first leg public consultation in Palo, Leyte on Tuesday, June 9.

The activity held at the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Region VIII gathered 48 stakeholders representing national government agencies, local government unit, academe, and the seafaring community, with some maritime professionals coming from across the Visayas regions.

Participants included representatives from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), DMW, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), DEPDev, Palompon Institute of Technology (PIT), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), RMN Tacloban, Primona Holy Infant Academy, Inc., and NMP alumni and trainees.

The consultation served as a platform for them to discuss, validate, and provide recommendations on the proposed Executive Order that seeks to strengthen NMP's institutional capacity, improve operational efficiency, and enhance its ability to respond to the evolving needs of Filipino seafarers and the maritime industry.

By virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1369 in 1978, NMP was established as the country’s premier maritime training and research institution, mandated to upgrade the competencies and qualifications of Filipino seafarers in line with evolving international standards. In 1987, it became an attached agency to DOLE through Executive Order No. 126 and was subsumed under the DMW with the enactment of Republic Act No. 11641 in 2021. 

In his message, NMP Executive Director Victor A. Del Rosario emphasized the importance of stakeholder participation in shaping the future of the country's premier maritime training institution.

"This initiative is not solely about strengthening NMP as an institution. More importantly, it is about ensuring that we are better equipped to serve Filipino seafarers and support the continued growth of the Philippine maritime industry. Your insights, experiences, and recommendations are invaluable in helping us build an institutional framework that is responsive to the needs of the sector," he said.

Stakeholders actively engaged in the discussions and workshop session, sharing sectoral perspectives and insights on the proposed reconstitution. These inputs will form part of the consultation report that will guide the refinement and finalization of the draft Executive Order.

The consultation also provided stakeholders an opportunity to express their voluntary support for the initiative through the signing of a Manifesto of Support.