TACLOBAN CITY — The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) is seeking endorsement from the Regional Development Council–Social Development Committee (RDC-SDC) for its proposed P505.5-million budget for Fiscal Year 2027, aimed at expanding and upgrading its training facilities and programs for Filipino seafarers.
The proposal was presented during the recent RDC-SDC 1st Quarter meeting, where NMP Executive Director Victor Del Rosario outlined key infrastructure projects intended to strengthen the country’s maritime training capabilities.
For 2027, a significant portion of the proposed budget will go to the acquisition of training equipment, construction of a new training building with a roof deck, development of a three-storey maritime resource center, and improvement of road networks within the agency’s 17-hectare training complex.
NMP said the expansion supports its mandate as the country’s state-run maritime training and research institution, noting that it trained 22,972 active and aspiring Filipino seafarers in the previous year, the highest recorded since its establishment.
The proposal follows the agency’s increased budget allocation in 2026, when it received P427 million under the Department of Migrant Workers to fund infrastructure upgrades, including dormitory rehabilitation and the construction of new training facilities such as a training pool.
Once endorsed by the RDC-SDC, the 2027 budget proposal will proceed to the national budgeting process for further evaluation. NMP is also expected to present the proposal before the RDC Full Council meeting later this month.
The agency said the process aligns with the 2027 National Budget Call, which strengthens the role of regional development councils in endorsing priority programs to improve coordination among national government agencies and local government units.
Established in 1978, NMP operates its main training complex in Tacloban City, with a liaison office in Makati City.
(RONALD O. REYES)
