TACLOBAN CITY — The National Maritime Polytechnic will offer two courses mandated by the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers convention for free that will bolster employment chances of Filipino seafarers in international vessels amid growing competition.

NMP executive director Victor A. Del Rosario said the offering of two additional free courses was approved by Department of Migrant Workers officer in charge Leo Hans J. Cacdac, adding that it is an attached agency under DMW that oversees the training of Filipino seafarers and conducts research to enhance the skills and proficiency of maritime professionals.

The two new courses mandated by STCW that will be offered for free are the Passenger Ship Crisis Management and Human Behavior Training and Safety Training for Personnel Providing Direct Services to Passenger Spaces.

He said the move enforces NMP's commitment in providing accessible and quality training opportunities and is aligned with its mission to contribute to the needs of the Filipino seafarers for skills enhancement and capacity building interventions.

The two newly-approved free courses reinforce the four other free courses that NMP is already offering and will further increase the number of Filipino seafarers that the agency has trained.