Manila, June 26 -- The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) will offer all 55 of its regular maritime training courses free of charge beginning Aug. 3, its chief announced on Friday.

In a virtual press conference, NMP Executive Director Victor del Rosario said the move is in line with the policy direction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to empower Filipino seafarers and was approved by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac through DMW Memorandum Order No. 360.

"Lahat ng ating mga regular maritime training courses sa NMP ay magiging libre na. Free of charge. Wala nang cost. As in, zero (All of our regular maritime training courses at NMP will be free. Free of charge. No cost. As in, zero)," del Rosario said....