The Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) (Filipino: Akademya sa Bapor Pangkalakalan ng Pilipinas) is the Premiere Merchant Marine academy in the Philippines. Operated by the Filipino government under the supervision of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the academy is located in San Narciso, in the province of Zambales. Students are called midshipmen but are often also referred to as cadets. Upon graduation students are commissioned as Ensigns (2nd Lieutenants) in the Philippine Navy Reserve. They have the option to start a career in the maritime industry or sign up for active military duty either in the Philippine Navy or the Philippine Coast Guard.