REVIVING MANDATORY ROTC TO BE PRIORITIZE AT SENATE

Mandatory ROTC to be revived and will be prioritized on the Senate as soon as session resumes in November (Photo courtesy of Philippine Daily Inquirer)

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sees the urgency for the passage of Senate Bill No. 2034 sped up or revival of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) mandatory for tertiary students in higher learning as well as vocational institutions.

Majority Leader Francis Tolentino said the mandatory ROTC is now one of the top priority measures to be passed by the Senate after President Marcos Jr. gave his approval in the recent Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting. 

“With the President’s go signal, the ROTC bill has been moved to Tier 1 from Tier 2 in the list of the LEDAC – making it a top priority. So, when the session resumes, we expect to discuss it right away,” Tolentino stated.

Some amendments are being considered like the program's duration and curriculum, including subjects on climate change, disaster preparedness, and civics. 

“On the transitory provisions whether it’s for one year or two years. Basically, the program is for first year and second year college. What I see is it may only be for first year, basic. Then advance, if there are those who want to specialize. We can craft an ROTC curriculum where one can specialize, let say, on cybersecurity, etc.”

Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Philippines (ACT-Philippines) is pushing for a "genuine patriotic education that fosters critical thinking, promotes peace, and safeguards Philippine sovereignty", instead of "militarization” which they believe will happen if mandatory military training is be revived.

"We need to educate our youth about our history of struggle against colonialism, not train them to be complicit in new forms of foreign domination," it said.

According to Tolentino, the mandatory ROTC would prepare students not only for war, but also to help in times of calamity. The measure includes basic military, leadership and civic training as well as enhanced preparedness during disaster response operations.

Source: Philippine News Agency

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