Duterte backs passage of mandatory ROTC — Palace
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Tue, 21 May 2019 05:53:20 +0000
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is supporting the passage of a bill requiring a mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program for grades 11 and 12 students in public and private schools nationwide, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement as he welcomed as “good news” the House of Representatives’ approval of the proposed act mandating the “institutionalization, development, training, organization, and administration” of basic ROTC for senior high students around the country.
“That’s good news. The President wants that (bill on mandatory ROTC) passed,” Panelo told reporters during a press conference.
With 167 affirmative votes, four against and no abstentions, the House on Monday approved House Bill 8961, or the proposed measure making ROTC program mandatory to all students in Grades 11 and 12 in public and private educational institutions.
If passed into law, the bill would establish a mandatory two-year basic ROTC program for all senior high school students.
Duterte has repeatedly called for mandatory ROTC training, saying the program will help prepare young Filipinos defend the Philippines during wartime.
In a speech in November, the President urged lawmakers to pass a bill “so you can instill patriotism and love of country to the youth.”
“We are not the only generation who will be soldiers. Ang mga anak natin, kung ‘di mo gawin, walang alam kung magkaupakan (Our children, if we don’t do this, they will have no skills if a battle ensues),” Duterte has said.
The ROTC, mandatory military training in college, was made optional in 2002 following the controversy that resulted in the death of Mark Chua, a University of Sto. Tomas student. He was allegedly killed by course officers after exposing fund mismanagement.
The military has lamented that membership in the country’s reserve force drastically went down when the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Law was passed in 2001.
ROTC is now one of the three components of the NSTP, along with Civic Welfare Training Service and Literacy Training Service. CATHERINE S. VALENTE
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