ILOILO – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is supportive of the revival of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC).
In a resolution, it endorsed specifically Senate Bill No. 2232, “An Act mandating the institutionalizing, development, training, organization, and administration of basic ROTC for Grades 11 and 12 in public and private educational institutions.”
SP member Liecel Mondejar-Seville, a reserve commissioned officer of the Philippine Marines, sponsored the resolution.
She said ROTC would “instill discipline, patriotism and respect to the laws and to duly constituted authorities, and to prepare the youth…as additional manpower of the State in times disaster, conflicts and wars.”
Seville revealed she was an officer of the then Citizens Army Training or CAT when she was in high school at the University of San Agustin and appreciated her training.
The SP plans to send a copy of the resolution to the Senate.
President Rodrigo Duterte is keen to have mandatory ROTC for Grades 11 and 12 as soon as possible.
In a letter to Senate President Vicente Sotto III dated June 3, Duterte urged the Senate to certify the immediate passage of Senate Bill No. 2232.
The President said the measure is expected to “restore basic military and leadership trainings for the youth in order to invigorate their sense of nationalism and patriotism necessary in defending the State and to further promote their vital role in nation-building.”
On May 20, the House of Representatives voted 167-4-0 to approve on third and final reading its version of the ROTC measure, House Bill 8961.
Under House Bill 8961, ROTC training would apply to “all students in Grades 11 and 12 in all senior high schools in public and private educational institutions” and shall be a requirement for graduation.
The following students may, however, be exempted: those who are physically or psychologically unfit; those who have undergone or are undergoing similar military training; those who are chosen by their school to serve as varsity players in sports competition; and those who may be exempted from training for valid reasons as approved by the DND, upon recommendation by an educational institution where the student is enrolled.
The proposed measure also strictly prohibits the use of ROTC training for “political” objective and for teaching and instilling a particular political ideology on students.
House Bill 8961 also bans hazing and other forms of physical or mental abuse./PN
