About time!
President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte wants to make it mandatory for Grades 11 and 12 students to
undergo Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).
Filipino students undergoing ROTC training (photo credit to owner) |
Currently a
bill reinstating ROTC is sleeping in Congress and the President is very much
inclined to issue an executive order making the comeback of the program for
Filipino students.
Being the
guest of honor at the 35th founding anniversary of the Army Reserve
Command in Tanza, Cavite, Duterte reiterated again his desire for the return of
the compulsory ROTC program principally to promote patriotism among Filipino
youth.
“I likewise
encourage Congress to enact a law that will require mandatory ROTC for Grades
11 and 12 so we can instill patriotism love of country among our youth,”
Duterte said
“Kapag
madala ng EO, executive order, baka mapilitin ako if they do not act on it. I
said this is a constitutional requirement that you must be prepared to defend
your country,” the President added.
The
President as early last year made his intentions known in his desire for the
revival of the ROTC for Grades 11 and 12 in public and private schools.
The only
roadblock on this move of the President is the requirement to make an amendment
to Republic Act 7077 or the Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines
Reservist Act.
It was 2001
where the mandatory ROTC program was stopped, following a death of a University
of Santo Tomas student who was able to stumble and exposed the alleged
corruption in the ROTC program therein.
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