The Duterte administration wants the immediate revival of
the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program as soon as legal
requirements are in place, a Palace official said on Wednesday.
In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto
Abella said it was President Rodrigo Roa Duterte who personally backed the
ROTC's revival.
"It is going to help in the building of discipline and
values, especially in this generation, and we expect ROTC to be able to help
build a sense of patriotism among the next generation," he said.
Abella assured that the President is open to conversation to
allay fears over its revival.
“Kasama na 'yan sa prosesong pinag-uusapan, narinig na rin
kung bakit may opposition tungkol sa pag-i-impose muli ng ROTC," he said.
He stressed, however, that the emphasis of the President’s
thrust in reimposing ROTC is to serve as a platform that could basically help
build a sense of patriotism in the next generation of Filipinos.
In a radio interview over the weekend, Presidential
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said ROTC is important because aside
from instilling patriotism and discipline among young people, it also helps the
country build its reserve force and easily mobilize personnel during times of
disasters.
“So, nakita po ng ating Pangulo, he saw the wisdom na
kailangan ibalik ito para number one, maibalik iyong discipline, strengthening
of character para hindi po ganoon kabilis iyong isang bata na ma-tempt na
magdroga. At number two, para to strengthen also our paramilitary,” Andanar
said.
The reserve military training under Republic Act 9163 is
known as the National Service Training Program (NSTP). It has three parts — the
NSTP-ROTC, Literacy Training Service, and the Civil Welfare Training Service.
But out of the three programs, Andanar said, it is
unfortunate that only 14 percent of enrolled students take ROTC.
There are two pending bills in Congress being deliberated as
proposed by Representative Isidro Ungab and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Andanar
said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=910287
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