Former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo wants to expand and improve the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program through the creation of a Citizens Service Corps.
Arroyo has filed House Bill No. 5305, which seeks to institute a mandatory Basic Citizen Service Training Course (CSTC) for all college students in baccalaureate degree and vocational courses in all public and private universities, colleges and other learning institutions all over the country.
Arroyo said that the youth training should not only be confined to external and territorial defense, but must also be expanded to participation in public and civic affairs, including internal security threats and disaster management.
“This measure seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for the training and mobilization of our youth and implements the constitutional vision of drawing them into the mainstream of national life by providing avenues for their participation in public and civic affairs, primarily through the establishment of the Citizen Service Training Course (CSTC),” Arroyo said.
Under the CSTC bill, the trainings will be expanded to cover internal security, peace and order as well as disaster risk reduction and management. The external and territorial training under the ROTC program shall be retained.
All those who will complete the CSTC will become part of the Citizen Service Corps.
The Citizen Service Corps may be called upon by the government to defend the State against external aggressors to defend its territory, assist in matters of internal security and peace order and serve during times of calamities and other emergencies.
Arroyo said a Citizen Service Mobilization Commission shall be created as a safeguard to eliminate abuses and controversies that stemmed from the mandatory implementation of the ROTC.
“For acts already penalized under existing laws such as corruption, graft, hazing, sexual harassment and other abuses committed by persons authorized to implement the CSTC and deployment of the Corps, the maximum imposable under existing law shall be imposed,” Arroyo said.
https://www.update.ph/2017/05/citizen-service-corps-proposed-to-be-called-against-external-aggressors/17632
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