Mandatory citizens service training with optional ROTC pushed

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 20, 2022): Mandatory citizens service training with optional ROTC pushed (By Zaldy De Layola)

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MANILA – Cagayan de Oro City (2nd District) Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Tuesday reiterated the importance of a bill seeking to establish a mandatory citizen service training for college students, with an “optional” reserve officer training course (ROTC).

The proposal, which is contained in House Bill 6687, has already been approved by the House of Representatives and is now in the Senate.

Rodriguez appealed to senators to also pass the bill that would create a “national citizens service training program (NCSTP)” which includes community service-oriented activities like relief and rescue, and mobilization for disasters and calamities.

He called for Senate approval of the measure after the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) conducted a survey showing that 53 percent of senior high school student-respondents opposed the proposed revival of a school-based military training.

“It is not focused on military enlistment preparation. That is just part of what we envision would be a holistic citizen service training, which would encourage the participation of our youth in civic and public affairs,” he said.

He said the proposed revival of ROTC “answers the country’s need for a citizen force that is ready to be mobilized for all emergencies.”

“In a time when multitude of national and local emergencies and contingents confront our people, whether in the areas of external and territorial defense, internal security and peace and order, and disaster risk reduction and management, we need an updated and well-thought citizen service law,” he said.

To assure that the bill will not violate any international convention and law such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the bill does not cover high school students but only all students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs in all public and private Higher Education Institutions and at least 2-year Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs in all Technical Vocational Institutions (TVIs) in the country.

Under the bill, an inter-agency technical panel led by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall formulate the NCSTP curriculum.

The CHED and the Department of National Defense (DND) shall design an “optional ROTC” program that includes a five-month officer leadership course.

The CHED and DND, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines shall establish a separate four-year ROTC baccalaureate degree program.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203888