Mandatory ROTC revival is essential: Davao group

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 28, 2023): Mandatory ROTC revival is essential: Davao group (By Che Palicte)

WALL OF COMMITMENT. Maj. Gen. Romulo Manuel Jr., head of the Philippine Army’s Reserve Command, leads the signing of the commitment wall in support of the revival of the mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) during the National Service Training Program (NSTP) and Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) directors and coordinators Summit in Davao City. Representatives from the Commission on Higher Education, NSTP, and ROTC also signed the commitment wall expressing their full support. (PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.)

DAVAO CITY – Various groups from Davao Region convened here Friday to push for the revival of the mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), citing it as an essential component for college students to develop a sense of patriotism.

Representatives from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and National Service Training Program (NSTP), among others, attended the 2023 Davao Region NSTP/ROTC Directors/Coordinators Summit that seeks to inculcate on the youth the love for country.

In a press briefing Friday, Maj. Gen. Romulo Manuel Jr., commander of the Philippine Army’s Reserve Command, said the mandatory ROTC is essential in preparing the youth and citizenry to help the government in times of crisis, and pandemic, among others.

“They will provide expansion of our regular force; as they can help in disaster response and in socio-economic development as well as provide essential services needed by the Filipinos,” he said.

Should the ROTC law be approved this year, Manuel said it will be implemented next school year.

“We have time to prepare. and I am glad that Davao Region is the first to conduct this summit,” he said.

Manuel also sees that the current 334,000 cadets will increase to 2.4 million nationwide if the ROTC bill pushes through.

“All of the other programs being introduced in NSTP will be converted to ROTC. Many universities have applied ROTC course programs and we received many requests to have it implemented nationwide,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Maricar Casquejo, the CHED-11 regional director, said they are fully supporting the drive in reviving the mandatory ROTC being implemented in the colleges and universities.

“This summit is our preparation as we wait for the approval and implementation of the law,” she said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1206661