Mandatory ROTC defended | The Philippine Star >> News >> Headlines

Mandatory ROTC defended | The Philippine Star >> News >> Headlines

Mandatory ROTC defended
By Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star) Updated August 06, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (4)


MANILA, Philippines - Defense and military officials yesterday defended proposals to make mandatory the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) under the collegiate program.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin gave assurance that measures would be implemented to enhance the ROTC training program and make it acceptable to all stakeholders.

“We have military units in the entire country. They just have to give their feedback to the nearest military unit and this will be coursed to us,” Gazmin said.

Gazmin told radio station dzMM that they are still in the process of getting inputs from the public over the proposal to make ROTC a requirement in college.

“It is good that this (proposal) is discussed through the newspapers and radio. We can get inputs and we can talk about them,” he said.

Gazmin said he is supporting efforts to revive the ROTC, stressing the program would instill discipline among students while augmenting the country’s military forces.

Gazmin’s pronouncement was greeted with opposition from militants and students who said ROTC is a waste of time and is prone to abuse. Some sectors also claim that a mandatory ROTC program would pose additional financial burden to parents who would have to buy the required uniform.

Gazmin said such concerns are being taken into account.

Gazmin said the ROTC program could be implemented even without the uniform.

He added military units would closely supervise and monitor the implementation of the ROTC.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said the military is now more capable of handling the ROTC program.

“At this point in time, the discipline of the Armed Forces is far better than what it used to be. We are more prepared now to handle ROTC students,” Mabanta said.

The AFP spokesman urged the 15th Congress to pass a bill that would make ROTC a requirement for college students.

“We feel it’s high time again to ask our friends from Congress to sponsor a bill to make it (ROTC) once again mandatory... we feel there is nothing to be worried about this,” Mabanta said.

Calls to abolish the ROTC mounted in 2001 after University of Santo Tomas student Mark Chua was killed for allegedly exposing the irregularities in his unit.

The mandatory ROTC program was abolished in 2002 after then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law Republic Act 9163, which created the National Service Training Program (NSTP).

The law made ROTC among three voluntary programs for college students. The other NSTP components are the Civic Welfare Training Service, which encourages students to join developmental programs, and the Literacy Training Service, which trains students to become teachers of school children and marginalized sectors.

Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas took the initiative to file the proposal in House Bill 737 seeking to make the ROTC program mandatory for college students.

The militant Kabataan party list, however, vowed to block the measure, claiming the program would make students vulnerable to human rights abuses.


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