Sara Duterte’s military training plan gets support from youth commissioner

TACLOBAN CITY — A commissioner of the National Youth Commission (NYC) expressed her support for the proposal of vice presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to make military training mandatory among young Filipinos.

Commissioner Christine Joy Cari, who is from Baybay City, Leyte, said that the presidential daughter has good intentions, saying this will help young people become more useful citizens.

“It’s not really a military training per se but to make our youths become more useful and responsive, especially during a disaster like a typhoon,” said Cari in a phone interview.

Mayor Sara, who is a Philippine Army reserve colonel, said that if she wins as vice president, she will ask Congress to make military training among 18 years old mandatory.

Cari said she also wants Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) members to use their funds other than organizing beauty contests or basketball competitions.

She said it’s better for them to use their own funds in disaster preparations and other calamities like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cari said she is happy that during this COVID-19 pandemic, the SK officials and members are making themselves useful by encouraging their peers to have themselves vaccinated against COVID-19.