ChEd backs return of mandatory ROTC

ChEd chair Prospero de Vera III. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Higher Education (ChEd) is supporting the plans of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to require the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) for senior high students, its chief said Tuesday.

ChEd chairman Prospero De Vera III said the Commission is ready to submit its proposals of revisions to the ROTC and National Training Service Program (NSTP) to the President and the Congress.

“100% full support kami diyan sa statement ng ating Pangulo dahil matagal na naming pinag-aaralan ito. In fact, four years ago, mayroon na kaming plano o nakahanda na kung ano ang mga revision na mangyayari sa NSTP ‘pag nagkaroon ng ROTC sa Senior High,” he said in a public briefing.

(We fully support the President’s statement because we have long been studying this. In fact, four years ago, we already crafted a plan and the revisions on what will happen to the NSTP if the ROTC becomes required in Senior High.)

Should the ROTC be required for senior high students, the current optional two-year training at the university level would be converted to an “advanced ROTC program,” De Vera said.

With this new program, students can earn diplomas and certificates, and they can also become officers already that can be recruited into the Armed Forces of the Philippines or to the Reserve Corps.

“Mayroon kaming handa na na propposal, anytime pwede naming ibigay sa Pangulo o sa Kongreso na ‘yung 2-year program ng ROTC sa university level ay mako-convert into a certificate or a diploma program,” the ChEd chairman said.

(We have a proposal that is ready to be submitted to the President and Congress anytime. It provides that the 2-year training at the university level would be converted into a certificate or a diploma program.)

De Vera said ChEd has already polished its proposal, including the proposed syllabus for the diploma program.

The program, he said, would be “heavily skills-based,” particularly on disaster management.

De Vera said it has already coordinated with universities and colleges as well as their respective local government units on the training of the students in terms of disaster response.

“Para pagdating ng bagyo, lindol, o disaster, pwede silang [students[ i-mobilize in coordination with the local government unit,” he said.

(So that when disaster comes, these students can be mobilized in coordination with the local government.)

De Vera added that the Commission has also already revised the implementing rules and regulations for the NSTP law (Republic Act No. 9163), which makes the ChEd ready to adopt if mandatory ROTC is required again.

Marcos, in his first State of the Nation Address, has called on the Congress to pass a law mandating the ROTC program for senior high school students.

READ: Bongbong Marcos to Congress: Make ROTC mandatory in senior high school