The defense leadership on Thursday welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposal to revive the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and make it mandatory.
“Matagal nang iniisip yan ng Armed Forces…napapansin namin na kumokonti na yung reservists at saka yung enlisted personnel. Yung reservist yung ino-organize sa probinsya, sila yung first responders sa sakuna, ngayon wala na tayong pool. So we need to do that,” defense spokesperson Delfin Lorenzana said in a radio interview over DZRH.
(The Armed Forces have been thinking about that for so long. We discovered the number of reservists is dwindling and also the enlisted personnel’s. The reservist being organized in the province, they are the first responders in the tragedy, now we have no pool.)
The President mentioned during his first State of the Nation Address (Sona) that he wants to strengthen the ROTC program to instill love of country. He wants a law to make it mandatory again to college students.
In 2002, the ROTC was made optional through the Republic Act 9163 or National Service Training Program Act. Other choices were Civil Welfare Training Service and Literacy Training Services.
“We welcome that development kasi it is the duty of every citizen to defend our country in times of war or emergency so it is really important that all citizens of the country are well trained or at least trained by the military so that when the time comes that we need to mobilize the citizenry, we are ready,” Army chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano said.
He said it will make the country better and more prepared for any eventuality.
“Makakatulong din yan sa (It will help in the) program ng (of the) government in fighting corruption at saka (and the) contribution sa peace and order,” he added. TVJ/rga
RELATED STORIES
Youth solon hits mandatory ROTC, warns of militarization in schools
Gatchalian commends Duterte for plan to revive compulsory ROTC
RELATED VIDEO
