According to Senator Win Gatchalian, the proposal to return the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) to college is supported by various age groups, including young people of college age.
The senator shared this detail from the results of the Pulse Asia survey where it appears that 78% or almost eight out of 10 Filipinos support the implementation of ROTC in college. It also appears in the survey that 75% of the survey participants who are 18-24 years old agree with the return of ROTC in college. This age group is expected to participate in the proposed program.
The proposal is also said to be supported by the majority of Filipinos with different educational backgrounds, including those who attended high school (74%), those who completed high school (77%), those who attended college (79%) , and those in vocational education (83%).
“Malinaw na batay sa pag-aaral, suportado ng ating mga mamamayan ang panukalang ibalik ang ROTC. Sentimyento ito hindi lang ng ating mga magulang, kundi pati na rin ng ating mga kabataan,” said Gatchalian, co-author and co-sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2034.
Apart from preparing students for national defense, civil military operations, and law enforcement, the purpose of Senate Bill No. 2034 or Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Act to strengthen the ability of students to provide service during calamities and disasters, including disaster response operations, rescue and relief operations, and early recovery activities.
Gatchalian supports return of ROTC
“Hindi lamang ang ating mga kabataan ang makikinabang sa ROTC, kundi ang buong bansa. Sa ilalim ng programang ito, paiigtingin natin ang papel ng mga kabataan bilang mga lider at mga aktibong miyembro ng lipunan, lalo na sa mga panahong haharapin natin ang mga sakuna, kalamidad, at anumang emergency,” Gatchalian added.
Among those in favor of returning ROTC, they believe it will teach young people discipline and responsibility (71%). They also believe the program will teach students to defend the country (60%).
Under the bill, undergraduate students must take Mandatory Basic ROTC within four semesters.
In this regard, Kabataan Partylist Rep. questioned. Raoul Manuel about such a survey regarding ROTC.
In his statement this Wednesday, April 12, Manuel mentioned that the questions used in the survey regarding ROTC were not “carefully worded”.
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