MANILA – The Senate might not be able to pass its version of the measure mandating Grades 11 and 12 students to undergo Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) in the 17th Congress, which will adjourn on June 7.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said a lengthy debate is expected on the measure since at least 10 senators have reserved to interpellate bill sponsor Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.
“Mabuti na din ‘yan para may trabaho si Sen. Bato dela Rosa pagpasok kasi mga pet advocacies nila ‘yun. So pwede sila na rin magdepensa nun,” Zubiri said in an interview on Tuesday.
“Pero pagdating sa ROTC training, personally, hindi ko po gusto na high school level mag-umpisa ang training ng ROTC,” he added. “We might have to take that up in the next Congress.”
Zubiri also said the ROTC program should instead be implemented in the college level as the students are more aware of the environment and physically developed to undergo rigorous military training.
Gatchalian earlier said the re-institutionalization of the ROTC program in educational institutions would “arm students with the discipline that they will need as they take over the reins of leadership and service from us.”
“It will also prepare them to face long-standing as well as ever-evolving challenges that our nation will encounter as it continues to move towards progress and development,” he said.
“Further, this iteration of the ROTC program ensures that after the completion of the basic ROTC course, students are not automatically enlisted into the Reserve Force,” he added./PN
