SAN JOSE, Antique – An assistant commandant of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) for the past 30 years and now a college instructor at the University of Antique (UA), has expressed support in making ROTC mandatory.
Pablo Garcia on Friday said he wanted ROTC to be mandatory due to the discipline that the students develop from the training.
He also proposed that the course be offered to first year-college students instead in senior high school, which is being pushed by the law’s version in the Congress.
“There are many schools with Grades 11 and 12 students so it would need more ROTC officers to conduct the training,” Garcia said.
He added in UA, which is the only state university in the province, the ROTC is required for first-year college students taking Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminology and BS in Marine Engineering.
“The ROTC at UA is being handled by the Philippine Army,” he said.
Around 1,500 students – enrolled in BS Criminology and BS Marine Engineering – were taking up ROTC this school year, he added.
“Other first-year college students taking up other courses in the university have the option though, to either take ROTC or the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS),” Garcia said.
Students taking up ROTC are considered Army reservists while those who opted for the CWTS, the students undertake training on the delivery of literacy, civic welfare and disaster risk reduction and management programs and activities.(With a report from PNA/PN)
