BACOLOD City – Two city councilors here have expressed their support to the bill reinstating the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in public and private senior high schools as a way to inculcate values among the Filipino youth.
Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairman of police matters and peace and order, believed that undergoing the mandatory military training would instill discipline and respect for hierarchy among students.
“I’m in favor of reviving the ROTC as part of the curriculum. I think it’s a laudable legislative endeavor. I will advocate the return of ROTC,” he added on Wednesday, saying he learned discipline and respect from ROTC in college.
He added those who have military training as students can defend the country if needed.
Meanwhile, city councilor Israel Salanga said he also supports the proposed law for mandatory ROTC – the priority legislation of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“The ROTC program will inculcate patriotism, nationalism and discipline among the youth,” said Salanga, who was also a former ROTC cadet.
Through military training, young people can develop their physical, moral, intellectual, and social well-being and get involved in public and civic affairs, he added.
“As the saying goes, ‘It is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war’ which in my opinion suggests that it is best that a country’s workforce are military-trained,” Salanga said.
Around 2,500 cadets from selected colleges and universities and uniformed personnel attended an ROTC summit at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Dec. 20.
It was led by the Office of the President through the Presidential Management Staff and the Presidential Security Group, in coordination with the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, through the Office of the Reservist and Retiree Affairs.
The event featured the silent drill competition among the best cadets in the Philippine Military Academy, Philippine National Police Academy, Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, Philippine Army Officer Candidate School, Philippine Navy Officer Candidate School, and the Philippine Air Force Officer Candidate School.(With a report from PNA/PN)
