Senator Bong Go called for thorough study of the proposed reintroduction of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in schools, saying that reserve units of the program can play a significant role not only for national security but also in bayanihan efforts during disasters and other crisis situations.
“Suportado ko po ang ROTC dahil mas matuturuan natin ang ating mga kabataan ng spirit of bayanihan, love of country, discipline, and patriotism,” Go said.
“Makakatulong din ito para mailayo ang mga kabataan sa illegal drugs and criminality. Kailangan lang magkaroon ng pag-aaral sa mga aspeto na makaka-apekto sa pag-aaral ng ating mga kabataan,” the legislator stressed.
“Kailangan din nating siguraduhin na hindi ito magiging dagdag gastusin sa mga magulang at estudyante.”
“Kailangan din nating siguraduhin na hindi ito magiging dagdag gastusin sa mga magulang at estudyante,” the lawmaker added.
In an ambush interview after personally providing aid to indigents in Biñan City, Laguna, the senator added that both men and women students may be considered to participate in ROTC.
“Kung physically fit naman at pabor naman silang sumali, kasi hindi naman po for military training lang ang ROTC. May iba diyan sa disaster, gusto nilang tumulong sa ating mga kababayan,” he explained.
“Welcome naman po kung physically fit naman…ang babae, (kung) gusto naman nila, bakit hindi,” Go continued.
He then asked the government and those in favor of bringing back ROTC in schools to carefully consider all options, including whether to make it mandatory or not.
“Pag-aralan nang mabuti. Ang babae po mayro’n pa silang maiko-contribute aside from ROTC para sa ating bayan.”
“Pero para sa akin, pag-aralan nang mabuti. Ang babae po mayro’n pa silang maiko-contribute aside from ROTC para sa ating bayan. Hindi natin alam kung willing ba silang mag-training rin po ng napakahirap na training na ia-undergo po sa ROTC,” Go said.
“So, pag-usapan po nating mabuti. Kunin po natin ang pulso ng taumbayan kung willing sila to undergo ROTC,” he added.
ROTC used to be a required course for male college students but was made optional after reports of irregularities in the program.
In his first State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged Congress to craft and file a measure mandating once again the ROTC for all senior high school students in both public and private schools.
Go said that, if necessary, the ROTC could be called into action to support regular military troops engaged in, among other tasks, operations during natural disasters.
This, as the United Nations earlier reported that despite the rise in catastrophic weather and natural disasters, half of the countries in the world lack sophisticated early warning systems required to save lives.
The Philippines is positioned along the so-called “Pacific Ring of Fire”, an area where earthquakes and volcanic activities are more frequent than in any other part of the world. The country also fronts the Pacific Ocean, exposing it to a high number of typhoons and related weather disturbances annually.
