Youth commission chair wants Duterte to issue EO on mandatory ROTC, CAT, scouting
MANILA, Philippines — The head of National Youth Commission on Wednesday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to issue an executive order making Reserve Officers Training Corps program mandatory for college students.
Undersecretary Ronald Cardema also asked the chief executive to require mandatory Citizenship Advancement Training program for high school students and mandatory scouting program for elementary pupils.
Cardema’s proposal veers away from Duterte’s desire to require mandatory ROTC for senior high school, which, he said, will inculcate patriotism among the youth.
“The Duterte administration returned the Sangguniang Kabataan this year and we also ask President Duterte now to immediately re-establish the ROTC, CAT and scouting now for the millions of Filipino youth, through an executive order, while waiting for the long-term laws to be enacted by Congress,” the NYC chair said.
The SK Reform Act, however, was passed in January 2016 during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III. But the first batch of SK officials under the new law was elected in this year’s village and youth polls.
Cardema stressed the mandatory trainings will make Filipino youth “better citizens and will be vital in transforming the Philippine republic into a better, safer and a more powerful Southeast Asian Nation.”
“We look up to the youth training of Singapore, South Korea, Japan and China and we aspire to make the millions of young Filipinos today to transform into young professionals, visionary nation-builders and become strong Southeast Asian leaders during our generation,” he said.
The ROTC was made optional in 2001 after the National Service Training Program Act was signed into, which allows college students to choose between ROTC, Literacy Training Program and Civil Welfare Training Service as part of their required NSTP.
The death of Mark Chua, a University of Santo Tomas student and cadet, led to the abolition of the ROTC program. Chua was murdered after exposing irregularities in the ROTC unit of the university.
No EO on mandatory ROTC
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the president will not issue an executive order on mandatory ROTC as the Congress will do the work.
“The position of the president is, the Congress should pass a law and I think there are already many House backers,” he said Monday.
Last week, Duterte called on the Congress to pass a law that would require mandatory ROTC for Grade 11 and 12 students.
“Let me take this opportunity to ask Congress to expedite the passage of the Reservist Employment Rights Act that is currently pending in both houses of Congress,” he said.
Sen. Manny Pacquiao filed in 2016 Senate Bill 189, aiming to revive the mandatory ROTC for senior high school students. It is still pending.
House Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu, for his part, filed House Bill 5113 to “resuscitate” the program. The proposed measure is still under deliberation.
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