69 percent support mandatory ROTC revival – Pulse

MANILA, Philippines — Sixty-nine percent of Filipinos are in favor of reviving the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program in schools, according to a Pulse Asia survey commissioned by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri in December last year.

Zubiri shared with Senate reporters yesterday the results of the survey that was conducted from Dec. 3 to 7.

In the survey, 69 percent of respondents agreed with the proposal to make the ROTC program mandatory “for all young people” – the highest at 79 percent in Mindanao, followed by 74 percent in the Visayas, 67 percent in Metro Manila and 63 percent in balance Luzon.

Meanwhile, only 17 percent disagreed with the proposal, while 14 percent were undecided.

In another Pulse Asia survey conducted from March 15 to 19 last year and commissioned by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, 78 percent said they agreed with the proposal to make the ROTC mandatory “to all students in college,” while 13 percent disagreed and eight percent were undecided.

Zubiri asserted that his commissioned survey is proof that there is public support for the return of the mandatory program, which was made optional in 2002 following the death of a cadet.

“Let’s give the bill a chance,” he said last Monday after his oath-taking as an Army reserve lieutenant colonel, adding that the bill has enough safeguards to prevent hazing.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who sponsored the measure on the floor, yesterday thanked Zubiri for his promise to prioritize its plenary interpellation in May to speed up its approval.