THE Commission on Higher Education (Ched) has yet to consult the education stakeholders on the planned revival of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) that will cover both male and female college students.
On Monday President Duterte said he will push for the enactment of a law that will make ROTC mandatory again. ROTC was made “optional and voluntary” by Republic Act 9163, or the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act, that was enacted in 2002.
CHED Chairman Patricia Licuauan said there is still a need to do the “groundwork” even if Duterte is apparently serious in pushing for the revival of ROTC.
“The major point I think [going] for ROTC is the need for a reserve force and that can be called upon during times of emergencies—not just war, but various types of emergencies—and we do not have that,” Licuanan said.
She also revealed the commission’s list of possible options for strengthening ROTC:
•Impact study of National Service Training Program (NSTP) and on the decline of reservists;
•Review proposals on possible restoration of mandatory ROTC;
•Issuance of CHED memo to state universities and colleges requiring them to offer the ROTC component pursuant to the NSTP law;
• Incorporation of ROTC in certain courses (criminology, maritime studies, etc);
•Basic and advanced ROTC leading to associate degrees; and
•Additional student financial assistance programs as incentive for students who choose ROTC.
Duterte wanted to revive the ROTC, according to his chief legal counsel lawyer Salvador S. Panelo, to be able to “ instill discipline and love of the country [to the youth].”
However, Licuanan expressed strong belief that one can develop love of the country even without undergoing ROTC.
“I fully subscribe to the fact that developing love of country and patriotism can be achieved in many ways, and not just through ROTC,” Licuanan said, as she cited that even the President himself was not able to undergo the said program.
“He was also asked: ‘So how then did you develop your love of country, obviously you didn’t need ROTC for that?’” the CHED chief disclosed.
Earlier, Panelo said he will study the existing law and submit his recommended amendments to the President.