By Gail Momblan | Philippine News Agency
ILOILO CITY — The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) of Iloilo province has expressed its support for the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program for senior high school students.
Board Member Leicel Seville of the 2nd District of Iloilo, sponsored a resolution supporting House of Representatives Bill 8961 or the proposed “Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Act”, which was passed in the plenary on third and final reading during the board’s regular session on Tuesday.
The Board Member on Friday emphasized the importance of the ROTC in senior high school, particularly its role in molding discipline and patriotism among the youth.
“I saw that the bill was passed and I realized that it’s about time for this. There is really a need to inculcate discipline, patriotism, and respect to Filipinos, especially with the younger ones,” Seville said in an interview.
As a former officer of the Citizen Army Training (CAT) and reserve commissioned officer of the Philippine Marines, she said the army training can be a diversion of the youth from their daily activities.
“Although not all the millennials have influences of modern technology, we can see that some had shifted their focus on technology. So the army training can divert their focus,” she added.
The ROTC training can also prepare the youth for times of disaster and conflicts, she said.
The board resolution will be forwarded to the Secretaries of the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) has earlier expressed its support for the mandatory ROTC.
Capt. Cenon Pancito, chief of the 3ID Public Affairs Office, said the army is one with the vision of the government in instilling patriotism and discipline among the Filipino youth.
The ROTC program will also produce “reserves” to help government troops in any situation in the future, he said.
“We are looking at this program as preparation in our armed forces and the government. In times of emergency or crisis, we can always mobilize these people (as products of ROTC program),” Pancito said.
House Bill 8961 seeks to institutionalize, develop, train, organize and administer basic ROTC in Grades 11 and 12 in all public and private educational institutions.
