By Jose Cielito Reganit/PNA
MANILA — The House of Representatives’ Committee on Basic Education and Culture on Wednesday approved a bill seeking to revive the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) training for senior high school students in public and private schools throughout the country.
The still unnumbered substitute bill was approved in only the panel’s second hearing following a motion to approve from one of the bill’s authors, Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu.
The motion was carried without any objection.
The panel’s approval came more than two months after President Rodrigo Duterte urged Congress to expedite the restoration of ROTC for senior high school students to instill patriotism and love of country among the youth.
The bill, which aims to “instill patriotism, love of country, moral and spiritual virtues, respect for human rights and adherence to the Constitution,” is being supported by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of National Defense (DND).
The approved bill seeks to amend Republic Act No. 7077 or the Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act, which was enacted in 1991.
Under the proposed measure, ROTC training would apply to “all students in grades 11 and 12 in all senior high schools in public and private educational institutions.”
The bill also provides that ROTC training shall be a requirement for graduation.
Meanwhile, the following students may be exempted from training: those who are physically or psychologically unfit; those who have undergone or are undergoing similar military training; those who are chosen by their school to serve as the school’s varsity players in sports competition; and those who may be exempted from training for valid reasons as approved by the DND, upon recommendation by an educational institution where the concerned student is enrolled.
