Estandarte, Jastin Dave Rabara 23 March

2017
Comm. 2 Position Paper
Mr. Mark Cevallos

Mandatory ROTC Program

The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) was formed in the 1930s during the late
American oppression and the start of Japans invasion in World War II. It was also known as
Citizens Military Training, under the branch of the National Service Training Program
(NSTP). As the name suggests, it serves the following purposes: first, to provide man power
to compliment the lack of the regular members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),
and second, to provide a source of officer corps in the AFP.
However, lately the program was challenged because of the oppositions mostly
coming from student bodies and militant groups, due to reasons such as anomalies of
corruption, power tripping, verbal and physical abuse, contesting the rights and welfare of
students, and exposure of students to a culture of violence and fear. An example of which is
the death of Mark Welson Chua, an ROTC cadet officer from the University of Santo Tomas
who was murdered due to his dissemination of information about the corruption in their
schools ROTC program. This was the main reason why the Arroyo Administration amended
the Republic Act 9163 or the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001 last
2002. It gave college students the preference to choose between ROTC, Civic Welfare
Training Service (CWTS), and Literacy Training Services (LTS) making ROTC as only one
of the options in the NSTP.
In contrast to the Arroyo Administration, present President Rodrigo Duterte approves
of the nationwide restoration of mandatory ROTC program in the post-secondary educational
institutions for both public and private high schools, as of February of the year 2016. The bill
was said to be forwarded already to the senate and congress. The said proposal was referring
to the Senate Bill No.200, passed by Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, which would require students
enrolled in colleges, universities, technical and vocational schools to complete a two-year
ROTC program before graduation.
Implementing the mandatory ROTC program would be a good decision since it would
become the platform in teaching the current youth generation the characters of discipline,
leadership, and patriotism.
So why is there a need for mandatory ROTC? The current generation of young
individuals after the millennials are the so-called facebook generation. These young
individuals are already hooked into the world of modernization. It would be a waste if the
power and energy of the youth are not utilized for the improvement of the country. Having
the mandatory ROTC would give our citizens the right knowledge about military science and
disaster preparedness.
The youths common sentiment is that ROTC is a useless program in school which
only makes them march under the sun. The program was not made that way; the program was
made to instill discipline into students. It is not just marching, it is a drill showing discipline
born only out of ROTC and cannot be seen from other NSTP services. The cadets are trained
to handle hardship and stress without complaint and nothing is wrong with that because
ROTC needs humility and discipline in the service for society. You surrender your rights and
undergo subjugation. What military discipline instills in us is that civilian rights are always
prioritized over military rights.
 It is also to attain the aforementioned main goal of why ROTC was founded, which is
to produce a number of reservists that would serve the country especially now that our
countrys shores are being contested by China. In the past, it was first established because of
imminent threat during World War II against Japan. The guerrilla forces that drove our
country to liberation started from the ROTC. The ROTC was also the driving force in the
defense of Bataan; 80% of troops were from reserved force, such as the ROTC Hunters
Guerrilla. The aims of producing reservists is because they are abled-bodies, have
experienced basic training, and are ready to be mobilized and help in case of disaster, war or
any humanitarian reasons. For example, when the typhoon Yolanda and Ondoy struck the
country; the number of rescuers from the local and national Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Council (DRRMC) and even the added help of the regular armed forces were
not enough. The local reservist ensigned was called and activated to help. Moreover, it could
be a great source of human resources for war, which we hope would not happen, but its
better to be prepared.
And now, we have external threat looming in our shores again. It was made to defend
our country, it defended us, and it will still do in the future. Its presence will make the enemy
never confident in their plans in gaining control of the country, because even after defeating
or subduing the active armed forces, they will have to consider taking down a group of
people well-trained in the use of arms, explosive and military practices. A big weapon for
psychological warfare because of the mere fact that everyone is well-trained, synchronized,
and is ready to offer their lives for their country.
In the event that there is no presence of external threat, ROTC is still useful because
another one of its goals is for the country to have good internal security. Internal security
implies the safety of every Filipino citizen via peace and order. But in order to implement
this, staffing is needed due to inadequate numbers of the regular forces. If most of the
Filipino people were once ROTC cadets and reserves, then huge ae the expectations for them
to be lawful citizens and uphold what is taught in the program which is to respect the
authority and laws of the land, the civil and military service, and the loyalty to leadership.
The reserves function as a symbol of security. Knowing that they are well disciplined and
well trained in times of danger or disaster somehow ensures the safety of civilians.
The ROTC must be looked upon the broader perspective, by appreciating the good
results and not fault-finding. Honestly speaking, the program is not perfect that is why
sentiments about it are understandable, but this program can be greatly enhanced if approved
by the congress to be mandatory. Making it mandatory would include putting all the efforts
and attention in taking considerations of all the sentiments, all the factors that greatly affected
the past program, and would try to deal and settle with renewing the parameters and prepare
for the possible problems to be faced.
Above all, ROTC will shape our people to have a sense of nationalism and patriotism
to an extent that our people would willingly die to protect the country from external threats,
for it is the responsibility of each citizen to help and protect our sovereignty and our people.
This is to mold not just good but better leaders for the future of the country.
Seloza, G. (08 February 2017) Mandatory ROTC to Instill Patriotism to Filipino Youth.
Retrieved from: http://www.update.ph/article/mandatory-rotc-to-instill-patriotism-to-
filipino-youth
Avila, B.S. (23 April 2015) another pitch fo the return of ROTC! Shooting Straight.
Retrieved from http://www.philstar.com/author/Bobit%20S.%20Avila/SHOOTING
%20STRAIGHT
Alcober, N. (15 July 2016) CHED Exec Welcomes ROTC. Retrieved from:
http://www.manilatimes.net/ched-exec-welcomes-rotc-revival/275992
Ronquillo, A. (24 October 2016) Making ROTC Mandatory Again. Retrieved from:
http://www.psst.ph/making-rotc-mandatory/
Vallejo, B. (24 March 1974) THE UP STORY. Retrieved from:
http://www.upvanguard.org/category/articles/
Batara, M.N. ( 06 September 2016) Mandatory ROTC: The Best Way to Boost Nationalism.
Retrieved from: http://dwdd.com.ph/category/1006-military/articles
http://www.inquirer.net/therotcandthecitizenarmy