Running Head: POSITION PAPER

Position Paper: Mandatory ROTC (House Bill 8961)

Ponce, Arvin Ian A.

STI College Fairview

POSITION PAPER

Mandatory ROTC (House Bill 8961) is a house bill that was approved last May 2019, this

house bill proposes a military training program for senior high school students but first let me

define what is ROTC. ROTC or the Reserved Officers Training Corps is one of the 3 NSTP

courses that college students take. Before 2001, ROTC is mandatory for college students but one

incident changed it all. The death of Mark Nelson Chua on 2001 was investigated and it was

proved that it has connection to ROTC according to the investigators, Chua spoke and told

everyone about the corruption on the ROTC and because of what he did he was killed. So NSTP

Bill was passed and ROTC became an optional course on college along with Civil Welfare

Training Service (CWTS) and Literacy Training Service (LTS).

Mark Cepada 2019 House approves bill requiring ROTC for Grades 11, 12

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.rappler.com/nation/231111-house-3rd -reading-mandatory-

rotc-senior-high-school-students

But the bill also says "in no way should the ROTC be used for political gains, to teach and instill

particular ideology, and as a mechanism for hazing and abuse."

According to the House Bill 8961 the ROTC is a good training program that teaches the students

the proper discipline and increase their nationalism and patriotism. According to the law makers

this Mandatory ROTC program is different from the previous ROTC program because the bill

says “in no way should ROTC be used for political gains, to teach and particular ideology, and as

a mechanism for hazing and abuse.” As I said earlier the pervious ROTC program was dissolved

because of the issue of hazing and abuse so the new bill will focus more on this part to prevent

those incidents again.

POSITION PAPER

Mark Cepada 2019 House approves bill requiring ROTC for Grades 11, 12

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.rappler.com/nation/231111-house-3rd -reading-mandatory-

rotc-senior-high-school-students "The ROTC training is aimed to instill patriotism, love of

country, moral and spiritual virtues, and respect for human rights and adherence to the

Constitution," states HB 8961.

CNN Philippines Staff 2019 House Oks bill on mandatory ROTC for senior high students

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/5/20/House-approves-mandatory-ROTC-bill-grade-11-21-

.html?fbclid=IwAR299nEOkVU326cg1ZubDKQsYx0pkx_g9KmDsWldh6kzEwN5f5xLJx99om0

In a statement of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana he said that reinstatement of mandatory

ROTC will help instill to the youth the “love of country, good citizenship, respect for human

rights, and adherence to the rule of law.”

I agree to this bill because it have good effects on students. A lot of teenagers these days don’t

have respect to older people and lack the discipline, with this program they may have a change of

heart. The Philippines right now is always asking for other countries’ help when there is a lack of

military power and number, with this program reserved officers will be a help for the country in

time of crisis. Not just in wars and killings ROTC cadets can also help during time of disasters,

people who are affected by the weather and natural disasters need help and the reserved officers

from the ROTC program can support those people. The ROTC program also promotes

nationalism and patriotism. This means that our love for our country will increase because in

training they will teach you proper discipline and love for our country. That’s why I agree on the

ROTC program..
POSITION PAPER

REFERECES

Mark Cepada 2019 House approves bill requiring ROTC for Grades 11, 12

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.rappler.com/nation/231111-house-3rd -reading-mandatory-

rotc-senior-high-school-students

CNN Philippines Staff 2019 House Oks bill on mandatory ROTC for senior high students

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/5/20/House-approves-mandatory-ROTC-bill-grade-11-12-

.html