Aside from having overwhelming support across different socioeconomic classes, the proposal to implement the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in college has broad support across different age groups, including college-aged individuals.
Senator Win Gatchalian shared this detail from the results of a commissioned Pulse Asia survey, which showed that 78% or nearly 8 out of 10 Filipinos support the implementation of ROTC at the tertiary level. A closer look at the results of the survey revealed that 75% of the poll’s respondents aged 18-24, the same cohort who will take part in the program, agree with the proposed revival of ROTC in college.
Support for the measure is also overwhelming among people with varying educational backgrounds, including those who received some high school education (74%), completed high school (77%), those who received some college education (79%), and those who are in vocational education (83%).
“Malinaw na batay sa pag-aaral, suportado ng ating mga mamamayan ang panukalang ibalik ang ROTC. Sentimyento ito hindi lang ng ating mga magulang, kundi pati na rin ng ating mga kabataan,” said Gatchalian, co-author and co-sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2034.
Aside from training students for national defense preparedness, civil military operations, and law enforcement, Senate Bill No. 2034 or the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Act also aims to provide students with skills and knowledge to provide service in times of emergencies and disasters, including disaster response operations, rescue and relief operations, and early recovery activities.
“Hindi lamang ang ating mga kabataan ang makikinabang sa ROTC, kundi ang buong bansa. Sa ilalim ng programang ito, paiigtingin natin ang papel ng mga kabataan bilang mga lider at mga aktibong miyembro ng lipunan, lalo na sa mga panahong haharapin natin ang mga sakuna, kalamidad, at anumang emergency,” Gatchalian added.
Those who favor the restoration of ROTC believe that it will teach young people discipline and responsibility (71%). They also believe that it will train and prepare students to defend the country (60%).
Under the proposed ROTC bill, all undergraduate students shall undertake the Mandatory Basic ROTC for four semesters.
