By Nikolai Ordoña

The Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education conducted a hearing last Monday, February 6 on the proposal to make the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) mandatory for college students in the Philippines.

Presided by former police chief and current Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, officials from the Department of National Defense (DND), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and other resource persons joined the hearing to support the said proposal.

For the first time, representatives from youth organizations were able to participate after being left out in previous sessions. This was after the last January 25 hearing where Sen. Pia Cayetano pointed out that only the National Youth Commission represented the sector. 

“Let the youth love our country in the way they want to”

Justine Luis Balane, chairperson of the Akbayan Youth, explained that there are different ways of showing love to the country, and that requiring students to take ROTC takes away their free will to choose how they can serve the nation that also fits their talents. 

Ken Paolo Gilo of the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines supported Balane’s statement, also emphasizing the current education crisis and the additional expenses that the ROTC program would require—citing the fund concerns that the DND had also admitted in the previous hearing.

Instead of ROTC, the youth leaders pushed for the continuation and expansion of the National Service Training Program (NSTP), wherein students may choose to join the ROTC, Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS), or Literary Training Service (LTS). 

They also proposed a 12-point education agenda, which aims to give students better access to quality education through enough classrooms, learning materials, and sufficient funding for the sector, to name a few. 

According to Gilo, this agenda was made after consulting 140 youth organizations, including the student councils of University of the Philippines, Mapua University, and Ateneo de Manila University.

“Walang nag-iisang anyo ng pagmamahal, walang nag-iisang anyo ng nasyonalismo. Hayaan po natin na mahalin ng kabataan ang inang bayan sa kung paano nila gustong ipakita ito,” Gilo said.

In 2002, the mandatory ROTC was replaced by the after the death of Mark Chua, a cadet from University of Sto. Tomas who exposed the corrupt practices of officials in the program and whose body was later found in the Pasig River.

Defense before education

However, Dela Rosa opposed the youth leaders’ suggestions, pointing out how the NSTP has been ineffective in its 21 years of implementation, such as the country’s low literacy rate despite its literacy program.

Instead, he and other officials emphasized the importance of national defense, such that it was the first act implemented during the Philippine Commonwealth in 1935.

Dela Rosa also explained the ROTC’s validity based on Article 2, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution, stating that the government may call upon the people to defend the state or be required to render military or civil service.

The senator further argued, “Para sa akin, depensahan muna natin ang ating bayan bago na natin i-educate yung ating mga citizens kasi sinong i-e-educate mo kung wala ka nang bansa na idedepensa?” 

Although acknowledging that there is an education crisis, Senators Win Gatchalian, Francis Tolentino, and Robin Padilla also supported the ROTC, believing that basic education is not required for Filipinos to love the country.

ROTC as cure for mental health problems?

Carlito Galvez, the DND secretary, also emphasized its effect on personal development, saying that “experiential training” in ROTC will hone one’s survival instinct and  improve their frustration tolerance, thus “curing” mental health problems.

“Meron siyang makukuhang experience na, ‘Bakit ako naghihimutok e ganito iyong nakikita natin na mas malala pa pala iyong ginagawa ng ibang tao. So meaning, iyong mental [problems], pwede siyang ma-cure,” Galvez said.

However, licensed psychologist Niño Mateo of the Psychological Association of the Philippines and health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon refuted Galvez’ claim, saying that there is no proof that the ROTC may cure mental health problems and “militaristic-style therapies” might actually pose danger and aggravate their condition.

Sen. Bato hopes that the bill will be passed this year and implementation to begin in 2024.

When asked whether he considers the suggestions of the youth leaders during the hearing, Sen. Bato replied, “Pinakinggan ka namin. Tama na yung pinakinggan ka at least nalaman namin yung side ninyo. Kung ayaw niyo ng ROTC, gusto naman namin ng ROTC.”

The revival of mandatory ROTC has been one of the priority bills of the Marcos administration. 

In the current proposal, first and second year college students, both male and female, are to be required to join the program. 

Thumbnail from Army Reserve Command