KABATAAN Party-list, which represents youth concerns, has opposed the proposed revival of the mandatory Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) composed of tertiary-level students, saying it is not needed to strengthen the country’s disaster response measures.
“For us, it’s (improving disaster response) a weak excuse to bring back mandatory ROTC,” Kabataan Rep. Raoul Danniel A. Manuel said in a press conference on Monday.
“(B)ecause we have the NSTP (National Service Training Program) Act of 2001, which states that the youth can be mobilized even without mandatory ROTC during times of disaster.”
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio was the first to express intent to revive the ROTC, which has since been supported by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. and some of their allies in Congress.
Mr. Manuel said a youth reserve force for disaster response can already be formed with the NSTP, which does not include military training components.
The press conference was also attended by parent representatives, and other education stakeholders. — Matthew Carl L. Montecillo
