Here in the country, schools love to provide other activities for their students. It could be extra-curricular, it could be workshops, but some activities would be to train people to be part of the defense forces of the Philippines.
The National Service Training Program (NSTP), is a defense preparedness and a civic education program given to students and is instituted by the Philippine Government on the 5th of January, 2000 through Republic Act (R.A.) 9163 or also known as the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001.
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On the other hand, the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) is just part of the three (3) components of the NSTP. Just recently, there were discussions about the ROTC being conducted to younger students. Just yesterday, the House of Representatives approved the mandatory ROTC for Grade 11 and 12 students.
Reserve Officers' Training Corps for Grades 11 and 12
As per reports from News 5, they reported that the House of Representatives had votes of 167-4-0 which approved the House Bill 8961. Thus, it's currently on its third (3rd) and final reading and is just awaiting a go signal from our dear President Rodrigo Duterte.
Earlier, our President expressed his thoughts in wanting military training for senior high school students. As per him, this is to inculcate patriotism and to promote the love of country among the children of the Philippines.
Ikinatuwa ng Department of National Defense ang pagkakapasa sa Kamara kahapon ng mandatory ROTC sa Grades 11 at 12.
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The Department of National Defense (DND) was successful in expressing their joy when the government approved the fact that they are reinstating the training program for senior high school students.
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The reinstatement of mandatory ROTC for Grade 11 and 12 students will help instill love of country, good citizenship, respect for human rights, and adherence to the rule of law. We thank our legislators for making the youth their priority. Now more than ever, we need the strength of an empowered Filipino youth with leadership, sense of duty and service, discipline, and leadership to sustain our nation's growth and momentum."
There were bills that are counterpart of this; some of which are bills sponsored by Senator Manny Pacquiao, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, and Senator JV Ejercito.
However, these are still pending at the committee level at the Senate office.
This traces back to the time when the ROTC was deemed as an optional choice for students back in the year 2001. Followed by the passing of Mark Chua, a cadet and a student of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) who told of the corruption of the ROTC program in the university back in his day.
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As per reports, officials found Mark Chua's body floating in the Pasig River and his body wrapped in a carpet.
ROTC cadet Arnufo Aparri was found guilty of killing Mark Chua in the year 2004. The punishment that he was to take was death sentence and was ordered to pay Chua's family P50, 000 for indemnity. Aparri's sentence, however, took a slight step downward to just life imprisonment without parole because death penalty was abolished in the year 2006.
The Republic Act (R.A.) 9163 or the National Service Training Program ACt of 2001 was signed into law on the 23rd of January year 2002. This law required college students to select any of the programs from Civil Welfare Training Service, Literacy Training Service, and ROTC as a part of their required NSTP program.
Not everyone is in favor of the approved bill of the mandatory ROTC for Grade 11 and 12 students because as per some reports, this will not teach a student anything.
Children's rights advocate group, Salinlahi, is one of the groups who did not smile when the revival of the mandatory ROTC was put in place. Eule Rico Bonganay, the Secretary-General of Salinlahi said that the brutal record of the Duterte government won't be able to educate students anything about human rights.
With the fascist and brutal record of the Duterte government, they do not have even an ounce of moral ascendancy to teach the youth about respect for human rights. Despite its supposed objective of instilling nationalism, discipline and respect for human rights among the Filipino youth, the ROTC only teaches students brutality, fascism, corruption and impunity."
Einstein Recedes, Secretary of the Anakbayan group is also part of the population who does not approve of the mandatory ROTC for grade 11 and 12 students. As per him, the ROTC places students at the cruelty and mercy of their officers.
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This just puts students at the mercy of cruel fellow students and the bloodthirsty, corrupt and incompetent [Armed Forces of the Philippines] officers in charge of the program.”
What do you think about the revival of the mandatory ROTC for grade 11 and 12 students? Is this an appropriate way of teaching the students love for the country? Could this be the path in showing the Filipino youth what the Philippines have to offer?
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