Mandatory ROTC OK'd on final reading
Published May 20, 2019 06:07 pm
By Ben Rosario
The House of Representatives last night passed on third and final reading the bill reviving mandatory military training for senior high school students in the country.
(EPA / MANILA BULLETIN)
With 167 affirmative and 4 negative votes, the Lower Chamber passed the bill providing for mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) course for all Grade 11 and 12 students.
But Majority Leader and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro said even if the bill is passed by Congress, there is little likelihood it will be implemented in the coming school year.
The Lower House ran out of time in passing the measure on final reading before it went on break last February and had to present it on third reading during resumption yesterday because it had not been certified as an urgent administration measure by President Duterte.
Castro said the approved bill will be swiftly referred to the Senate.
Oppositors of the measure have accused the House leadership of railroading the second reading approval of HB 8961.
Nueva Ecija Rep. Ria Vergara’s proposed amendments were accepted by the sponsoring committee before approval on second reading last February.
Vergara sought the removal of the provision that makes it mandatory for all public and private universities, college and other educational institution to offer and provide a training school for the advanced ROTC program.
Vergara’s proposal to specifically ban hazing and other physical or mental abuse was also adopted.
HB 8961 (The proposed Reserve Officers Training Corps Act) seeks to establish a mandatory basic ROTC program for students enrolled in Grades 11 and 12 in public and private educational institutions as a requirement for graduation.
The bill consolidated three separate measures filed by Reps. Raneo Abu (NP, Batangas), Raul Tupas (LP, Iloilo), and Micaela Violago (NUP, Nueva Ecija).
The bill proposes to amend Republic Act NO. 077 (Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservists Act).
Exempted from undergoing the mandatory ROTC course are students who are physically and psychologically unfit, athletic scholars chosen to represent the school in sports competitions, and those with other valid reasons as approved by the Department of National Defense.
Abu said the revival of the ROTC has become vital course for the youth in order to inculcate in them the “spirit of nationalism, nation-building and national preparedness.”
He said the proposed measure will also reinforce the Armed Forces of the Philippines reserve force and the capacity of the government to respond to threats to national security and national emergency.
(EPA / MANILA BULLETIN)
With 167 affirmative and 4 negative votes, the Lower Chamber passed the bill providing for mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) course for all Grade 11 and 12 students.
But Majority Leader and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro said even if the bill is passed by Congress, there is little likelihood it will be implemented in the coming school year.
The Lower House ran out of time in passing the measure on final reading before it went on break last February and had to present it on third reading during resumption yesterday because it had not been certified as an urgent administration measure by President Duterte.
Castro said the approved bill will be swiftly referred to the Senate.
Oppositors of the measure have accused the House leadership of railroading the second reading approval of HB 8961.
Nueva Ecija Rep. Ria Vergara’s proposed amendments were accepted by the sponsoring committee before approval on second reading last February.
Vergara sought the removal of the provision that makes it mandatory for all public and private universities, college and other educational institution to offer and provide a training school for the advanced ROTC program.
Vergara’s proposal to specifically ban hazing and other physical or mental abuse was also adopted.
HB 8961 (The proposed Reserve Officers Training Corps Act) seeks to establish a mandatory basic ROTC program for students enrolled in Grades 11 and 12 in public and private educational institutions as a requirement for graduation.
The bill consolidated three separate measures filed by Reps. Raneo Abu (NP, Batangas), Raul Tupas (LP, Iloilo), and Micaela Violago (NUP, Nueva Ecija).
The bill proposes to amend Republic Act NO. 077 (Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservists Act).
Exempted from undergoing the mandatory ROTC course are students who are physically and psychologically unfit, athletic scholars chosen to represent the school in sports competitions, and those with other valid reasons as approved by the Department of National Defense.
Abu said the revival of the ROTC has become vital course for the youth in order to inculcate in them the “spirit of nationalism, nation-building and national preparedness.”
He said the proposed measure will also reinforce the Armed Forces of the Philippines reserve force and the capacity of the government to respond to threats to national security and national emergency.