The National Youth Commission (NYC) has formally asked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to bring back mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) in colleges and universities, mandatory Preparatory Military Training or Citizens Army Training (PMT/CAT) in all senior high schools, and to implement mandatory scouting (boy scouts and girl scouts) program in all elementary schools.
This was according to a report from GMA News.
"During the time of your father, then President Ferdinand E. Marcos, the said youth programs were a priority. It created a sense of nationalism, discipline, and preparedness among all generations of young Filipinos, that can easily be tapped by the government to help the country in times of need," said NYC Chairman Ronald Cardema in a letter sent to Malacanang dated July 20.
Cardema also said that the commission is hoping for an Executive Order granting the said request to be released before the opening of classes.
He added that since the Philippines is a calamity-prone country, the country needs to start "orientating/training" the millions of Filipino youth for "disaster preparedness, good citizenship, national defense, & to have a strong sense of nationalism."
The youth commission also noted that "communist insurgency" is one of the things it wishes to end during Marcos' term.