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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Yes to repairs, safe reopening of schools; no to ROTC, says youth solon

Yes to repairs, safe reopening of schools; no to ROTC, says youth solon

Published Jul 28, 2022 03:57 pm

Funds for the safe reopening and rehabilitation of schools damaged by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake should be prioritized, and not the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) for students, says Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel.

The strong earthquake shook provinces of Northern Luzon on Wednesday morning, July 27. The quake’s epicenter was traced to Abra province although it was felt even in Metro Manila.

Read:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/27/magnitude-7-3-earthquake-jolts-parts-of-luzon-phivolcs/

https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/27/strong-abra-quake-damages-vigan-cathedral-bantay-bell-tower-in-ilocos-sur/

“On top of retrofitting schools to prepare them to safely reopen on November 2022, DepEd must guarantee that disaster-stricken learning spaces will be rehabilitated to be fit for use by education stakeholders. Teachers and parents should not loan out and shoulder this burden just as some of them have already shelled out pocket money to ensure proper facilities for face-to-face classes,” Manuel said in a statement on Thursday, July 28.

According to the Kabataan Party-list, around 35 schools were damaged by the quake. They estimate that P228.5 million would be needed to fund the repairs.

“The national government must focus its attention and education budget on these, not on additional funding that will be demanded by the restoration of Mandatory ROTC,” he added.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), said that the implementation of mandatory ROTC for students will be prioritized by his administration in an attempt to promote discipline, nationalism, and patriotism among the youth.

DepEd secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte is also a proponent of mandatory ROTC.

Read: https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/25/mandatory-rotc-bureaucracy-rightsizing-e-government-and-16-other-priority-marcos-bills-listed/

Meanwhile, several of Manuel’s fellow lawmakers have filed bills seeking the reinstatement of ROTC. These include former President-turned-Senior Deputy Speaker Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of Pampanga and Ways and Means panel chairman Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda of Albay.

Read: https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/26/gma-wowed-by-marcoss-sona-urges-fellow-solons-to-back-priority-bills/

“Mandatory ROTC neither guarantees nationalism nor discipline but actually promotes a culture of violence, impunity and blind obedience among the youth. The NSTP Law which makes ROTC optional is a product of public outcry after the tragic death of ROTC cadet Mark Welson Chua 21 years ago. Moreover, Mandatory ROTC will impose hefty fees and costs to families who are already struggling to keep students in school. Our budget should be focused to secure every Filipino's right to education first,” Manuel previously said on July 27.

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