Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said he supports moves to revive the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in schools as the program can play a significant role in strengthening the country’s national security and crisis management efforts.

Go, however, said there must be a thorough study of the plan to reintroduce the ROTC since it may affect the education of the students participating in the program.

“Suportado ko po ang ROTC dahil mas matuturuan natin ang ating mga kabataan ng spirit of bayanihan, love of country, discipline, and patriotism. Makakatulong din ito para mailayo ang mga kabataan sa illegal drugs and criminality (I support ROTC because we can better teach our youth the spirit of heroism, love of country, discipline, and patriotism. It will also help to keep the youth away from illegal drugs and criminality),” Go said in a recent interview.

“Kailangan lang magkaroon ng pag-aaral sa mga aspeto na makaka-apekto sa pag-aaral ng ating mga kabataan. Kailangan rin nating siguruhin na hindi ito magiging dagdag gastusin sa mga magulang at estudyante (There needs to be a study on the aspects that will affect the education of our young people. We also need to make sure that this will not be an additional expense for parents and students),” he stressed.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, chair of the Senate sub-committee tackling the proposal reinstating the mandatory ROTC program, earlier said the government is considering the participation of both male and female students in the program.

Go then urged the government, and those in favor of reinstating ROTC back in schools to carefully consider all options, including whether tomake it mandatory or not.

“Kung physically fit naman at pabor naman silang sumali, kasi hindi naman po for military training lang ang ROTC. May iba diyan sa disaster, gusto nilang tumulong sa ating mga kababayan (If they are physically fit and in favor of joining, because ROTC is not just for military training. There are others in the disaster, they want to help our countrymen),” said Go.

“Welcome naman po kung physically fit naman...ang babae, (kung) gusto naman nila, bakit hindi (They are welcome if they are physically fit...the woman, (if) they want, why not),” he continued.

If necessary, the senator said the reserve forces could be called into action to support regular military troops engaged in, among other tasks, operations during natural disasters.

Go pointed out the rise in catastrophic weather and natural disasters, and most countries in the world lack sophisticated early warning systems required to save lives.

“Para sa akin, pag-aralan nang mabuti. Ang babae po mayro’n pa silang maiko-contribute aside from ROTC para sa ating bayan. Hindi natin alam kung willing ba silang mag-training rin po ng napakahirap na training na ia-undergo po sa ROTC (But for me, let’s study this hard. The women still have something to contribute aside from ROTC for our country. We don't know if they are willing to undergo the very difficult training that they will undergo in ROTC),” Go stressed.

“So, pag-usapan po nating mabuti. Kunin po natin ang pulso ng taumbayan kung willing sila to undergo ROTC (So, let's talk about this carefully. Let's take the pulse of the people if they are willing to undergo ROTC),” he said.