Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (Rep. Villafuerte's office)

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte has underscored the importance of passing the Malacañang-endorsed bill reviving the Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program even as tensions continue to escalate in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

“The chances are now high for ROTC becoming mandatory anew in schools for all young Filipinos, following the recent commitment of Senate President [Juan Miguel] Migz [Zubiri] for the Senate to take up its version of the bill in plenary after our Lenten break," Villafuerte said in a statement Thursday, May 2. 

The Bicolano is one of the lead authors of the House-approved bill restoring ROTC in higher education institutions (HEIs) and technical-vocational institutions (TVIs). 

The erstwhile ROTC has been renamed the National Citizens Service Training (NCST) program under the substitute measure, House Bill (HB) No.6687. 

Under the bill, those completing the NCST program shall be deemed national service reservists and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reservists, who shall make up the proposed National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC). 

This would-be NSRC shall be under the supervision of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 10121 or the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010". 

He said that NCST-trained reservists under the command of the AFP may be called for duty in the event of war, invasion or rebellion; to assist in relief and rescue during disaster or calamities; to assist in socioeconomic development; and to assist in the operation and maintenance of essential government or private utilities in the furtherance of overall mission. 

Villafuerte said that aside from China's continued bullying of the Philippines in the WPS, "One more reason for senators to act right away on their own version of the ROTC-revival bill is the result of a recent Pulse Asia survey—commissioned and then revealed by Senator Migz himself—that 69 percent of Filipinos favor making ROTC mandatory for all young Filipinos". 

Aside from being mobilized by the government in response to any national security threat or national emergency, Villafuerte said that reservists enlisted in the NSRC can also be  tapped to respond to national emergencies, disasters or calamities.  

Congressional passage of the revive-ROTC or NCST bill will thus aid the State in “enhancing the capacity of the nation to produce the needed manpower and to expand its human resources in times of war, calamities and disasters, national or local emergencies, and in supporting the Government’s law enforcement strategy against crimes by creating a pool of trained reservists,” Villafuerte said.