Celebrity reservists can serve as instructors of the Reserve Officers’ Training Course (ROTC) to augment the lack of personnel. Their presence will also inspire students who will take up the proposed mandatory ROTC, according to Senator Ronald Dela Rosa.
The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in the Philippines is an important component of the National Service Training Program (NSTP). Its primary importance lies in its role in national defense preparedness by training college students to become future reservists for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Aside from the discipline that is instilled in the students, we also have the following that benefits our country through the following:
National Defense: The core purpose of ROTC is to create a pool of trained reservists who can be called upon during national emergencies, whether for defense against external threats or for disaster response and relief operations. It helps maintain the country’s defense capabilities by having a ready force.
Civic Consciousness and Patriotism: ROTC aims to instill a sense of civic duty, patriotism, and nationalism in the youth. Through military training, students learn to appreciate the importance of serving and protecting the country.
Leadership and Character Development: The program provides an environment for students to develop essential life skills such as discipline, leadership, responsibility, and teamwork. These are valuable qualities not only for military service but also for their future careers and as productive members of society.
Disaster Response: In addition to military service, ROTC-trained reservists are often a vital part of the nation’s disaster response efforts. They are equipped with the skills and discipline to assist in relief operations, search and rescue, and community support during natural calamities.
Mattero Guidicelli is an Army reservist who trained with the Scout Rangers and the Presidential Security Group. Beauty pageant titlists Winwyn Marquez and Beatrice Luigi Gomez also underwent basic military training and received recognitions for exemplary performances.
“Pwedeng i-tap ang mga reservist. Maaari din bigyan ng allowance ‘yung mga celebrity katulad ni Lt. Guidicelli. Sapat na ‘yun. Mag-train pa sila sa IDC (We can tap the reservists. We can give them allowances, celebrities like Lt. Guidicelli. They’re enough. They can undergo IDC),” Dela Rosa said, in reaction to the Department of National Defense’s (DND) fears that it may not have enough personnel for the estimated 2,400 schools nationwide that will need at least four instructors each.
Allaying fears of abuses such as hazing, Dela Rosa assured there are enough safeguards in his Senate Bill No. 1349, or the Reserve Officers Training Corps for Tertiary Education Act of 2022, and the five other ROTC measures by his colleagues.
There will be a committee in every school composed of representatives of the DND, school administrations and Commission on Higher Education that will handle complaints.
The mandatory ROTC training, is not confined to guns and combat familiarization alone as the students will also be taught environmental care, disaster response and moral values.
He is optimistic that the measure will pass the Senate, noting that it is a priority measure of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“It is the duty of every citizen to protect this country. If needed, the state can order them to defend. This is included in our constitution,” Dela Rosa said.
