MANILA, Philippines - President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, February 7, has approved the revival of the Reserve officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program in Grades 11 and 12 of the country's public and private schools.
This was announced by Emmanuel F. Piñol, Secretary of Agriculture, as the issue was discussed in the Cabinet meeting.
"This will now be forwarded to Congress and Senate and certified as Urgent by President Duterte," Piñol said in a statement.
The return of ROTC for senior high school was proposed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana who wants an amendment to Republic Act 7077 known as the "Citizen Armed Forces or Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act" to make it mandatory.
Lorenzana said ROTC instills patriotism, love of country, moral and spiritual values, respect for human rights and adherence to Constitution.
The implementation of the mandatory ROTC was stopped in 2001 following a series of scandals whick rocked the program, including the death of a Manila student due to hazing.
The strict implementation of the Anti-Hazing Law was among the measures presented to avoid the repeat of hazing deaths.
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| President Rodrigo Duterte OKs mandatory ROTC during the cabinet meeting. Photo Credit: Facebook/Manny Piñol |
"This will now be forwarded to Congress and Senate and certified as Urgent by President Duterte," Piñol said in a statement.
The return of ROTC for senior high school was proposed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana who wants an amendment to Republic Act 7077 known as the "Citizen Armed Forces or Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act" to make it mandatory.
Lorenzana said ROTC instills patriotism, love of country, moral and spiritual values, respect for human rights and adherence to Constitution.
The implementation of the mandatory ROTC was stopped in 2001 following a series of scandals whick rocked the program, including the death of a Manila student due to hazing.
The strict implementation of the Anti-Hazing Law was among the measures presented to avoid the repeat of hazing deaths.
