DINGLE, Iloilo -- At least 29 schools in Western Visayas are starting their respective Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) as the first semester for school year 2019-2020 has officially started in several schools in the region.

Colonel Alcon Magdamit, chief of the 6th Regional Community Defense Group of Philippine Army, said many of the schools in the region have continued the ROTC programs despite its abolishment in 2001. He said many of the schools are offering criminology course and they opted to include the ROTC course in their curriculum.

Private schools have already started their classes, while government schools will start their classes first week of August.

"We are thankful to the schools who continued with the ROTC program. Since 2001, we were able to record at least 11,000 graduates. The ROTC students were able to help the community especially during natural calamities. Many of them, including our reservists, were able to assist in the evacuation of the residents affected, conduct tree planting activities, among others," Magdamit said.

He said he supports the Congress's plan to revive the ROTC but hopes that it should be implemented in the tertiary level.

"In the region, we may lack personnel if it would be implemented under the K to 12 program since there are more than a thousand schools. We may just adjust to whatever the national government decided to implement," he said.

He also said that they continue to urge residents in Western Visayas to become a reservist.

"As I have mentioned previously, being a reservist does not necessarily mean that you will be asked to join the battle in case of war. Being a reservist currently means you are being patriotic and must help the community in times of natural disaster," he said.

He also revealed that more showbiz personalities are joining the reservist force nowadays. Robin Padilla recently urged Filipinos to become reservists.

"I was informed that another actor, Deither Ocampo, is joining the reservist by the higher ups in Metro Manila," Magdamit added.

Recently, Cebuano actor Matteo Guidicelli has joined the Philippine Army. (SunStar Philippines)