THE National Youth Commission (NYC) has urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to allow the return of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), Preparatory Military Training (PMT) or Citizens Army Training (CAT) and Boy and Girl Scout programs in schools.
The NYC believes that Marcos, who sponsored Republic Act 8044, which mandated the establishment of the NYC during his time as a congressman, has a strong support and dedication for the development of the Filipino youth in the country.
The commission urged Marcos to issue an executive order for the return of the ROTC in all colleges and universities, PMT or CAT in all senior high schools, and Boy and Girl Scouts program in all elementary schools.
“During the time of your father, then President Ferdinand E. Marcos, the said youth programs were a priority. If created a sense of nationalism, discipline, and preparedness among the generations of young Filipinos that can easily be tapped by the government to help the country in times of need,” the NYC said in its letter to Marcos dated July 20, 2022.
“After your father, the said programs slowly went into limbo. For 20 years since 2002, Congress failed to pass the many bills for its return. With you sir, we see hope thru an Executive Order now, before the start of classes,” it added.
The NYC cited mandatory military training in other countries such as Singapore, South Korea and Israel, which inculcated discipline and professionalism among its youth and gave a sense of pride and military preparedness.
It highlighted the need for the return of the programs in preparation for any eventualities, including calamities and communist insurgency attacks.
“With that, we need to start orientating/training the millions of Filipino Youth towards disaster preparedness, good citizenship, national defense, and to have a strong sense of nationalism, starting now,” the NYC said.
During the campaign period, Vice President Sara Duterte, the concurrent secretary of the Department of Education, said she would propose the mandatory rendering of military service for all Filipinos 18 years old and above.
The ROTC was made optional in 2002 following the death of Mark Chua, a University of Sto. Tomas student who was allegedly killed after divulging corruption allegations in the ROTC.
It is now one of the three components of the National Service Training Program, along with Civic Welfare Training Service and Literacy Training Service. (SunStar Philippines)