SENATOR Francis Tolentino is optimistic about the passage of the bill making the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) mandatory at the tertiary level.
Tolentino issued the statement in Zamboanga City on Saturday, September 2, after he noted that there are many youths who were interested in participating in the 2023 Philippine ROTC Games (PRG).
Tolentino was here as he keynoted the closing ceremony of the week-long PRC Mindanao Qualifying Leg that saw the participation of ROTC cadets and cadettes from public and private schools all over Mindanao.
“There are already many individuals that show interest in joining the ROTC program,” Tolentino said in an interview, citing even Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on Friday has joined the Philippine Navy reservist.
“I can already see that the ROTC program will become mandatory,” he added.
Presently, taking ROTC program at the tertiary level is optional since the proposed law making it mandatory remains pending in Congress.
Tolentino said the PRG Mindanao Leg showcased the incomparable athletic talents of the cadet athletes, their unity, and cooperation, and the discipline and perseverance that military service training has inculcated in them.
“The last seven days have indeed been filled with excitement and adrenalin for our cadet athletes, competing and battling for both honor and deeper bonds of friendship,” Tolentino said during the closing ceremony of the PRG Mindanao Leg at the gymnasium of the Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic University.
“We thank you for your collaboration in making this PRG Mindanao Leg a remarkable success,” the senator added.
The PRG Mindanao leg was the second since the first was held in Iloilo City for the Visayas leg.
Next to be held in the PRG Luzon leg and the National Capital Region leg and the last will be the national championships that will be participated by cadet-athletes from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. (SunStar Zamboanga)