SIXTY-NINE percent of Filipinos agree with the proposal to revive the Reserve Officers
Training Corps (ROTC) program in senior high school, according to a Pulse Asia survey.
The survey conducted June 24 to 27 and commissioned by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, showed 43 percent “strongly agree” while 26 percent “somewhat agree” with the proposal put forward by President Marcos Jr. in his first State of the Nation Address last July 25.
Seventy-one percent of those who agreed were from the National Capital Region, 67 percent from Luzon, 78 percent from the Visayas, and 64 percent from Mindanao.
Social classes A, B, C, and D comprise 71 percent of those who agree while only 54 percent from social class E agree.
The same survey showed 15 percent “cannot say if they agree or may disagree” while 16 percent “disagree” with the proposal (10 percent somewhat disagree and 6 percent strongly disagree).
Those who “disagree” with the ROTC program for senior high school students were as follows: 18 percent from the NCR, 16 percent from Luzon, 11 percent from the Visayas, and 21 percent from Mindanao.
The implementation of the ROTC program was first proposed by Vice President Sara Duterte and was included by Marcos Jr. among his 19-point priority agenda.
The ROTC program includes civic training and preparedness during actual disaster response operations, which will enhance the country’s ability to produce the needed manpower and to expand its human resources in times of war, calamities, disasters, emergencies, and in support of the law enforcement strategy of the government against crimes by creating a pool of trained reservists.
Once a student completes the basic ROTC training program, he or she shall be registered in the Reserve Force upon reaching legal age. Students who do not undergo the mandatory basic ROTC program will not qualify for graduation.
