SEN. Francis “Chiz” Escudero yesterday sustained his opposition to the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program, which is being eyed to replace the National Service Training Program.
Using the argument of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, sponsor of the Mandatory ROTC Law, who said that ROTC needs to replace the NSTP because the latter is a “total failure,” Escudero said the ROTC may as well be “deemed as a failure” since it is one of the three components of the NSTP.
The other two components are Civic Welfare Training Service and Literacy Training Service.
“And if NSTP is not a success, and ROTC is part of NSTP, then I guess ROTC should be deemed as a failure as well and I should be looking at something totally new,” Escudero told ANC’s Headstart.
Escudero said the proponents of the proposed measure were apparently still at a loss on how the mandatory ROTC program will be implemented since they still have to create a curriculum or a program for it.
He said even the number of hours needed per week for students to attend the ROTC program is vague.
“We seem not to agree on the number of units. They are saying four hours a week, but it is only three units. I said that’s very basic. The number of units corresponds to the number of hours per week, and you are including this in the curriculum?” Escudero said, adding he will vote against the measure’s passage.
“I am against this simply because I don’t see the wisdom behind it, that ROTC will inculcate patriotism and love for country. I went through CMT, Citizen’s Military Training, and I don’t think I got love for country from that,” he added.
He also questioned a survey that showed that 75 percent of Filipinos aged 18 to 24 are in favor of the mandatory ROTC program.
“My question is, is that a survey using random sampling? I am using actual hard facts and data which is of those required to take NSTP, only 18 or on a good year for ROTC 20 percent take the ROTC option. If 75 percent are in favor of ROTC, then 75 percent of college students aged 18 to 24 should have enrolled in ROTC. And one more thing, they can take that (ROTC) under the NSTP Law,” he added.
