Mayor Isko Moreno expressed support to the plan of President Rodrigo Duterte to revive the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program in public and private senior high schools nationwide in a bid to promote patriotism among Filipino youths.
Moreno, after attending the first Presidential Silent Drill Competition at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, said that the event he attended is a “prelude” in the possible comeback of ROTC.
The Mayor shared the importance of ROTC to his followers.
“Diyan matututo ka ng disiplina, kasi kapag na-late ka ay makikipag lips-to-lips ka sa lupa… camaraderie, synchrony, tapos tataas ang hearing capacity mo because you follow instruction,” Moreno said.
“So marami siyang mabuting maidudulot sa atin as a person, not only as a student,” he added.
Moreno believes that the ROTC program could also help the students to be ready if ever that there’s a big calamity happen in the country.
He also said that he understands the people who are against the revival of ROTC, because of the controversy it faced in the past, but Moreno strongly believes that reviving the said program could give more benefits to the people.
Moreno and Duterte met on Friday after the Manila City Mayor welcomed the President who also attended the Presidential Silent Drill Competition.
In 2000, ROTC faced many controversies that resulted from losing support from the people and politicians.
In 2002, the Republic Act 9163 or the National Service Training Program Act of 2001 was signed into, allowing college students to choose between ROTC, Literacy Training Service, and Civil Welfare Training Service as part of their required National Service Training Program.