DND chief urges Senate to OK mandatory ROTC

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday welcomed the House of Representatives' approval of mandatory Reserved Officers Training Program (ROTC) for senior high school students and urged the Senate to follow suit.

"I am greatly delighted by the passage of the ROTC bill in the House. Hopefully, the Senate will also pass it during this Congress so we can start implementing it this coming school year," Lorenzana said.

The Department of the National Defense thanked the legislators and said that the proposed reinstatement of mandatory ROTC among students in Grades 11 and 12 would "help instill love of country, good citizenship, respect for human rights, and adherence to the rule of law."

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines also lauded the decision of the lower house.

The ROTC aims to instill discipline and nurture patriotism, according to the military.

"Today’s young generation needs to be exposed to the rudiments of basic soldiery no matter brief to help develop and hone their leadership potentials," AFP spokesperson Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo said. —Dona Magsino/LDF, GMA News