Briones: DepEd to play ‘expanded role’ in proposed mandatory ROTC

Secretary Leonor Briones said Wednesday the Department of Education (DepEd) will play an "expanded role" in the mandatory Reserved Officers Training Program (ROTC), whose implementation has yet to secure approval from Congress.

Briones told a news conference in Malacañang that the DepEd had a say in the crafting of the curriculum, which aims to instill discipline and nurture patriotism among senior high school students.

"Major, major ang role ng DepEd. Hindi lamang na mag-turnover tayo ng ating mga estudyante for ROTC training, hindi ganoon—kasali ang DepEd, from the making of the guidelines, mga rules, discipline and so on," she said.

"I have sat through some of the curriculum, the subjects na pinag-aaralan ng mga bata; na ma-assure natin na ma-instill iyong history, iyong nationalism, protection of the country and so on na. Sa side na iyon ng DepEd, pakialamero this time si DepEd."

DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Pascua also said that they have proposed to lawmakers some measures to deter abuses in the implementation of the ROTC program.

These include the creation of grievance committees and the establishment of an ROTC Instructors Academy where all those who will be teaching ROTC will be undergoing a capacity-building training so that all the necessary laws, policies, guidelines and approaches will be provided them.

The department is also pushing for a two-year pilot implementation of the program in 100 public and private schools located near military camps. The schools were selected by the DepEd, the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

"It’s a two-year implementation phase para sa ganoon makapa lahat kung ano iyong mga naging problems/issues, makapag-adjust pa and then we implement it to all schools," Pascua said. "It would be very hard for us to implement it right there and there to all schools."

The House of Representatives passed the mandatory ROTC bill on third and final reading on Monday. Congress is set to adjourn sessions in June but the Senate has yet to pass a counterpart measure, raising questions on whether a mandatory ROTC program will be in place in the incoming school year.

President Rodrigo Duterte had long wanted to revive the mandatory ROTC, saying that he would even consider issuing an executive order for it. — BM, GMA News