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'MABILISAN NA ITO'

Bato sees swift passage of mandatory ROTC bill in Senate


Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa believes that the Senate will swiftly pass the bill making Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) mandatory, citing the majority’s support for it.

"Mabilis ito, mabilisan na ito kasi lahat naman naga-agree [This will be fast because everyone agrees with the bill]," Dela Rosa said in an ANC interview, adding only those affiliated with the Left are opposed to mandatory ROTC.

Dela Rosa, a former national police chief who chairs a subcommittee that tackles the bills on mandatory ROTC in the Senate, said the measure is a pet bill of the Marcos administration.

“Maraming nagsuporta [sa Senate], merong ayaw siguro mangilan-ngilan pero majority ang susuporta dito lalong lalo na this is a priority bill, pet bill ito ng Malacañang,” he said.

(There are many senators who support the bill. Some oppose the measure but they are just few. Majority of our colleagues will support this, especially now that it is a priority bill or a pet bill of Malacañang.)

In November, Dela Rosa  expressed confidence that the bill  on mandatory ROTC would be passed by the first quarter of 2023.

During the first hearing on the ROTC bills late last month, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) presented a “consensus bill” which it crafted along with several government agencies which seeks to institutionalize a two-year mandatory National Service Training Program (NSTP) and four-year optional ROTC curriculum for higher education students.

Last week, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill institutionalizing the two-year National Citizens Service Training Program (NCSTP), which includes military training.

House Bill No. 6687 was certified urgent by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News

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