DND exec tells Senate panel of 'enormous' requirements of mandatory ROTC

An official of the Department of National Defense on Wednesday told senators about what he called the "enormous requirements" in making the Reserve Officers Training Course mandatory in the country's higher education institutions.

At a hearing of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, Defense Undersecretary Franco Gacal raised the issues about logistics, manpower, and resources if the ROTC would be made compulsory.

“Kung i-implement natin ‘yung Basic ROTC program na mandatory, kaya ba ng Armed Forces?” Gacal said.

“We talk about manpower, financial, logistics because to run this program, the requirement is really enormous,” he added.

Gacal said 9,000 to 10,000 military personnel would be needed to provide four officials per school, assuming that there were 2,400 higher education institutions that will implement the ROTC.

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said the mandatory ROTC could be done considering that it had been implemented before with logistical and budget requirements.

“I don't think problema 'yan ngayon,” Dela Rosa said.

Gacal said, "Noon, kaunti pa lang."

"I am talking about empirical data right now. Kasi ayaw natin gagawa tayo ng programa na pag sinubo natin sa Armed Forces baka siya namang babalikan natin ang Armed Forces," Gacal said.

Dela Rosa slammed Gacal over his “attitude” toward the mandatory ROTC program and called him out for supposedly refusing to carry the task for the measure.

“Pinag-uusapan natin sa ROTC, tapos kayo pala sa Defense ayaw pala niyo. Gusto niyo ibigay ang trabaho sa CHED, sa TESDA, E di wag na! Tama na to, Tama na usapan pag ganun attitude ninyo,” he said.

In a press conference after the hearing, Dela Rosa said he already talked and apologized to Gacal. According to him, he misunderstood the Defense official which led to an “unnecessary” reaction. —NB, GMA Integrated News