The Department of National Defense chief sees there’s no need for the existence of war and security threats in considering the revival of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps in the Philippines.
Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. made the statements during the public hearing of the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education for the proposed measures seeking the revival of the ROTC in higher education and technical vocation levels on Monday.
“Hindi po kailangan na meron po tayong tinatawag na nakikitang gyera. Siguro kailangan niyo pang mag-explore sa ibang mga countries. Kasi karamihan sa kanila may mga tinatawag na conscript service (There’s no need for us to engage in so-called war. You might want to explore other countries. Most of them are implementing the conscript service),” Galvez said, recalling a story of his foreign ambassador friend who lived in a very peaceful country — with almost no war — but served in the military and police trainings.
He added: “Meaning, there is no need for a threat. Many countries in the world have conscript services and they have ROTC-like training. I trained in Fort Benning for six years, I thought my colleagues are regular US armies, but no — many of them are only reservists and national guards.”
Galvez highlighted the “sense of patriotism, nationalism, and heroism” of these people from being ROTC products in their own country.
He said the Philippines is strategically positioned where the ROTC program must be established.
“We are vulnerable in terms of disasters and geopolitics is wide that we really need the sense of preparedness,” he said.
ROTC can solve mental problems
Galvez, who said he is a teacher by vocation, believed that engaging in ROTC can help youth students cure mental health problems.
Unlike the National Service Training Program, Galvez insisted that the ROTC program can train students “to the limits” because it is experiential by nature.
“That’s the difference between ROTC to NSTP. Those who have experienced training did really instill it in their hearts. The survival instinct was there and the so-called mental problem, it can be cured as the frustration tolerance of humans increases. You can get experience,” he continued.
Galvez added that the ROTC program can hone future mentors and counselors who may help those who are experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education on Monday expressed support for the revival of ROTC as a requirement in higher education as part of the proposed National Civil Service Training Program.
During a committee hearing with the Senate Committee on Higher Technical and Vocational Education, CHEd chairman Prospero de Vera III proposed the scrapping of the current National Service Training Program due to poor implementation.
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