Atienza: Sara’s mandatory military service proposal a ‘step in the wrong direction’

Vice presidential aspirant and Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza on Thursday expressed opposition to the Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte's proposal to make military service mandatory among Filipinos.

Atienza is the running mate of presidential aspirant Manny Pacquiao while Duterte is the running mate of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who is also eyeing the highest government post.

Atienza said instead of providing military training, the civic consciousness of those aged 18 years old and above should be strengthened.

"I strongly object to this proposal. This is a step in the wrong direction. Rather than giving them military training, we should strengthen their civic consciousness and capability to respond to problems that affect the nation and Filipinos in general," he said.

"We have already finally dispensed with the mandatory military training in the past, realizing that it is of no real use developing the youth towards this end. We are constantly visited by weather disturbances and severe climate conditions such as typhoons, landslides, earthquakes and the like," Atienza said.

"We should be molding our youth today to become more conscious of their civic duties and become better citizens,” the lawmaker added.

On Wednesday, Duterte said she would propose to Congress to pass a bill that will "make military service mandatory for all 18-year-olds," male and female in the country.

She said 18-year-olds are no longer children, adding that aside from pitching military service for them, she also pointed out the need for the youth to be ready for disasters.

Atienza said that the geohazard maps showing disaster-prone areas in the country are finished but not properly utilized.

Stressing that military training is not the solution, Atienza said the Philippines would be better prepared in calamities if the youth are trained and are given roles in disaster preparedness.

"By not using the geohazard maps we had prepared, the country is almost always caught flatfooted and unprepared, simply because of the lack of effort from the national government to harness volunteerism and civic action in times of crisis," Atienza said.

"We have severe typhoons constantly visiting the country like Yolanda and Ondoy, and the latest example of this is the destruction wrought by typhoon Odette on several provinces," he added.

Added burden

Further, Atienza said, there are already professional military personnel who are receiving salaries to defend the country and help in the disaster-response measures of the government.

He also said the problem of foreign threats and dissidents should be handled by the Philippine military while communist insurgency will be solved by better economic policies and income generation especially for the poor.

"So why should our young graduates be made to perform the task of defending the country when we have trained soldiers who are tasked to handle the country’s military needs," Atienza said.

"This is an added burden on the youth. What we should be doing instead is to harness the youth’s strength, energy and capabilities in sports and cultural development," he added. — BM, GMA News