Bato sees 'slim' Senate approval of ROTC bill

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa was confident that the upper chamber would approve the bill making Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) mandatory, though only by a "slim margin."

"My own personal estimate is that we will win by [a] slim margin. Kung magkakabotohan ha (if we will put the measure to a vote), we will win by a slim margin... majority pero ang margin very slim (there will be a majority vote but the margin will be very slim)," Dela Rosa said in a phone interview.

Dela Rosa disclosed that he had sought the resumption of debates on SB 2304 as he staunchly supported the ROTC program and had been asking for updates on the progress of the measure in the chamber.

"Kinausap ko si [Senate President Migz Zubiri] na sana ma-calendar na 'yan pagbalik namin [from the session break] para 'yun nga, may resulta na, whether gusto man natin o hindi. Kasi ako ang kinukulit ng taumbayan, ng mga pro-ROTC. Kinukulit nila ako kung bakit hindi pa lumabas 'yung batas na yan. So sabi ko kay [Senate President] baka pwedeng i-tackle na natin," he said.

(I talked to the Senate President and asked if we can put the deliberations of the mandatory ROTC bill in our session's agenda so we can get a result, whether it will be approved or not. Because I am being asked by ROTC supporters, "Why has this bill not been approved?")

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri had said that they would prioritize the debates on Senate Bill 2034 in May and the matter would be put to a vote.

The Mandatory ROTC Bill (Senate Bill 2034), a priority measure of the Marcos Administration, is currently on second reading in the Senate.

The last interpellation on Senate Bill 2034 was held last September 25, 2023.

Under the bill, the mandatory basic ROTC program will cover all students enrolled in not less than a two-year undergraduate degree, diploma, or certificate programs in HEIs and TVIs. The program will be undertaken for four semesters.

Students who fail to undergo the ROTC program will not be qualified for graduation.

Educational institutions that fail to institute and implement basic ROTC will face disciplinary and administrative sanctions from the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

A specialized program will be crafted for students who are classified as persons with disabilities, those whose religious beliefs prohibit the use of firearms in rendering service to the country, and those who have been convicted by final judgment of crimes involving moral turpitude.

The Basic ROTC Program Curriculum will be crafted by the Department of National Defense, CHED, and TESDA in consultation with other relevant government agencies and private stakeholders, including associations of schools.

The mandatory ROTC program was scrapped in 2002 following the passage of Republic Act 9163, an act establishing the NSTP (National Service Training Program). — DVM, GMA Integrated News