QUEZON CITY, Philippines – In an effort to enhance the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Program and increase the number of its enrollees, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conducted the ROTC Commandants’ Symposium, Thursday at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club.
The AFP through the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Reservist and Retiree Affairs, J9, invited officials from the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and selected National Service Training Program (NSTP) directors to participate in yesterday’s activity.
The symposium focused on the current status of the ROTC Program implementation, best practices by the commandants, and updates on the DepEd’s K12 program and its effects on ROTC. It also served as opportunity for different NSTP school administrators to give insights on how to enhance ROTC and develop creative ways to increase the number enrollees.
The Deputy Chief of Staff for Reservist and Retiree Affairs, Rear Admiral Romeo Santiago Nebres presided over the event.
The ROTC program is the main source of reservists in the AFP. However, with the implementation of the NSTP Act of 2001 mandating the voluntary enrolment in the program, the number ROTC enrollees have since declined. Based on recorded data, there was almost 50% decrease in the number of enrollees from over two million in 2001 to an estimated 950,000 in 2012.
The constitution states that the preservation of the state is an obligation of every citizen. The ROTC program is a good training program for our youths to prepare them in the fulfillment of this sacred duty.
The ROTC Program promotes nationalism and patriotism among the youth and develops their sense of willingness to render active military service and civil services, either for peacetime, emergency or wartime missions.
