Beyond the Barracks: Unveiling Concerns in the Mandatory ROTC

The controversy of whether Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) should be mandatory in

colleges and technical and vocational courses has been the subject of serious debate and deliberation.

Furthermore, as of now, extensive possibilities that this mandatory bill could be enacted into law before

the end of 2023, as 84 percent of Filipino youths (aged 18-24) are in favor of the bill, according to

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa. The reinstatement of the mandatory 2-year ROTC program aims to: (1) equip

young people with the skills and readiness needed to serve their country and protect the state's and the

citizens' security, (2) develop students a sense of nationality, patriotism, and service ethics; cultivating

self-control and leadership; and promoting innovative thinking for the advancement of science and

technology, and (3) civil training provided to students in order to prepare them to actively participate and

serve as volunteers in the advancement of human and civil rights awareness, health, education, ecology,

and environmental protection.

Critics argue that mandatory ROTC training is unnecessary given the Philippines' lack of

engagement in a state of war, a stance that aligns with this paper's arguments. Mandatory ROTC violates

students' freedom and the right to decide how they want to give back to society. Education should enable

people to follow their passions and acquire skills that align with their interests and objectives. This bill

also ignores the variety of skills and aspirations among young people and assumes that every student is

suitable for military training. The academic burden this course adds to students' already academic

workload can result in a potential performance decline.

Aside from that, hazing and abuse have occurred within required ROTC programs. For example,

the murder of Mark Welson Chua, a student from the University of Santo Tomas, triggered the abolition

of the mandatory ROTC program in 2002. Students' well-being and sense of security could be

undermined by forced involvement, which could harm them physically and emotionally. Though the

government establishing a protection program to stop hazing and abuse within compulsory ROTC

programs is a positive move, it also raises significant concerns regarding the viability, effectiveness, and

potential unintended consequences of such a strategy, such as Feasibility and Implementation,

Accountability, and Enforcement, Resource Allocation, and the Long-Term Sustainability. With over

2,300 listed colleges and universities in the Philippines, will they be able to implement the protection

program successfully?
 It is not arguable that the allover goals of the implementation of the mandatory ROTC are a

crucial factor for making the country better and ready for the future; I firmly believe that these goals can

be achieved without this implementation. Alternative strategies that value individual choice, various

talents, and holistic education can be used to provide young people with the knowledge and readiness

needed to serve their country and safeguard its security. While ROTC is not required, several tactics can

be used to promote civic engagement and national security awareness: Voluntary ROTC Participation,

Diverse Civic Education, Community Service and Social Projects, Leadership and Critical Thinking

Programs, National Security Education, Military Awareness Programs, and Public Awareness

Campaigns.

The conflict over mandatory ROTC requires a careful balancing act between the interests of

national security, community improvement, and individual freedom. The debate over whether ROTC

should be required at colleges and technical and vocational programs brings to light the complex interplay

between societal expectations, morals, and changing demands. Other tactics that respect individual

choices and various skills can be used to attain the desired aims, as the Philippines considers the

likelihood of passing the mandatory ROTC bill. The pending judgment on the mandatory ROTC law

allows the Philippines to reevaluate its policy toward civic involvement, education, and national security.

The government can create a future generation of responsible citizens prepared to contribute to society

and defend the nation's interests by focusing on individual freedom of choice, encouraging varied

abilities, and implementing new educational methodologies. The Philippines can advance while

upholding its youth's individual rights and aspirations by embracing these alternate routes, setting the

country on a path to a more inclusive and ready future.

References

Magsambol, B. (2023, February 21). Mandatory ROTC bill: What we know so

far. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/mandatory-rotc-bill-what-we-know-so-far/Re

Dela Rosa optimistic of mandatory ROTC bill’s enactment before end of 2023. (n.d.). Manila
Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/10/dela-rosa-optimistic-of-mandatory-rotc-bill-s-enactment-before-
end-of-2023

Sign the petition. (n.d.). Change.org. https://www.change.org/p/no-to-mandatory-rotc