Lawmakers score 'railroading' of mandatory ROTC amid WPS tensions

MANILA, Philippines — Minority lawmakers from the House of Representatives on Thursday flagged what they described as an attempt by the Senate to "railroad" the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) bill amid heightened geopolitical tensions over the West Philippine Sea.

Rep. Raoul Manuel (Kabataan Party-list) said in a press conference on Thursday that the maritime conflict between two global powers, China and the United States, should not be used to fast-track the mandatory ROTC bill, which is widely opposed by youth groups concerned over past abuses by cadets of the program.

Manuel said that teaching students to "love and serve their country" should not be done in the context of other countries' wars.

"Kung makaladkad ang Pilipinas sa gyera ng US at China doon sa WPS, makikinabang lamang ng US sa milyon milyong kabataan na magiging reserba lamang sa gyera laban sa China," the lawmaker said.

(If the Philippines is dragged into a war between the US and China in the West Philippine Sea, only the US will benefit from millions of youth who will become reserves solely for war against China.)

Sen. Bato dela Rosa, sponsor of the bill, has said that making ROTC compulsory will help the country strengthen its defense and security.

"With or without the West Philippine Sea issue, kailangan na kailangan talaga natin yan. How much more na may impending threat sa West Philippine Sea, so all the more we need to prepare, there’s no compromise for defense,” he said.

(With or without the West Philippine Sea issue, we really need that. How much more with an impending threat in the West Philippine Sea, so all the more we need to prepare, there’s no compromise for defense.)

Currently, students in higher education institutions (HEIs) have the option to take ROTC as one of three options under the National Service Training Program (NSTP), which replaced the then-mandatory ROTC in 2001 as a response to the military program's reported abuses and corruption. The two other options are the civic welfare training service and literacy training service.

However, under Senate Bill 2034, all students enrolled in HEIs and Technical Vocational Institutions (TVIs) will be required to