Clarice G. Antatico             

                                 

    EXHORTATION NOT IMPOSITION

Reserve Officer Training Corp or what we called ROTC is a program provided by the U.S Military. Its main purpose is to prepare students for their entry to military career. Also, students could become more responsible and active in their involvement in different activities.

In line with that, the members of the House of the Representatives of the 16^th Congress of the Philippines have filed at least six house bills related to the ROTC program. Moreover, on February 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the proposal to rekindle the mandatory of ROTC Training for SHS students in both public and private schools. Many Pinol, Secretary of Agriculture, said “following a presentation by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana proposing an amendment to RA 7077 to make ROTC mandatory. Lorenzana said ROTC instills patriotism, love of country, moral and spiritual values, respect for human rights and adherence to constitution.”

Indeed, Defense Secretary was right. ROTC can gain valuable leadership and discipline, can develop and improved one’s self and learn new skills. However, the aforementioned benefits, does not fit to all of the students. With that, I strongly disagree with the imposition of ROTC in SHS curriculum because first and foremost this will only contribute to the burden in the school life of the students. We can’t deny the fact that nowadays students are fully loaded with different activities, projects and other school related works. Second, there might be a possibility that those who will be appointed as an officer will use its power against other students and might step down in the rights of others. The program has in fact lead to countless violations of student rights. Like for example, a viral video from University of Mindanao-Tagum which showed the student cadets who was being punched repeatedly in the chest and stomach. Also, students from Polytechnic University of the Philippines reported acts of violence through hazing and corporal punishment committed by PUP student officials. Perhaps, these can conclude that ROTC can destroy the student’s life. Also, it can be a disincentive to reach student’s plans and goals in life.

If they want us to love our country and to be a good citizen, there is no need to have ROTC program at all. In fact, there are a lot of ways to teach students about discipline and nationalism. Instead, we should invest more in peaceful solutions to students like program for education, scholarships, grant, and others. If we need a better path of the youth of today, we should create opportunities for students, those opportunities that do not involve the retention of the military works.