Press Release
November 27, 2018

SEN. EMMANUEL D. PACQUIAO
PRIVILEGE SPEECH| SENATE BILL 189 - ROTC

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. PRESIDENT. BEFORE THE START OF THE 17TH CONGRESS, I WAS ALREADY CLEAR ABOUT MY LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

THAT IS WHY ON JUNE 30, 2016, I FILED SENATE BILL NO. 189 "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE RESTORATION OF MANDATORY MILITARY TRAINING FOR ALL GRADE 11 AND GRADE 12 STUDENTS BY REINSTATING SECTION 38 AND 39 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7077, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CITIZEN ARMED FORCE OR ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES RESERVIST ACT."

EVEN WHILE I WAS STILL IN CONGRESS, I HAVE ALREADY PUSHED FOR THE REINSTATEMENT OF THE RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS.

CLEARLY, THIS IS ONE OF MY PRIORITY BILLS.

THE BILLS ON REINSTATING ROTC HAVE GONE THROUGH THE FIRST READING ON AUGUST 1, 2016, SINCE THEN, THE BILLS HAVE BEEN PENDING IN THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, ARTS AND CULTURE AND COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY.

I AM DELIGHTED TO INFORM YOU THAT YESTERDAY, I HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM OUR SENATE PRESIDENT VICENTE SOTTO III CONVEYING HIS INTENTION TO BE MADE CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 189. FOR THE RECORD, I AM GLADLY ACCEPTING THE REQUEST.

UNDER SENATE BILL NO. 189, THE RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE MILITARY TRAINING TO GRADE 11 AND GRADE 12 OR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ORDER TO MOTIVATE, TRAIN, ORGANIZE AND MOBILIZE OUR YOUTH FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE PREPAREDNESS.

MR. PRESIDENT, LET US DO A QUICK REVIEW. ROTC WAS INSTITUTIONALIZED UNDER COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 1, ALSO KNOWN AS "THE NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT."

UNDER THIS MEASURE, EVERY PHYSICALLY FIT STUDENT WAS REQUIRED TO PURSUE A COURSE OF MILITARY INSTRUCTION DESIGNED TO QUALIFY HIM FOR A COMMISSION AS A THIRD LIEUTENANT IN THE REGULAR OR RESERVE FORCES.

THE NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT WAS AMENDED BY PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1706, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE NATIONAL SERVICE LAW."

THE DECREE PROVIDES THAT EACH CITIZEN SHALL RENDER NATIONAL SERVICE IN ANY OF THE THREE MAIN PROGRAMS, NAMELY: CIVIC WELFARE SERVICE; LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICE; AND MILITARY SERVICE.

THE NATIONAL SERVICE LAW WAS LATER AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7077, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CITIZEN ARMED FORCE OR ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES RESERVIST ACT" WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE MANDATORY TAKING OF THE RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS.

THE LAW REQUIRES THE COMPLETION OF THE COURSE AS A REQUIREMENT FOR ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS IN ACQUIRING THEIR BACCALAUREATE DEGREE.

ACCORDING TO REPUBLIC ACT 7077, The mission of the Citizen Armed Force, alternately referred to as the Reserve Force, INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:

  • TO PROVIDE THE BASE FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES IN THE EVENT OF WAR, INVASION OR REBELLION

  • TO ASSIST IN SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

  •  TO ASSIST IN THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENT OR PRIVATE UTILITIES IN THE FURTHERANCE OF OVERALL MISSION

  • And let me highlight this: TO ASSIST IN RELIEF AND RESCUE DURING DISASTERS OR CALAMITIES

ALAM NAMAN PO NATIN ANG KALUNOS-LUNOS NA NANGYARI SA ATING MGA KABABAYAN SA TACLOBAN.

MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE LEARNED OUR LESSONS WELL.

ISA SA MGA IMPORTANTENG NATUTUNAN NATIN AY ANG KAHALAGAHAN NG RESERVE FORCE SA PANAHON NG MGA SAKUNA KUNG SAAN MAS MARAMI TAYONG MAPAPAGALAW NA RESERVISTS NA MAKAKATULONG SA ATING MGA KABABAYAN NA MANGANGAILANGAN NG RELIEF AND RESCUE ASSISTANCE.

SA GITNA NG MGA NAGBABADYANG SAKUNA, MAS MABUTI NA TAYO AY LAGING HANDA. ON JANUARY 23, 2002, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9163, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM OR NSTP ACT OF 2001," WAS APPROVED. THE PROGRAM WAS ENACTED TO ENHANCE CIVIC CONSCIOUSNESS AND DEFENSE PREPAREDNESS IN THE YOUTH BY DEVELOPING THEIR ETHICS OF SERVICE AND PATRIOTISM. UNDER RA 9163, ROTC WAS MADE OPTIONAL AND VOLUNTARY.

MR. PRESIDENT, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS AND CONTROVERSIES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ROTC.

AS SOLUTION PROVIDERS, WE WILL STRENGTHEN THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE ROTC OFFICERS AS WELL AS EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM.

OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT COMPROMISE THE SECURITY OF OUR LAND AND THE WELFARE OF OUR PEOPLE. WE NEED TO EQUIP OUR YOUTH WITH NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN SECURING AND DEFENDING THE COUNTRY IN TIMES OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY.

MR. PRESIDENT, REINSTATING THE ROTC IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE THAT THE GOVERNMENT MAY CALL UPON THE PEOPLE TO DEFEND THE STATE.

TODAY, MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMITMENT TO PUT OUR COUNTRY ABOVE SELF. WITH THIS, LET US REVIVE THE MANDATORY ROTC.

MARAMING SALAMAT PO.

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