Duterte certifies ROTC bill as urgent
By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter
Malacañang on Monday said President Rodrigo R. Duterte has certified as urgent the bill that seeks to revive the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) for senior high school students.
“Yes,” Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea said in phone message to BusinessWorld on Monday evening when asked if Mr. Duterte has certified the bill as urgent.
The 17th Congress will officially adjourn on Friday, June 7.
The House of Representatives approved the House Bill 8961 on third and final reading last month.
Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian sponsored the Senate version of the bill, Senate Bill No. 2232, on May 22.
The bill proposes to require students in grades 11 and 12 to undergo the said training. The ROTC program includes patriotism lessons, basic military training, and civic training.
“This bill requires that the ROTC program be run hand-in-hand with legal safeguards against hazing, abuse, exploitation, discrimination, bribery, and corruption — in recognition (of) these problems hav(ing) plagued the program in the past,” Mr. Gatchalian said in his sponsorship speech.
