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Hontiveros says many other ways to serve Philippines other than ROTC

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Wena Cos, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="UP ROTC cadets stand in attention during the wreath laying commemorating the 155th birthday of Andres Bonifacio in front of his monumnet at the Vinzon" s="" Hall="" in="" UP="" Quezon="" City="" on="" Nov.="" Mark="" ABS-CBN="" News="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/30/20181130-bonifacio-commemoration-up-md-md2_5617.jpg"/><figcaption>UP ROTC cadets stand in attention during the wreath laying commemorating the 155th birthday of Andres Bonifacio in front of his monumnet at the Vinzon&#x27;s Hall in UP Diliman, Quezon City on Nov. 30, 2018. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File </em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — Sen. Risa Hontiveros said the youth could serve the Philippines in various other ways apart from the Reserve Officers&#x27; Training Corps (ROTC), which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday pushed to make mandatory. </p><p>In his first State of the Nation Address, Marcos said the military training program should be a requirement for Grades 11 and 12 students to mobilize them &quot;for national defense preparedness, including disaster preparedness and capacity building for risk-related situations.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/25/22/marcos-pushes-for-return-of-mandatory-rotc">Return of mandatory ROTC part of Marcos legislative agenda</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Ito&#x27;y isang programa mula sa nakaraan na napatunayan hindi iyon ang optimal kasi iyong mga kabataan natin, may iba&#x27;t ibang paraan para mahalin at magsilbi kay inang bayan,&quot; Hontiveros said of mandatory ROTC. </p><p>(This is a program that was proven to be non-optimal because our youth have various other ways to love and serve the country.) </p><p>“Iyong mga ibang kabataang Filipino gustong maglingkod kay inang bayan sa iba pang mga paraan, ‘wag natin silang pipilitin,” the senator added in a chance interview after the SONA. </p><p>(We should not force young Filipinos who want to serve the nation in other ways.) </p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TAo7yIJYyuM?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>ROTC became optional in higher education in 2002, following the death of Mark Chua, a University of Santo Tomas student who was allegedly slain by officers for exposing fund mismanagement.</p><p>Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte earlier said she hoped legislative priorities in the 19th Congress would include the reinstatement of mandatory ROTC. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/20/22/sara-duterte-hopes-mandatory-rotc-a-congress-priority">Sara Duterte hopes mandatory ROTC a priority for Congress</a></li></ul><p>Among the other topics that Marcos tackled in his SONA, Hontiveros commended the mention of renewable energy and programs for vulnerable sectors like solo parents. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/25/22/marcos-to-prioritize-renewable-energy-to-address-climate-change">Marcos says to prioritize use of renewable energy to address climate change</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/25/22/marcos-vows-to-ease-farmers-debt-burden">Marcos to issue EO easing farmers&#x27; debt burden, urges Congress to condone loans</a></li></ul><p>But Hontiveros said she would have wanted to hear more about anti-corruption efforts. </p><p>“Yun yung isang concern moving forward, yung big ticket programs may potential pa rin sa korupsyon na dapat bantayan,” she said. </p><p>(One concern moving forward is that big ticket program still have a potential for corruption that should be monitored.) </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/07/25/22/marcos-eyes-universal-connectivity-digitalization-of-govt">Marcos eyes universal connectivity, further digitalization of govt processes</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/07/25/22/marcos-vows-to-finish-ongoing-infrastructure-projects">Marcos vows to finish ongoing infrastructure projects, including Mindanao railway</a></li></ul>

Senator Hontiveros said the youth could serve the Philippines in various ways apart from the ROTC, which President Marcos sought to make mandatory.

Hontiveros says many other ways to serve Philippines other than ROTC

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Hontiveros says many other ways to serve Philippines other than ROTC

Wena Cos,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 25, 2022 09:41 PM PHT

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