Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2087

Introduced by Representative RANEO E. ABU
Second District, Batangas

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7077 MANDATING THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION,
DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF BASIC
RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) IN GRADES 11 AND 12 IN
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article Il, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the prime duty of the
government is to serve and protect the people.The Government may call upon the
people to defend the State and, in the fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required,
under conditions provided by law, to render personal, military or civil service

Likewise, pursuant to the 1987 Constitution under Article Il, Section 13
thereof,the State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall
promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being. It
shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement
in public and civic affairs.

The inculcation of the spirit of nationalism, nation-building, and national
preparedness among a country’s population is vital to that country’s survival. A
democratic and freedom-loving country such as the Philippines is devoid of its essence
if its citizens, failing to recognize the clear and present danger hanging over the heads
of its entire population, keep on turning towards themselves only as individuals rather
than collectively to protect our nation and our way of life as a whole.

It must be recognized, then, that the school is the most powerful institution when
it comes to shaping the hearts and minds of the youth. It is essential, therefore, to use
the school as an invaluable instrument — as it already is - to ensure that Filipino
students are geared to become disciplined, active, responsive, participative, and
patriotic citizens and able defenders of our country.


This bill seeks to use schools as instruments of nationalism, nation-building, and
national preparedness. It is not enough that students are taught about the greatness of
our forefathers; nor is it sufficient to simply rely on Filipino, HEKASI, Makabayan, Social
Studies, Araling Panlipunan, or Social Science classes in an effort to impart to the
students the value of discipline, patriotism, and nationhood. These values cannot be
taught in a classroom setting. The Filipino Youth should be physically trained in
upholding these values because this will be the foundation for a productive society and
a stronger Philippine Republic.

Also, with our country's all-out war to finally neutralize all threats to security and
safety of our people, it is the duty of the National Government to train the tens of
millions of Filipino youth on how they can defend themselves, their families, their
communities, and help uphold the sovereignty of the State.

It is in this spirit that it thus becomes vital to re-institutionalize the Mandatory
Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Program for the Filipino youth. If implemented
efficiently, it would have the potential to produce an entire generation of young Filipinos
who will be proud of their Filipino heritage and are ready to give the entirety of their
being to serve their countrymen, to defend the State at all cost, and in a collective effort
to make the Philippine Republic a real Southeast Asian Superpower in the near future.

For these reasons, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _2087_

Introduced by Representative RANEO E. ABU
Second District, Batangas

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7077 MANDATING THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION,
DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF BASIC
RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) IN GRADES 11 AND 12 IN
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.”

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Declaration of Constitutional Policy.-The prime duty
of the Government is to serve and protect the people. The Government may call
upon the people to defend the State and, in the fulfillment thereof, all citizens
may be required, under conditions provided by law, to render personal military or
civil service. In the same manner, the State recognizes the vital role of the youth
in nation-building, and shall promote civic consciousness among the youth and
shall develop their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being. It
shall inculcate in the youth patriotism, nationalism, and encourage their
involvement in public and civic affairs.

Towards this end, the State shall enhance the capacity of the nation to
produce the needed manpower and to expand its human resources in times of
war, calamities and disasters, national or local emergencies, and in support to
the Government's law enforcement strategy against crimes, by creating a pool of
trained reservists.

Section 2. Coverage. -The Basic Reserve Officers Training Corps
(ROTC) shall be mandatory in Grades 11 and 12 (Senior High School Level
under RA 10533) in any public and private educational institutions as requisite for
graduation.


Section 3. Establishment of ROTC Program in all Public and
Private Educational Institutions. -—

a. There is hereby established a mandatory two (2) year Basic ROTC
program for students enrolled in Grades 11 and 12 which shall form part of
the basic curricula for the Senior High School Education in any public and
private educational institutions in pursuance to the provisions of the
National Defense Act and the 1987 Constitutions, with the objective of
producing well-trained and prepared reservists for military and civic
service. The ROTC training is aimed to instill patriotism, love of country,
moral and spiritual virtues, respect for human rights and adherence to the
Constitution.

os

. The ROTC shall include the following program of institutions in order to
inculcate love of country, leadership and character development:

b.1, Enhancing the students consciousness in the ethics of service,
patriotism and nationalism, respect for human rights, appreciation of the
role of national heroes in the historical development of the country,
strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop personal discipline and
leadership and to encourage creative thinking for scientific and
technological development;

b.2. Basic military training for students in order to motivate, train, organize
and utilize for national defense preparedness or civil-military
operations;

b.3. Civic training for students in order to be active participants and
volunteers for the development and improvement of health, education,
ecology and environmental protection, disaster risk reduction and
management, human and civil rights awareness and law enforcement.

c. Guided by the provision of Section 3(b) hereof, the Department of National
Defense (DND), the Department of Education (DepEd) and Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in consultation with
other relevant government agencies and private stakeholders as the
Secretary of National Defense may determine, shall design and formulate
the Program of Institution (POI) on the ROTC program in Grades 11 and
12, within sixty (60) days from approval of this Act, shall jointly issue
Implementing Rules and Regulations for the effective implementation of
any provisions of this Act.


Section 4. Students Exempted from this Act. - The Following
may be exempted from the coverage of this Act:

a. Those who are physically or psychologically unfit, as certified by AFP
Surgeon General or his authorized medical officer, in pursuance to the
recommendation of the educational institutions where the concerned
student is enrolled.

b. Those who have undergone or are undergoing similar military training.

c. Those who may be exempted from training for valid reasons as
approved by the Department of National Defense, upon
recommendation by any educational institution where the concerned
student is enrolled.

Section 5. Acceptance for Advance ROTC. — Students who
volunteer for advance ROTC program in universities, colleges, vocational
schools and other tertiary institutions shall be governed by Section 40 of
RA 7077 ("Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act"). The
provisions of Section 42 and 43 of RA 7077 in terms of training, uniforms
and supplies, and the scholarship incentive shall remain effective and
applicable for those accepted in the Advance ROTC course. It shall be
mandatory for all public and private universities, college and similar
learning institutions to offer and provide a training school for the Advance
ROTC Program which shall have a duration in accordance with the
curriculum prescribed by DND and CHED.

The Secretary of National Defense, in coordination with the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED), shall prescribed the curriculum
for advance ROTC and the program of instruction in pursuance to the
applicable provisions of RA 7077.

Graduates of Advance ROTC shall be eligible for commissionship or
enlistment in the AFP or shall be given priority for lateral entry in other
armed and law enforcement services of the government.

Section 6. Organization, Operation and Maintenance of ROTC
Units. -— The organization, operation and maintenance for the
establishment of ROTC shall be in accordance with Sections 41 and 42 of
RA 7077 which shall remain effective and operative unless inconsistent


with this Act. The Secretary of National Defense, in consultation with
DepEd and TESDA, shall prescribe the organization and operational
manual of ROTC units in public and private educational institutions for
Grades 11 and 12. Provide further, that such educational institutions are
required to provide an adequate office for the ROTC administrative staff
assigned thereat.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) shall create an office
dedicated to the supervision and administration of the ROTC program
within the Reserve Commands of the AFP in coordination with the DepEd
and TESDA.

Section 7. Incentives for Undergoing ROTC Program. —

a. Graduates of two (2) year Basic ROTC and have completed a
four (4) year baccalaureate degree shall be considered as First
Level Civil Service Eligibility. Whereas, graduates of Advance
ROTC and finished a four (4) year baccalaureate degree shall be
considered as Second Level Civil Service Eligibility in the Civil
Service.

b. Subject to other requirements prescribed by rules and
regulations, graduates of Basic ROTC are eligible for
commissionship/lateral entry and enlistment in the AFP, PNP,
Coast Guard, BJMP, and BFP unless a waiver is issued by the
Department Secretaries of the aforementioned military and
civilian armed services.

c. Students undergoing Basic ROTC and those accepted in the
ROTC Advance Course are provided free hospitalization in any
government hospital in case of accident or injury during the
training. Mandatory insurance for students undergoing ROTC
should be provided by the school where the students are
enrolled.

d. Students undergoing Basic and Advance ROTC are given access
and privileges with any AFP Commissary and PX Stores
nationwide. The Chief of Staff, AFP shall issue the necessary
regulations for the implementation of this privilege.


Section 8. Funding. —- The funds for the establishment,
maintenance and operation of ROTC shall be provided in the General
Appropriations Act of the DND, DepEd, CHED and TESDA.

Section 9. Transitory Provisions. — In case of amendment,
modification, repeal or declaration of unconstitutionality of RA 10533
(‘Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013"), the DND, CHED and TESDA
shall issue the necessary Implementing Rules and Regulations Adjusting
the coverage of this Act to all tertiary students enrolled in any public and
private universities, colleges, vocational schools and other educational
institutions.

Section 10. _ Penalties. — Any students who fails to undergo the
mandatory ROTC in accordance with this Act shall not be qualified for
graduation. In addition thereto, the non-taking of ROTC by any student
shall be a ground for Compulsory Military Training in pursuance to Section
14 of RA 7077. Any educational institution that fails to institute and
implement the ROTC program in pursuance to this Act shall be subject to
disciplinary and administrative sanctions as the DepEd, CHED and TESDA
may impose.

Section 11. Repealing and Amendatory Clause. - All laws,
decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations which are inconsistent or
in conflict with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed or amended
accordingly.

Section 12. _ Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.