per iga, ~
> 6,

la
RECEIVED

fx
i! >

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
‘irst Regular Session

5113

BILL no.

Introduced by DEPUTY

KER RANEO E. ABU

“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 II, 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 II, 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.

Depufy Speaker and
Representative,
S¢cond District,

Batangas


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

17th Congress
First Regular Session

House Bit No. 5113

Introduced by DEPUTY SPEAKER RANEO E. ABU

“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 cal! 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

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

5.1. 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,

¢. 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 (PO!) 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 iraining, 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 shail 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/ateral
entry and enlistment in the AFP, PNP, Coast Guard, BUMP, 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 14. 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.