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GMA
re-enacts signing of law making ROTC optional
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today reenacted the signing
of the law in Malacanang of the bill institutionalizing the
national service training as an alternative to military training
or the Reserved Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).
Republic
Act No. 9163, which was signed on Jan. 23, 2002, is an act
establishing the National Service Training Program (NSTP)
for tertiary level students, amending for the purpose, Republic
Act No. 7077 and Presidential Decree No. 1706, and for other
purposes.
The
photo opportunity at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacanang, was
attended by Senate President Franklin Drilon, Speaker Jose
de Venecia, Jr., Senators Noli de Castro and Renato Cayetano,
and Representatives Harlin Abayon, Raul del Mar, Rodolfo Plaza,
Plaridel Abaya, Abraham Kahlil Mitra, Bellaflor Angara Castillo
and Francis Joseph Escudero.
The
reenactment of the signing of RA No. 9163 was also attended
by representatives from the Coordinating Council of Private
Education Association (COCOPEA), Department of National Defense
(DND) , Department of Social Welfare and Development, Commission
on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA), Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Far
Eastern University president Edilberto de Jesus.
RA
No. 9163 authorizes the DND to formulate and adopt a program
of assistance and/or incentives for students who will take
up ROTC.
It
also provides options such as literacy training or civic welfare
training service to basic ROTC for male and female students
as prerequisite for graduation from college.
The
NSTP also allows design and implementation of a one-summer
program. It also allows participation of non-governmental
organizations (NGOs’), subject to CHED or TESDA accreditation
and supervision, in the conduct of any of the alternative
options.
The
law likewise suspends ROTC requirement for those students
who have completed all their academic units as of the effectivity
of this law.
It
also provides scholarship incentives to deserving students.
released
2/28/02
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