NextGen Day

On Tuesday, two House of Representatives subcommittees authorized the unification of various bills that would have created the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and a required National Citizens Service Training (NCST) program.

The House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, led by Representative Mark Go of Baguio City, and the Committee on Basic Education and Culture, led by Representative Roman Romulo of Pasig City, approved a substitute bill that consolidated 27 measures on the ROTC and NCST programs. House Bill 6486, the lead bill, was primarily written by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

By abolishing Republic Act 9163, often known as the “National Service Training Act,” HB 6486 aims to establish a national citizens service training program at all public and private tertiary education institutions.

The NCST program will provide the youth with the necessary, fundamental, applicable, and realistic knowledge and abilities for civic responsibility, emergency and disaster response, and preparedness in the current frameworks of law enforcement, peace and order, territorial defense, and national disaster risk reduction and management for mobilization for military and civil services that produce reservists for the National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC) and AFP Citizen Armed Force (AFP Reserve Force).

The lead bill also suggests an optional ROTC program for college students with the goal of producing officers for the Philippine Armed Forces Regular Force and Citizen Armed Force.

Rep. Jude Acidre of the TINGOG Party-list, a co-author, stated in his speech at the bill’s sponsoring committee meeting that the creation of a unified, all-encompassing, and holistic national citizens service training and mobilization system would improve Filipinos’ ability to mobilize and carry out their constitutional duty to provide personal military or civil service to the State during crises and disasters, local or national emergencies, uprisings, wars, or invasions.

In order to prevent abuses of any kind, corruption, hazing, torture, infringement of data privacy rights, and other violations of human rights, Acidre further stated that strict monitoring, evaluation, and accountability would be observed during the implementation of the national citizen’s service training and mobilization system.

He declared: “Any incident or report of abuses, corruption, hazing, torture, infringement of data privacy rights, or any other breach of human rights would be immediately investigated, handled, and the maximum penalty would be inflicted on any proved perpetrator or violator.”

He claimed that the idea is a planned, well-thought-out, and comprehensive legislative measure for the upbringing and mobilization of the young.

In addition, he stated, “this bill gives life to the constitutional mission of raising young as partners in nation-building, promoting their early participation in public and civic affairs, and forming a citizenry that is ready to protect the State in the personal military and civil service.”

Members of both committees were informed by Atty. Spocky Farolan, director of the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) legal and legislative service, that the Department of National Defense (DND), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Education (DepEd), and some other pertinent organizations, such as the National Youth Commission (NYC), had collaborated to develop a consensus bill.

The new program that we intend to establish to strengthen the civil service program in the Philippines is already the result of discussions and deliberations among the various agencies, he said.

Save/Share this story with QR CODE

---

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute endorsement of any specific technologies or methodologies and financial advice or endorsement of any specific products or services.

Need to get in touch?

Feel free to Contact NextGenDay.com for comments, suggestions, reviews, or anything else.

---

We appreciate your reading. Simple Ways To Say Thanks & Support Us:
1.) GIVE A TIP. Send a small donation thru Paypal
Your DONATION will be used to fund and maintain NEXTGENDAY.com
Subscribers in the Philippines can make donations to mobile number 0917 906 3081, thru GCash.
3.) BUY or SIGN UP to our AFFILIATE PARTNERS.
4.) Give this news article a THUMBS UP, and Leave a Comment (at Least Five Words).

---

AFFILIATE PARTNERS

World Class Nutritional Supplements - Buy Highest Quality Products, Purest Most Healthy Ingredients, Direct to your Door! Up to 90% OFF.
Join LiveGood Today - A company created to satisfy the world's most demanding leaders and entrepreneurs, with the best compensation plan today.

---