SENATE President Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero admitted on Thursday that funding the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program, if enacted, will be challenging.

Escudero shared that Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. estimated an annual requirement of ₱8 billion, amounting to ₱27 billion over three years, for the program’s implementation — funds that could otherwise be allocated to priorities like health and education.

“Ayon kay Secretary Teodoro, mahigit ₱8 bilyon ang kinakailangan kada taon para lubusang mapatupad ito, at tatagal ito ng tatlong taon na mangangailangan ng ₱27 bilyon. Kung susuriin, malaking ambag na ito, halimbawa, sa ating state universities and colleges imbes na ilaan lamang sa isang aspeto,” Escudero said.

The proposed ROTC program will require funding for items like combat boots, uniforms, allowances, stipends for training officers, and other office supplies.

“May budgetary requirements bago tayo maka-accommodate ng reserves… Hindi puwedeng porque naisipan ay gagawin na lamang agad natin. Dapat dalhin natin hanggang dulo para makita kung kaya nga ba, puwede nga ba, at dapat nga ba,” Escudero added.

Escudero also relayed that the Department of National Defense (DND) has proposed that students who undergo mandatory ROTC should not automatically be enlisted as reservists in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“Nais nilang irekomenda na hindi dapat automatic na maging reservists ang mga ROTC graduates dahil hindi nila kayang i-absorb ang lahat. Sa ilalim pa nga ng NSTP, may backlog na sila sa pag-accommodate ng mga reservists na nag-a-apply,” he explained.

Despite these concerns, and his personal opposition to mandatory ROTC, Escudero emphasized that he will not block its passage if the majority of the Senate supports it. He believes that the bill still has a chance of approval, but noted that the Executive Branch is reviewing the measure amid concerns about its implementation.