THE PROPOSAL to implement the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps in college has broad support across different age groups, including college-aged individuals, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Thursday.

Gatchalian said that the Pulse Asia survey showed that 78 percent or nearly 8 out of 10 Filipinos support the implementation of ROTC at the tertiary level.

He shared that 75 percent of the respondents were aged 18-24. They agreed with the proposed revival of the mandatory ROTC.

Support for the measure was also overwhelming among people with varying educational backgrounds, including those who received some high school education, completed high school, those who received some college education and those who are in vocational education.

“Malinaw na batay sa pag-aaral, suportado ng ating mga mamamayan ang panukalang ibalik ang ROTC. Sentimyento ito hindi lang ng ating mga magulang, kundi pati na rin ng ating mga kabataan,” said Gatchalian, co-author and co-sponsor of Senate Bill 2034.

Aside from training students for national defense preparedness, civil military operations, and law enforcement, the proposed Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Act also aims to provide students with skills and knowledge to render service in times of emergencies and disasters.

“Hindi lamang ang ating mga kabataan ang makikinabang sa ROTC, kundi ang buong bansa. Sa ilalim ng programang ito, paiigtingin natin ang papel ng mga kabataan bilang mga lider at mga aktibong miyembro ng lipunan, lalo na sa mga panahong haharapin natin ang mga sakuna, kalamidad, at anumang emergency,” Gatchalian said.