SENATE Majority Leader Francis Tolentino expressed confidence that the proposed reintroduction of mandatory ROTC in college has a strong chance of passing in the Senate.

This follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s go signal to fast-track discussions after the objectives of the proposal were explained to him.

According to Tolentino, the House of Representatives has already approved the proposal, and it is currently in the period of interpellation in the Senate.

“With the President’s go signal, this has now become a top priority. It will be taken up once the session resumes, with only a few amendments left to discuss,” Tolentino stated.

The senator also mentioned that the transitory provisions of the proposal are under review to determine whether it will take effect in one or two years.

Tolentino recommended that the basic ROTC course be taken in the first year, covering topics like disaster preparedness, disaster management, environmental care, and climate change. In the second year, the course would become more advanced, with specialized courses available for those who continue into a third year.

He emphasized that interest in ROTC is growing, with many students already enrolling in schools that offer it.