SENATE Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Monday said that there are enough votes from the senators in order to pass Senate Bill No. 2034 which is seeking for the revival of mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps or ROTC program for tertiary students enrolled in higher learning and vocational institutions.

“I believe we have reached a level of support where the ROTC program will be revived. I’m quite confident,” Tolentino said when asked about the status of the bill.

“The primary goal of the ROTC Bill is to encourage and develop discipline and a deep sense of nationalism among our youth,” he added.

He, however, said passing the measure is unrelated with the ongoing conflict in the West Philippine Sea.

“No, we are not preparing for war. Enacting this bill is timely and crucial for our national interest and future, with or without the conflict in WPS,” he stressed.

The senator further said that the measure has already hurdled third reading at the House of Representatives, and will be included on the agenda of the meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council or LEDAC on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Tolentino extended his gratitude to Mayor John Dalipe for Zamboanga City’s all-out support for the staging of the ROTC Games.

The honorary chairman of the ROTC Games also praised Zamboanga’s modern sports facilities and venues, which made the region an ideal host for the multi-sport event.