TWO senators highlighted the significance of a mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps as Israel mobilized 360,000 reservists in their fight against Hamas.

Senator Francis Tolentino said there is a need for the revival of mandatory ROTC to ensure that the youth are always ready.

“Kailangan talaga ang ROTC program para laging handa ang ating bansa—ang reserve force ang backbone ng sandatahang lakas kagaya ng sa Israel,” Tolentino said.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said it is time to pass the mandatory ROTC bill in order to have more reservists in the country.

“Nasusundan ko rin ano nangyari sa Israel and sa Gaza and meron silang close to about 360k reservists. And all of those reservists, dumaan sa 2 year mandatory conscription. Sa Israel two years ang mandatory conscription nila. After two years, automatic reservist ka na,” Gatchalian said.

“Ang proposal natin sa ROTC is only one year tapos once a week so hindi siya full time and then automatic reservist ka na rin. So yun ang proposal natin dito sa atin. So ang konsepto dito kasi ang reservist natin hindi lumalaki. Ang reservist voluntary lang. Kung gusto mong magreservist magvoluntary ka. Pero ngayon with our concept automatic reservist ka na kasi meron ka nang training,” he added.

He admitted that there is a need for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify the bill as urgent.

“Hindi lang naman tinitignan natin dito defense purposes but also for climate change and response to calamities. At kung meron tayong mga ganitong trahedya, tinatawag din natin ang reservists natin pero nakita ko nga ang reservist natin pakonti nang pakonti parang wala pang 10k,” he said.