THE Commission on Higher Education has renewed its partnership with the Department of National Defense, the Philippine Sports Commission, and Senator Francis Tolentino to continue the conduct of the Philippine Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Games to foster a stronger ROTC community.

CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera IIi, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., and PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann signed on Monday a memorandum of agreement to jointly organize the 2024 ROTC Games.

The MOA was signed in the presence of Tolentino, the father and honorary chairman of the Executive Organizing Committee of the ROTC Games.

“Recognizing the pivotal role sports play in the holistic development of our youth, the ROTC Games stand as a testament to CHED’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals who will contribute meaningfully to our nation’s progress,” De Vera said.

“Two years ago, we embarked on a revitalizing journey for local sports and our nation’s Reserve Officer Training Corps program, hence, the formal launch of the 2023 Philippine ROTC Games. The event exemplified a significant milestone for developing sports and enhancing military training among our youth,” he added.

The continuation of this inter-agency collaboration was built upon the success of the inaugural ROTC Games in 2023, with 220 HEIs and 3,393 student-athlete participants in the nationwide conduct of the ROTC Games.

The conduct of the ROTC Games will encourage the development of sports programs, and promote physical education, self-discipline, teamwork, excellence, and grassroots sports programs for the youth.

Furthermore, the ROTC Games will be an improved platform for ROTC cadets to compete in Olympic-level and NSA-sanctioned sporting events which will train them for local, national, and international competitions.

The games shall include Miss and Mister ROTC, qualifying legs, and national games for athletics, swimming, boxing, arnis, weightlifting, kickboxing, e-sports, basketball, volleyball, target shooting, and demonstration sports.

The funding to carry out the ROTC Games shall be charged against the appropriation for its annual implementation as lodged to the DND, CHED, and PSC under the GAA for the implementing year.

“As the Secretary of CHED, I shall ensure that our HEIS will continue to participate and support the ROTC Games and provide technical assistance to ensure the success of its implementation in the succeeding years,” De Vera said.