DND turns to Facebook for feedback on ROTC revival

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of National Defense (DND) will use social networking websites such as Facebook to gather feedback on its proposal to revive the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program, an official said Monday.

DND spokesman Eduardo Batac said using the Internet will allow them to reach out to all stakeholders, especially students who will be affected by the proposal.

“That particular medium was adopted to allow the department to gather the necessary inputs in evaluating how we can achieve the objective of augmenting our forces without burdening the national budget,” Batac told The STAR.

“It is keeping up with the times and being responsive to our stakeholders especially those who will be affected by the program,” he added. 

Facebook users can post their comments on http://www.facebook.com /dndph or by searching “Kagawaran ng Tanggulang Pambansa.” Internet users can also send reactions by following DND’s Twitter account (http://twitter.com/dnd_forum).

Views may also be sent through e-mail ([email protected]) or by logging in at the defense department’s web forum (www.dnd.gov.ph). 

The public may also send text messages by typing DND/ROTC/Name/Address/(message) and sending it to 2920 for Smart and Globe users. Those who have no Internet access may call 912-8582 or send a letter to the DND Office of Public and Legislative whose address is Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Batac said the comments will be used as inputs to enhance the proposed ROTC program. He added that the citizens may also use these platforms to air their concerns on other defense-related issues such as abusive soldiers, irregularities, and corrupt officials.

Batac said they are ready to listen to all criticisms and suggestions provided these are constructive.

“Let us come up with constructive criticisms so we can craft a program which is acceptable to the majority,” he said.

Last week, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said he is supporting proposals to make the ROTC mandatory again, saying this would instill discipline among students while increasing the country’s military forces.

Some students and activists, however, rejected the proposal, saying the ROTC is a waste of time and is prone to corruption. There are also views that the mandatory ROTC would force parents who are already burdened with numerous school expenses to spend for uniforms.

Calls to scrap the mandatory ROTC program mounted in 2001 after University of Santo Tomas student Mark Chua was killed for reportedly exposing the corruption in his unit.

The program was abolished in 2002 after then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law Republic Act 9163, which created the National Service Training Program (NSTP).

The law made the ROTC just one of the three programs offered to college students. The other NSTP components are the Civic Welfare Training Service, which encourages students to join developmental programs and the Literacy Training Service, which trains students to become teachers of school children and marginalized sectors.