DESPITE THE controversies hounding the program, a recent nationwide survey indicated that more than half of Filipinos want to reinstate the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).
According to the first-quarter opinion poll by Oculum Research and Analytics, the majority or 53% of the respondents are in favor of bringing back the mandatory ROTC at the college level, while 19% are against the program.
The poll, which was conducted from February 21 to 29, sampled 3,000 respondents from Metro Manila (335), north and central Luzon (645), south Luzon (690), Visayas (615) and Mindanao (715). Respondents were surveyed through face-to-face interviews with a confidence level of 97% and a +/- 2% margin of error.
The ROTC program became optional in 2002, following the killing of UST student and cadet Mark Welson Chua who had exposed corruption and illegal practices in his unit.
Some groups have expressed opposition to the revival of the program, citing its supposed susceptibility to violence and abuse. However, its supporters claim that military training will impart discipline, patriotism and responsibility among students.
Earlier this month, Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri said the bill seeking to implement mandatory military training in senior high school would be prioritized in May this year.
The bill, which reached the Senate plenary last March, is among the priority measures that the Marcos administration wants to see passed in June.
Zubiri gave an assurance that “more safeguards” against hazing would be incorporated into the program, which would also cover cybersecurity, engineering and medical response training.
Fighting illegal drugs drew the highest support from respondents in the Oculum survey at 89%. It was followed by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (83%), climate change action (78%), anti-communist insurgency (70%) and the K to 12 program (50%).
Other issues mentioned in the survey were small town lottery or STL (35%), rice importation (31%), the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Bill (26%), divorce (24%), the Maharlika Investment Fund (23%), same-sex marriage (16%), mining (14%), Philippine Overseas Gaming Operations or POGO (14%) and e-sabong (9%).
The Oculum Research and Analytics Opinion Poll aims to gauge the nation’s views on sociopolitical issues and trust in institutions and public officials. F – Ma. Alyanna Selda
