100 teachers, commandants train for basic ROTC

The Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Education (DepEd, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) concluded Sunday, July 8, the four-day capability building workshop for the pilot implementation of Advanced Citizen Training Program (ACTP).

In a statement, AFP Public Affairs Office chief Colonel Noel Detoyato, said the workshop was aimed at preparing 100 teachers and 100 AFP commandants from identified schools offering Grades 11 and 12 nationwide projected to implement the ACTP.

ACTP is anchored on House Bill 5113 endorsed by President Duterte, proposing the mandatory Basic Reserve Officers Training Course (ROTC) in Grades11 and 12 in consultation with other ROTC stakeholders.

The proposed bill was presented and unanimously approved for endorsement to Congress as a priority measure by the President and the Cabinet during the 12th Cabinet meeting on Feb. 7, 2017 in Malacañang.

The bill was eventually filed in the House by Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu (2nd Dist, Batangas) as HB 5113 on 22 Feb 2017, adopting en toto the DND/ AFP bill. (Francis T. Wakefield)