BBM priorities: ROTC and 1935 Defense Act

First, a few lines about the State of the Nation Address (or SONA). The SONA is no ordinary message from the Chief Executive to the people. It was actually mandated by the 1935 Constitution to be delivered yearly before Congress on a specific day. The address provided the President with an opportunity to report on the status of the nation, to unveil the government agenda for the coming year, and to propose legislative measures in support of its agenda. During the Commonwealth era, the first SONA was delivered in 1936 with President Manuel Quezon declaring that the nation’s “first and most urgent need” was the establishment of a National Defense policy. With war clouds looming on the horizon, the National Defense Act of 1935 was the product of his call for greater defense preparedness.

Only on one occasion did a President fail to appear personally before Congress to deliver his SONA. In January 1950, President Elpidio Quirino who was recuperating from surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland delivered his message via a radio broadcast at his bedside that was transmitted by local radio in time for the opening session of Congress. The last SONA that was delivered under the 1935 Constitution was in January 1972, a few months before the declaration of Martial Law. From 1973 to 1977, President Ferdinand Marcos addressed the nation on the anniversary date of the imposition of Martial Law (September 21) each year. The 1973 and 1987 Constitutions provide for Congress to be convened each year on the fourth Monday of July for its regular session. The day was chosen as most appropriate for the President’s SONA.

In my lifetime, close to 80 of these talks have been delivered by the head of the nation including several by Presidents Manuel Quezon and Sergio Osmena during the Commonwealth period. I must confess I have not listened to many of them. But for some reason, I decided to spend Monday afternoon on my elephant chair with an assortment of peanuts and potato chips by my side. Perhaps, it was not so much the speech that I was interested in but how the young man whose father was toppled from power 36 years ago by rebel forces under Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile and General Fidel Ramos, would conduct himself as the chief executive of a nation looking for hope and a brighter future amidst so much uncertainty and despair.

I followed him from his arrival at the Batasan, to the time he started his speech before the assembled crowd consisting mainly of representatives of Congress and a bloc of foreign dignitaries. President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. walked with confidence and assurance, a smile for everyone along the long walk that would take him to where his father once stood before the nation. With his thick black hair, he looked young and boyish for his age and for the position he had just assumed. As he was welcomed at the top of the rostrum by his first cousin, Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez and Senate President Migz Zubiri, he appeared to be sandwiched between two giants who towered over him in height and weight. And yet, there was no mistake; he was the Chief and they were his workhorses and commanders.

For one hour and 18 minutes I listened to what he said, much of it having to do with the economy, actually my blind spot. He talked of his plans for recovery from the pandemic, receiving a burst of applause when he declared, “No more lockdowns.” His delivery, his diction, was excellent; he had poise and kept his posture with minimum body movements, a few pauses to catch his breath but otherwise the talk was smooth and strong to the end. I was reminded how some folks had difficulty with a speech that was right in front of them. After many years, we have a Chief Executive who could talk to the world in a manner that we could be proud of. His barong was simple, nothing fancy. That was good. Some critics would say he missed out on a number of important issues. I am sure he did. We must also keep in mind that actions speak louder than words and he has just begun.

For those of us in the defense and security community, President BBM laid down two priorities: first was his call for mandatory ROTC. The key word is mandatory. The present national service training program (NTSP) is voluntary. Second, President BBM called for a review of the National Defense Act of 1935. Almost a century after, we need to rethink our strategy for national defense. AFP modernization does not necessarily mean the procurement of high value, highly sophisticated weapons systems that are mainly supplier-driven rather than reflective of our limited resources and maintenance capabilities. In a broad sense, AFP modernization includes a change of mindset to instill in our people love of country, self-reliance and a willingness to sacrifice for the common good. This combination of BBM priorities for mandatory ROTC and for a review of the National Defense Act of 1935, provides our defense authorities with guidelines for the future.

* * * Congratulations to Veterans Memorial Medical Center Chief Dr. Dominador Chiong, Jr., for the recent inauguration of VMMC’s Cardio-vascular Surgical Unit. This is the biggest project of VMMC and goes a long way towards providing greater care and medical facilities for our retired personnel.