K-12 program seen to affect PMA

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) will have older batch of graduates as lieutenants and shorter terms for senior military officers once the K-12 program of the Department of Education (DepEd) takes effect.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri said that while there will be no vacuum in the PMA with the implementation of the K-12 program; it will affect the academy in a way.

Iriberri, who was here in Zamboanga City, his first out of town visit outside Metro Manila, said the first effect will be on the graduates of the PMA.

“If that (K-12) will be implemented, we will have older graduates because based on the law, those who will join the PMA are high school graduates,” Iriberri said. “There will be additional two years so the aspiring cadets will be 18 years old.”

He said there will be a minimal effect if cadets joining the PMA are 18 years old at that time.

“Kaya nga lang tatanda ‘yong ating mga kadete at tenyente and later on ang effect niyan sa shorter term ng mga officers or early retirement (because of the mandatory age of retirement),” Iriberri said.