DepEd, DND begin exploratory talks on ROTC revival

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of National Defense (DND) have begun exploratory talks on a “more comprehensive” Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program in senior high school.

DepEd Assistant Secretary for youth affairs and special concerns Dexter Galban, in a post on his Facebook page on Wednesday, shared details of his meeting with DND Undersecretary Ignacio Madriaga and officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Galban said the agencies are exploring the development of a joint Preparatory Citizenship Training program, which he said is a “prelude to a multi-tiered, well safeguarded, multi-faceted citizenship program.”

He outlined several areas that may be covered by the program, including public safety training; basic and advanced first aid; basic leadership training; personal security measures; basic map reading; drug use prevention education; physical fitness, health and sanitation; basic survival techniques; road safety and discipline; crime prevention; voter education, and volunteerism and community service.

“Facilitated by military trained teachers and DepEd personnel and monitored by child protection units and fact-finding committees, we endeavor to help reform and enhance this program to better achieve its intended goals,” he added, saying the new ROTC will not just be marching.

In a press briefing yesterday, DepEd spokesman Michael Poa said there are still no concrete plans on the matter as the meeting between the DepEd, DND and AFP officials was only exploratory.

Meanwhile, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Thursday lauded the Schools Division of Aurora and the AFP’s 91st Infantry Battalion for partnering to launch an information awareness campaign against the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army.

Sex abuse, harassment

The DepEd yesterday urged victims of abuse and sexual harassment committed by teachers to come forward and file complaints.

Poa said the results of the fact-finding investigation involving seven teachers in Bacoor National High School would be submitted to the regional office today.

“From then on, we will determine what will be the next steps regarding the administrative proceedings against our teachers,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“Although our investigation is ongoing, our problem is that only a few complainants have filed their affidavits. We hope that you can help us encourage the alleged victims to come out and file their affidavits to strengthen the case,” he added.

Poa said the teachers may face dismissal from service if the investigation finds merit in imposing the most severe punishment in administrative cases.

Duterte also directed the DepEd’s Child Protection Unit to strengthen their presence in schools, division and regional offices to ensure that similar incidents would not happen again in the future.

“We have zero-tolerance for any form of abuse in our schools,” Poa said in an earlier statement, adding that the teachers mentioned in the viral social media posts were not given any teaching load pending results of the investigation.