KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- The implementation of mandatory military service for Filipinos will help instill nationalism among citizens and help them contribute to nation-building efforts, a Philippine Army official here said.

Lt. Col. Carlyleo Nagac, commander of the army’s 5th Special Forces Battalion expressed his full support to the proposed mandatory Reserved Officer Training Corps (ROTC).

“Sa akin isang napakagandang program ‘yan kasi tayo, napapansin naman natin na kailangan talaga yung sense of nationalism and I think that is one avenue na ma-inculcate sa mga kabataan ‘yan,” Nagac said.

Nagac explained that ROTC cadets can increase our readiness in terms of responding to calamities and help in disaster relief operations.

“Napaka-vulnerable natin sa natural disasters. And through ROTC pwede tayo magkaroon ng immediate responders,” he said.

“ROTC will give you those skills. Nandiyan ang first aid, how to lead, how to organize people,” Nagac added.

The army official also noted that the public should not look at ROTC as a way to militarize the youth as there are already safeguards in place.

“If we could just separate ang thinking natin na magagamit sa violence. We need to move on from the impression before kasi marami nang safeguards in place and any pagkakamali ng mga kasundaluhan sa pag-manage nito is medyo malaki ang repercussions sa kanila,” he stressed. (PIA 12)