Chiz: Mandatory ROTC to cost gov't P8 B a year

Implementing the mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program in colleges and universities will cost P8 billion a year, according to Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero.

- MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

Escudero said this was the estimate provided to him during a meeting with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on Wednesday about the bill seeking to make military reservist training in schools mandatory.

"The biggest question is, can we find P8 billion to fund the mandatory ROTC? That can actually fund a lot of things like education and health," Escudero said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum yesterday.

It would cost the government P27.12 billion to fully implement mandatory ROTC in three phases from 2025 to 2029, the senator added, citing defense department data.

Asked if the government can afford to implement the mandatory ROTC, Escudero said: "It will be tough, especially given the other expenditures the government needs to allocate funds for in the coming year, given even the elections."