Netizens react to video clip of Sen. Gatchalian referring to Pulse Asia survey showing parents supporting mandatory ROTC

A video clip of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian referring to a Pulse Asia showing majority of parents want ROTC to be mandatory again, has drawn an overwhelming objection from Twitter netizens.

In an informal interview after the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum on Wednesday, August 17, Gatchalian cited a Pulse Asia survey he commissioned, which apparently showed 69 percent of respondents expressing support for an ROTC program in senior high school.

Gatchalian, who is the chairman of the Basic Education, Arts and Culture Committee, said the mandatory ROTC is one of his priority bills.

According to Gatchalian, parents want mandatory ROTC because their children spend too much time on their cellphone, using Tiktok, and playing games, and that they lack physical activity and discipline.

“Dahil madami sa ating mga magulang, nakikita ang anak nila puro cellphone na lang, Tiktok, or games, so nakita nila nawala na ang physical activity and disiplina, gusto din ng mga magulang ibalik ang disiplina,” he explained.

The clip went viral on Twitter, with many netizens who pointed out that there are other ways to inculcate discipline in the youth which are better suited for the purpose than ROTC.

Others questioned the usefulness of ROTC drills, like marching under the hot sun all day, in instilling discipline and promoting physical activity.

Still others pointed out the obvious, that it’s the parents’ responsibility, not ROTC officers’, to discipline their children, and that a child lacking discipline may be a sign of parental failure to raise their kids well.

Expect the national conversation to heat up as the mandatory ROTC bill becomes law, which has a “big chance’ of happening, according to Gatchalian.