DND’s Galvez clarifies earlier statement about potential of mandatory ROTC to “cure” mental health problems
After drawing flak for boldly stating that (participating in) Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) can cure mental health problems, Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. clarified that his use of the word “cure” for mental health issues may have been improper.
“We have learned of the sensitivities raised by our mental health practitioners and advocates on what they believe is the improper use at the Senate hearing on Monday, February 6, of the word ‘cure’ for mental health issues,” Galvez said.
During Monday’s Senate hearing on the proposal to make ROTC mandatory, Galvez, who is not a mental health expert, had said that the proposed ROTC program can cure a participant’s mental health problem.
“‘Yun ang pagkakaiba po sa NSTP (National Service Training Program), ang experience training talaga pong naisasapuso niya po ang lahat ng ginagawa niya. ‘Yung survival instinct nandoon. So ‘yung sinasabi nating mental problem, it can be cured, kasi ‘yung frustration tolerance ng tao, tataas,” Galvez had said at the hearing.
Galvez’s claim did not go down well with netizens, who demanded that he show studies that back up his claim.
The DND chief is now saying that they understood and appreciated the concerns of these groups as mental health is an issue that affects the broadest spectrum of society. He added that the ROTC would help build character and resilience, qualifies believed to positively improve mental health.
“What we intended to convey during the hearing was that through our enhanced ROTC program, we would be able to build the strength of character and resilience of our trainees, qualities which positively foster mental health,” Galvez said.
He also added that the ROTC program also aims to develop among the trainees the basic psychosocial support competencies that are crucial in responding to stressful situations and contexts.
Galvez also assured the public that DND leadership shall carefully take into account the spirit of Republic Act 11036 (Mental Health Act of 2018) and the issues raised by our mental health experts in the crafting of the ROTC training program.
Galvez’s earlier statement immediately drew flak from netizens who demanded that Galvez show studies that support his claim. Netizens opposed to mandatory ROTC point out contrary to Galvez’s claim, the program induces undue physical and mental stress, including power tripping by officers and bullying of cadets, which might aggravate pre-existing mental health conditions.
