The Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) and the Commission on Higher Education in Northern Mindanao (CHED-10) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Wednesday to formalize a process that allows Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) graduates to automatically become reservists in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
In an interview, Maj. Joe Patrick Martinez, chief of the 4ID Public Affairs Office, explained that ROTC graduates would receive training under the 10th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG). “As for the program, they mentioned the host ROTC unit with 350 or more cadets taking part in it, and I believe this is applicable nationwide,” he stated.
Martinez noted that the MOA is based on Republic Act 7077, known as the Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act, and Republic Act 9163, the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001. Section 11 of RA 9163 mandates the formation of the National Service Reserve Corps, with ROTC graduates serving as part of the Citizens’ Armed Force under RA 7077.
In addition to this initiative, the 4ID is supporting the Philippine Military Academy in its annual recruitment efforts, with the upcoming entrance examination scheduled to take place in the city on July 26-27. The 4ID also granted safe conduct passes to 18 former rebels as part of the amnesty program under Executive Order 47.