MANILA — Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Sunday said he is confident legislation for mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps will get enough votes to hurdle the Senate.

He made the comments amid increased tension between the Philippines and China over the West Philippine Sea.

“You have to prepare for war in order not to go to war. So kailangan maghanda tayo para hindi tayo mapupunta sa giyera,” he said on “Anong Ganap?” on Teleradyo Serbisyo.

“Kasama na diyan sa paghahanda ay yung paghahanda sa iyong citizens into an armed force… ihanda ang ating mga kababayan for any eventuality,” he also said.

(Part of that is preparing citizens as an armed force…prepare our people for any eventuality.)

He said the ROTC program is one way he seed the government can do that.

“Although late na. Still, better late than never,” he said.

READ: China only intends to block WPS resupply — Tarriela

Dela Rosa, among the first in the current congress to file a bill to make ROTC mandatory again, said he has been told by Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino that the measure will be among the first calendared for discussion when the Senate returns from break.

Dela Rosa said he is “very optimistic” that senators will support the measure.

“Mas marami ang papabor. Mananalo tayo rito pag dinivide yung house.”

(More will vote in favor. We will win this when they divide the house to vote.)

Not just military: Robin Padilla says mandatory ROTC to hone other skills too

OVERSIGHT AGAINST ABUSE

ROTC was made optional in 2001 after University of Santo Tomas cadet officer Mark Chua disappeared and was later found dead after exposing corruption in the program.

Dela Rosa said a revived mandatory ROTC program, which would cover male and female students at higher education institutions and at technical-vocational schools, will have better oversight.

Each ROTC unit would have a grievance committee composed of the school administration and representatives of the defense department, the Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the local government unit to handle potential issues.

There would also be national oversight, he said.

“[The Department of National Defense] and CHED have learned their lesson well… sisiguruhin nila ngayon na hindi na talaga magkakaroon ng abuso,” he said.

(They will make sure there will be no abuse.)

'PUT FUNDING IN MILITARY INSTEAD'

Sen. Risa Hontiveros of the Senate minority favors putting more funding into the military, particularly the Philippine Navy, to upgrade its capabilities for external defense.

"I think it is not the right policy direction to make ROTC mandatory, especially for our citizens whose ways are different in serving the country," Hontiveros said in March.

Kabataan party-list, which opposes legislation for mandatory ROTC at the House, is wary of corruption and has said the collection of fees to run the ROTC programs would mean an added expense for families.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel has also said the National Service Training Program is already supposed to prepare the youth for community service and for disaster relief and response if needed.

RELATED VIDEO