CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: THE Philippine Air Force (PAF) has assured Xavier University- Ateneo de Cagayan that only those who are physically fit to undergo the regular training will be accepted into its Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
“This assurance is provided in the memorandum of agreement (MOA) changing XU’s military branch of service to the Air Force from the Army effective School Year 2007-2008,” said Lt. Col. Raul L. Del Rosario, PAF Commander of the Tactical Operations Group in Northern Mindanao (TOG-10) based in Barangay Lumbia, this city.
The said MOA was signed by XU President Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, S.J., and PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Horacio S. Tolentino last July 10 at the TOG-10 regional office.
The ROTC is a component of Republic Act 9163 or the National Service Training Program (NSTP) that is aimed at developing college students in the military service along with the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) on the safety and enhancement of community facilities and the Literacy Training Service (LTS) on teaching literacy and numeracy to the out-of-school youths.
Meanwhile, Del Rosario said the ROTC of XU will be handled by the newly created 8th Air Reserve Center (ARCEN) which PAF has established in the city.
As provided in the MOA, the 8th ARCEN will implement the ROTC in accordance with RA 9163 and guidelines set by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and that it will submit a specific NSTP-ROTC Program of Instruction (POI) to XU before the start of every school year.
It also provides that the 8th ARCEN will accept only those students who are physically fit for regular duty during the beginning of every SY and to deny the enrolment of those who are unfit, in which case, they will be recommended to transfer to the other components of the NSTP, such as the CWTS or LTS.
The other obligations of the 8th ARCEN per the MOA are as follows: To designate and assign competent members of the PAF Training Staff to the XU-ROTC unit and ensure fair treatment of students participating in the ROTC program.
To implement programs and activities included in the POI, as stated in the guidelines for implementation of the Basic ROTC Program and ensure that ROTC activities will include only those that are lawful and foster harmonious, sincere and progressive relationship among participants who are duly registered and enrolled students of XU-ROTC.
To determine the venue for the ROTC in case XU cannot provide the venue which may be located at the nearest PAF/AFP camp or public places accessible by any means of transportation and include in its objective, the task of training college students in the rudiments of military service and to produce capable reservists.
To assign on active duty, a member of the Training Staff who is required to report to the XU-ROTC Office from 8:0 am to 5:00 pm, 8 hrs., per day from Monday to Saturday, as well as, conduct an annual review and, if necessary, modify the POI in consultation with XU to better suit the needs of the students and the school’s mission, vision and objectives.
Finally, the MOA provides that the 8th ARCEN will commit that the members of the Training Staff shall adopt the XU protocol on administrative records which include, but is not limited to, the computerized grading system.
PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY-10