DND, AFP, DepEd hold advanced citizenship training program meet

The participants in the event, which formally started July 5, were ranking officials from the Department of National Defense (DND), the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). (PNA photo)

MANILA — The four-day capability-building workshop for the implementation of Advanced Citizen Training Program (ACTP) formally concluded Sunday.

The participants in the event, which formally started July 5, were ranking officials from the Department of National Defense (DND), the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“The workshop is aimed at preparing 100 teachers and 100 AFP commandants from identified schools offering Grades 11 and 12 nationwide projected to implement the ACTP,” military public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato said.

ACTP is anchored on House Bill 5113 endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte, proposing the mandatory Basic Reserve Officers Training Course (ROTC) in Grades 11 and 12 in consultation with other stakeholders.

The proposed bill was presented and unanimously approved for endorsement to the House of Representatives as a priority measure by the President and the Cabinet during the 12th Cabinet meeting on Feb. 7, 2017 in Malacañang.

The bill was eventually filed in the House by Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu (2nd District, Batangas) as HB 5113 Feb. 22, 2017, fully adopting the DND/AFP bill.

In line with the President’s endorsement of the HB 5113, the DepEd and the DND/AFP worked together to come up with a basic ROTC curriculum that can be piloted in 100 senior high schools nationwide next school year.

Detoyato said this resulted in the March 16 signing of a Memorandum of Agreement to pilot this Basic ROTC curriculum but will be called as ACTP pending the passage into law of HB 5113.