Army hosts RAATI 2019

13 mar 19 raati

FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila – The Philippine Army hosted the Regional Annual Administrative Tactical Inspection (RAATI) at the Hunters-ROTC Parade Grounds, Fort Andres Bonifacio, on Sunday, March 10, 2019.

RAATI is an annual activity organized by the National Capital Region, Regional Community Defense Group (NCRRCDG) and participated in by the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets in NCR.

The Army Reserve Command supervises the conduct of ROTC programs which aim to instill patriotism, love of country, moral and spiritual virtues, respect for human rights and adherence to the Constitution.

The cadets’ various skills such as improvised explosive device identification, mortar gunnery, and endurance firing were tested during the event. About 12,000 cadets from 29 schools in Metro Manila joined the event. The schools were divided into Category A (with 800 and above enrollees) and Category B (with 300 or less enrollees). In the end, the Technical University of the Philippines and University of the Philippines were hailed as champions in the Category A and Category B, respectively.

Overall, there is a total of 447 ROTC units in the country spread among the 16 Regional Community Defense Groups. From 1995 to 2019, there is already a total of 1,706,314 graduates of the Basic ROTC and 37, 985 graduates of Advance ROTC. 

The Department of Education is now considering the inclusion of disaster response in the ROTC program, citing that graduates of the program could greatly help in addressing natural calamities that plague the country. Currently, there are house bills seeking to revive the mandatory military training for the youth, specifically the students of Grade 11 and 12 in both public and private educational institutions.

“Our youth is the future of the nation and it is the government's priority to come up with programs that will involve them in nation building. It is our individual and collective responsibility to serve and defend our country. To instill youthful patriotism will ensure our democracy will never cease to exist. The ROTC program would impart in them the discipline not only to fight for the country against any aggression but against any entity that endeavors to threaten the basic rights of every Filipino,” said Lt. Gen. Macairog S. Alberto, the Commanding General, Philippine Army.#