MANILA - The House of Representatives has approved on 3rd and final reading a bill requiring Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) training for senior high school students.

In a Facebook post, Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago said the House passed on third and final reading today the institutionalization of mandatory ROTC in Grades 11-12 "without Senior High School/K-12 implementation review, and even without status report/resolution on the program's widespread cases of harassment, hazing & corruption."

House Bill No. 8961 establishes a mandatory basic ROTC program for students enrolled in Grades 11 and 12 in public and private schools as requisite for graduation.

he bill also lays down exemptions:

Those physically or psychologically unfit as certified by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Surgeon General or his authorized medical officer
Those who have undergone or are undergoing similar military training
Those who were chosen by their school to serve as varsity players in sports competitions
Those exempt from training for valid reasons as approved by the Department of National Defense