SENATE, Pasay City — Opposition senator Ronald 'Baro' Dela Rosa is appealing to his colleagues in the Upper House to end debates on Senate Bill (SB) 2034, otherwise known as the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Act because the measure has already undergone “careful scrutiny.”

In a short manifestation delivered during the upper chamber’s plenary session, the former Philippine National Police chief, who is also the principal author of the measure, underscored that SB 2034 had already passed in the House of Representatives in December 15, 2022 and has been with the Upper Chamber since then.

“It has gone through a careful review in the committee hearings. Over the past months, from August 2023 to January 2025, we have engaged in meaningful discussions during the interpellations sessions. Clearly, this bill has undergone careful scrutiny. We’ve listened, debated, and worked through the concerns raised by the public and fellow senators–ensuring that every voice has been heard,” said Dela Rosa.

Pointing this out to his colleagues, he made a motion to finally close the period of interpellation of the proposed measure based on the following grounds that the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) has “prioritized this bill” by moving it in Tier 1, which according to him proves that this recognition signals that the Senate needs to act on the legislation swiftly.

In conclusion, Dela Rosa claimed that the ROTC program is "crucial for enhancing (the country's) national defense capabilities, fostering a sense of patriotism and equipping our students with essential skills in disaster preparedness and civic responsibility.”