Sara Duterte, a vice-presidential contender, proposed earlier this month that if she is elected, the Filipino youth be forced to serve in the military and that this be used as a chance to reassess the youth's commitments to their country
(patriotism). She emphasized that, in light of the diminishing importance of military duty in the lives of ordinary citizens, it is vital to maintain and reinforce the notion that Filipino citizenship entails serving and defending the country when called upon. The word "mandatory" drew the Filipino citizen's attention because it sounded bad. This bill would undoubtedly help to enhance civil-military relations. However, it is critical to recognize that patriotism cannot be judged solely by marching in the sun while wielding a weapon. Furthermore, current studies on the effects of military service must be taken into account. While she has a point in raising worries about the general public's growing disengagement from the military, we should be suspicious of the prevalent notion that conscription will exacerbate the civilian-military split. As a student, I believe that tying military duty to civic responsibility isn't the only method to revive civic responsibility. Making it a legal or moral obligation of citizenship may simply widen the gap between those who do and those who do not or cannot serve.
In light of the pandemic that continues to wreak havoc on our economy, claiming the lives of many people due to job losses, travel limitations, and rising prices for basic necessities, I don't believe now is the time to spend P2 billion on supersonic cruise missiles that will be a waste of money. We have not yet fully recovered from the disasters, from preventing potential hazards to providing unwavering assistance to the impacted populations to city rehabilitation. And now, we will be investing in supersonic cruise missiles? We do have resources, though they are limited; the sad issue is that we are not making the best use of them. Military service is without a doubt one of the most significant kinds of national service. However, forcing more individuals to make the huge sacrifice that military duty implies is not the solution. Citizenship rights should not be conditional on mandatory military service. Such a revision in the definition of citizenship would exacerbate an already polarized society, dividing those who would inevitably be deemed exempt from citizenship from those who would not, as well as those who support and oppose such a radical new policy. There are other, less controversial, and riskier methods to deal with the difficulties caused by an over-reliance on a small military elite.
Finally, improved civic education on the part of the people may be more efficient and beneficial. A concerted effort to educate the public about the military as a profession, its capabilities, and its legitimate place in society may go a long way toward de-mystifying it. Although this may not perfectly motivate everyone to serve, it will undoubtedly increase our knowledge. And, if the ultimate goal is to rekindle Filipinos' desire to serve their nation and redefine citizenship as a set of rights and responsibilities, mandating universal service in the military, civilian, public, or non-profit sectors would be significantly more effective. Seeing national service as solely military encourages an unrealistic idealization of people in uniform and the hazardous perception that they are the only ones capable of solving national problems.
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