Cagayan de oro: The Army's 4th Infantry Division (4ID) and the Commission on Higher Education in Northern Mindanao (CHED-10) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to streamline the process of integrating Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) graduates into the Armed Forces of the Philippines as automatic reservists.

According to Philippines News Agency, Maj. Joe Patrick Martinez, the chief of the 4ID Public Affairs Office, highlighted that ROTC graduates will receive their training under the 10th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG). The program, which involves ROTC units with 350 or more cadets, is expected to be implemented on a nationwide scale.

The MOA is grounded in Republic Act 7077, also known as the Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act, and Republic Act 9163, or the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001. Section 11 of RA 9163 specifies the creation of the National Service Reserve Corps, incorporating ROTC graduates as a component of the Citizens' Armed Force under RA 7077.

Additionally, the 4ID is assisting the Philippine Military Academy with its annual recruitment drive, which includes an entrance examination scheduled in the city on July 26-27. Furthermore, the 4ID has issued safe conduct passes to 18 former rebels, supporting the amnesty program established under Executive Order 47.