Malacañang Park, Manila — The 1st Presidential Silent Drill Competition is being held live today, 20 December 2023 at the Quirino Grandstand which will be graced by no less than President Rodrigo Roa Duterte who will also award the winners.
Competing teams include silent drillers from Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP), Philippine Army Officer Candidate School (PAOCS), Philippine Navy Officer Candidate School (PNOCS), and Philippine Air Force Officer Candidate School (PAFOCS).
The competition is in compliance to Presidential Decree No. 2019-0352 upon President Duterte’s initiative to showcase the capability of reserve military units in the country, primarily to raise awareness of the youth about the benefits of ROTC program in instilling love of country, discipline, character, and excellence.
It also aims to showcase the proficiency of service academies/schools’ cadets in performing the silent drill. Further, it intends to jumpstart the second category competition to be participated by ROTC units of colleges and universities across the country on March 2020, in time for the celebration of National ROTC Month. This will happen in three legs—Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The winning team shall receive PhP300,000.00; second place shall have PhP200,000.00; and third place shall receive PhP100,000.00 as cash prizes. Consolation prizes worth PhP50,000.00 shall be distributed each to other fourth teams. No less than the President of the Republic, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte shall be present to grace the awarding ceremony of the event.
The event is free and open to public viewers.