In 1998, the Citizens Army Training (CAT) program in the Philippines was a compulsory military training program for high school students, particularly those in their fourth year. While it was rooted in military orientation, its objectives extended to developing social responsibility, community development commitment, and the ability to uphold law and order.
Key aspects and developments regarding CAT in 1998 include:
* Compulsory for Fourth-Year High School Students: CAT remained a mandatory requirement for graduation for all fourth-year high school students in both public and private secondary schools.
* Program Components: The CAT program typically encompassed three main components:
* Military Orientation: This involved gaining knowledge, skills, and understanding of the rights and duties of citizenship, with a focus on leadership, followership, and personal discipline. Military drills and exercises were a normal sight on campuses.
* Community Service: Activities aimed at contributing to the general welfare and betterment of the community, such as improving health, education, safety, and recreation facilities.
* Public Safety and Law Enforcement: Programs and activities that contributed to maintaining peace and order, promoting public health and safety, and encouraging observance of laws.
* Emphasis on Citizenship: While having a military component, CAT placed significant emphasis on citizenship training, community welfare, and patriotism, aiming to develop students' sense of duty and obligation to the nation.
* Exemptions for Scouts: A notable development in 1998 was DECS Order No. 106, s. 1998, issued on November 30, 1998. This order revised the rules for exempting qualified Boy Scouts from CAT. To be exempted, a fourth-year high school Scout needed to have attained at least the Outdoorsman Rank or First Class Rank, or participated in a recognized international Scouting event, with a recommendation from the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) Regional Offices and approval from DECS Regional Directors. Similar exemptions for Girl Scouts were also in place, further revised in 1999 (DECS Order No. 30, s. 1999) which referenced the 1998 order. These exemptions aimed to strengthen co-curricular programs for youth development in areas like character building and service to others.
* Curriculum: Textbooks and reference materials for CAT were published around this time, indicating the curriculum's continued focus on basic military training, citizenship, and national defense. Examples include "A Reference book for instruction in citizen army training (C.A.T.) : for fourth year high school" by Beldia, Mcdonald D. and "Pagsasanay sa hukbong pangmamamayan = Citizen Army Training. 1 : para sa ikaapat na taon" by Domingo, Marcial F., both published in 1998.
* Restructuring to Citizenship Advancement Training (CAT): While still widely known as "Citizens Army Training" in 1998, it's important to note that the program underwent a significant restructuring into "Citizenship Advancement Training (CAT)" as per DepEd Order No. 35, s. 2003. This later order clarified that the program was a component of "Makabayan" and separate from MAPEH in the fourth year, with a more pronounced focus on enhancing social responsibility and community development. However, in 1998, the previous iteration was still largely in effect.
In essence, in 1998, CAT was a mandatory program for graduating high school students in the Philippines, combining military drills and orientation with a strong emphasis on civic duty and community involvement, with specific provisions for exemptions for recognized Scouts.
Here is some information about citizens army training programs:
* Citizens' Military Training Camps (CMTC): These were US government-authorized military training programs held annually from 1921 to 1940. They allowed male citizens to obtain basic military training without an obligation for active duty. Citizens' Military Training Camp - Wikipedia
* Citizenship Advancement Training (CAT): In the Philippines, CAT is a compulsory military training program for high school students. It aims to develop social responsibility, community development commitment, and the ability to uphold law and order. Citizenship Advancement Training | PDF | Executive Officer | Company (Military Unit) - Scribd
* CAT Components: The CAT program typically includes military orientation, community service, and public safety. It emphasizes citizenship training, social contribution, and adherence to laws. CAT MODULE.pptx - SlideShare
* Training Content: The training often involves military drills and exercises, along with lectures on the military system. The goal is to enhance students' social responsibility and commitment to their communities. Mapeh: Citizen's Army Training (CAT) Is A Compulsory Military Training For High School Students | PDF - Scribd
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