The National Capital Region leg of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps Games officially opens on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Rizal Memorial Complex, Manila, Malate.

More than 3,000 cadet-athletes from colleges and universities all over Metro Manila are set to compete in arnis, athletics, basketball, boxing, kickboxing, volleyball, and E-sports until 14 October.

Senator Francis Tolentino, Commission on Higher Education chairperson Prospero De Vera III, and Armed Forces of the Philippines' Deputy Chief of Staff for Reservists and Retiree Affairs MGen. Joel Alejandro Nacnac graced the ceremonial opening of this year's Philippine ROTC Games, along with other Department of National Defense, AFP, and Philippine Sports Commission officials and various Metro Manila chief executives.

In his message, read by DND Senior Undersecretary Irineo Espino, Defense Chief GilbertoTeodoro Jr. said he considers the ROTC games as a "big win" for the defense and security sector in pushing for its advocacy to "revitalize the ROTC program and boosting the reserve force."

"Gathering the best student-athletes from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and the NCR will certainly lead to the discovery of new talents while promoting camaraderie and solidarity among the Filipino Youth," Teodoro underscored in his message.

Teodoro added that such events would also promote nationalism and develop a "keen sense of duty" in Filipino youth by "inspiring student-athletes to be the best version of themselves."

The ROTC games likewise enhance the students' professionalism through sports, the DND chief further stressed.

Tolentino, meanwhile, bared that the government and security forces will be pushing for bigger ROTC games for next year.

He also disclosed that naturalized Gilas Pilipinas player, Justine Brownlee, is set to enter the reserve force of the Philippine Army.

De Vera urged the cadets to reflect the values and discipline they acquired from the ROTC program.

"May your actions inspire others, ensure that the heart of a true cadet beats to each and every one of you," he said.

The Philippine Army said the "first-ever sporting event" aims further to promote nationalism and sports in the ROTC program.

It added that the event will serve as a platform for the RPTC cadets to showcase their athletic spirits and camaraderie in sports.

The Philippine Army has dominated the legs of the tournament in Luzon (Cavite), Visayas (Iloilo), and Mindanao (Zamboanga).

All gold and silver medalists in the four elimination legs will advance to the "National Finals" scheduled from 22 to 27 October.

Nacnac previously said that an additional two million reservists could augment the AFP reserve force once the ROTC program becomes mandatory in the country.

"Every year, if ROTC becomes mandatory, we expect an additional two million students from all of the universities," he added.

Nacnac said projected servicemen from ROTC will be classified as a "standby reserve"—which is mobilized only in times of national emergency or war.

The AFP reserve force is currently at 1.2 million as of June 2023, which is composed of over 71,000 "ready reservists," more than 15,000 affiliated units from other organizations and institutions, and 1.1 million standby reservists—with most of them from the Philippine Army.

The ready reservists are called at "any time to add to the regular forces."