Sen. Francis Tolentino said the organizers of the ongoing Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Games will use the Visayas Leg as a benchmark when they stage the next editions in Mindanao and Luzon.

Tolentino, the brainchild of the event that put ROTC cadets to test in the weeklong multi-sports tournament, said they will bring the lessons from Iloilo and make the next legs just as successful.

“Sa tingin ko naman po successful, kasi ito iyong kauna-unahan and we’ve learned a lot of lesson,” Tolentino told Radyo Pilipinas 2 in an interview Friday, Aug. 18.

“Para sa pagpunta po doon sa Mindanao leg sa Zamboanga City ay mas lalo pong maisaayos,” he added.

He also expressed his appreciation to the Philippine Sports Commision (PSC), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Commision on Higher Education (CHED) who all helped in organizing the games.

Alongside the Department of National Defense, Tolentino said they are looking to institutionalize the ROTC Games.

“Ang Philippine ROTC Games po ay nagpapakita ng ating pagmamahal sa bayan sa pamamagitan ng sports.”

“Ito ay nagsisimbolo ng patriotism, volunteerism at pagsisilbi para sa ating Inang Bayan kaya kami po na mga ahensiya ay nagkakasunod na makilala ito bilang isang respetadong institusyon,” Tolentino said on a presscon on Monday.