LESSON 2 - College students were given the option to

choose one from among the said components

1. The Philippine Constitution of 1987 4. Republic Act No. 7077 of 1991 (The Citizen
- is a legal basis for the National Service Training Armed Forces of the Philippines)
Program (NSTP) because it establishes the - The implementation of the National Service
fundamental principles that justify the Law, except the provision of the Military
government’s authority to require citizen Service, was suspended after 5 years by the
service, especially from the youth, in the form Presidential Memorandum Order No. 1 under
of military, civic, or educational service. the incumbency of former President Corazon
- It mandates citizens to serve the nation Aquino, paving the way for the
Article II, Section 4: conceptualization of the basic Reserve
“The prime duty of the Government is to serve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), under RA
and protect the people. The Government may 7077, effective school year 1986-1987.
call upon the people to defend the State... to - The ROTC program aimed to realized the
render personal, military or civil service.” constitutional mandate of developing a strong
- It promotes patriotism and civic education civilian base to supplement the professional
Article XIV, Section 3(2): military in the nation’s defense system.
“All educational institutions... shall inculcate - It was designed to initiate the ROTC trainees in
patriotism and nationalism... teach the rights the rudiments of soldiership, instilling them
and duties of citizenship...” discipline and correct deportment.
- OBJECTIVE:
2. Commonwealth Act No. 1 (National Defense To train all able-bodied tertiary students for
Act) of 1935 military skills in case of war or national
- This law requires college students, particularly emergencies.
males, to finish two years, equivalent to four - As a way to offer an alternative in neutralizing
semesters of military training as modality to people’s adversion to this military program,
institutionalize the reservist system of in the during the school year 2001-2002, ROTC was
Philippines national defense. only made optional under the National
- The imposition of the national program for Service Program (NSP), conceiving the so-
service and training of the youth in the called Expanded ROTC (E-ROTC).
Philippines began with the creation of this - The E-ROTC was characterized by the
law. deviation from the rigid tactical training
- It is a legislative act providing basis for the offering alternatives like rendering civil
national defense of the country, punishing auxiliary sources in the form of helping
certain violations thereof, appropriating funds maintain law and order, assisting socio-
therefore and for other purposes under the economic development projects, and delivery
government of President Manuel L. Quezon. basic health service or aiding in addressing
local insurgency.
3. Presidential Decree No. 1706 (National
Service Law) of 1980 5. Republic Act No. 9163 (NSTP Act of 2001)
- In 1980, the National Defense Act was - In December 2001, the NSTP Act, under RA
amended to give an existence to Presidential 9163, envisioned to address public clamor for
Decree No. 1706. reforms in the ROTC and NSP Programs, was
- It mandated compulsory national service to all signed by then President Gloria Macapagal
Filipino citizens. Arroyo as an aggressive modality toward
- It was composed of three main program making the former national service training
components, namely: program that is military in mature, relevant to
 Civic Welfare Service (CWS) the changing needs of the time.
 Law Enforcement Service (LES)
 Military Service (MS)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) ABOUT NSTP How much fee will be charged for NSTP?
Who shall take the NSTP? - No fees shall be collected for any of the NSTP
- All freshmen students, male and female, component except basic tuition fees, which
enrolled in any baccalaureate and in at least could should not be more than 50% of the
two-year technical-vocational or associate charges of HEI/TVI per academic unit.
courses, are required to complete on NSTP
component of their choice as a graduation What incentives may be availed by students-trainess
requirement. while enrolled in NSTP?
- Male students currently enrolled in old - The following incentives to students shall be
curricula but have not taken any program available to currently enrolled NSTP trainee-
component of the previous Expanded ROTC students:
(E-ROTC)/ National Service Program (NSP) are  A program of assistance/incentives for
covered by the NSTP. ROTC student from DND which will be
- Moreover, a student who has completed all accordance with existing laws and
his academic requirements except for ROTC regulations and subject to the availability
will be allowed to graduate provided that he is of funds.
a certified candidate by the school on or  Institutions authorities concerned, CHED
before the effectivity of the NSTP which is and TESDA shall ensure that health and
March 23, 2002. Further, if a male student has accident group insurances are provided to
completed two (2) semesters of E-ROTC/ NSP, students enrolled in any NSTP
he is deemed to have complied with the NSTP components; and
requirement.  A special scholarship program qualified
NSTP shall be administered by CHED and
How will the NSTP be taken up? TESDA subject to the availability of funds.
- Each of the NSTP components shall be
undertaken for an academic period of two Who is responsible for supervising the
semesters and credited for three units for implementation of NSTP?
each semester with 54 to 90 training hours - HEI/TVI authorities shall exercise academic
per semester. and administrative supervision over the
design, formulation, adoption and
What if the NSTP cannot be taken during the regular implementation of the different NSTP
semester? components in their respective schools.
- A one summer program in lieu of the two - In the case of ROTC, the school authorities and
semester program may be designed. DND shall exercise joint supervision over its
Formulated, and adopted by the Department implementation.
of National Defense (DND), Commission on
Higher Education (CHED), the Technical What lead agencies shall monitor the
Education and Skills Development Authority implementation of the NSTP?
(TESDA) subject to the capability of the higher - CHED Regional Offices, TESDA Provincial and
education/ technical vocational institutions District Offices and the DND-AFP, through the
(HEI/TVI’s) school and the AFP to handle the major Service Reserve Commands and their
same. ROTC Units, shall oversee if the trainings
conducted are in consonance with the
What will become of NSTP Graduates? Republic Act.
- The graduates of the non-ROTC components,
it shall belong to the National Service Reserve • Is NSTP available in all schools and
Corps (NSRP) that could be tapped by the universities?
State for literacy and civic welfare activities. - All higher educational and technical vocational
Meanwhile, graduates of the ROTC institutions shall be offering at least one of the
components shall form part of the AFP Citizen NSTP components, while State Universities
Armed Force, subject for DND requirements. and Colleges (SUC’s) will offer the ROTC
component and at least one other NSTP
component.