THE NSTP LAW

1. What is the legal basis of the National Service Training Program (NSTP)?

The National Service Training Program (NSTP) Law or RA 9163 also known as “An Act
Establishing the National Service Training Program (NSTP) for tertiary level students.” was enacted last
January 2002 to amend the Expanded ROTC.

This program aimed to enhance civic consciousness and defense preparedness in the youth by
developing the ethics of service and patriotism while undergoing training in any of its three (3) program
components, specifically designed to enhance the youth’s active contribution to the general welfare.

In 1980, the National defense Act was amended to give existence to Presidential Decree No.
1706, otherwise known as the National Service Law. It mandated compulsory national service of all
Filipino [Link] was composed of three main program components namely;

1. Civic Welfare Service (CWS)

2. Law Enforcement Service (LES)
3. Military Service (MS)

The implementation of the National Service Law, except the provision of the Military Service
was suspended by Presidential Memorandum Order No. 1 under the incumbency of former President
Corazon Aquino, paving the way for the conceptualization of the Basic Reserve Officer’s Training Corps
(ROTC) embodied under R.A. No. 7077, effective school year 1986-1987.

In 1996 the basic ROTC is modified to E-ROTC/NSP

The E-ROTC was characterized by deviation from the rigid tactical training, offering alternatives
like rendering civil auxiliary sources in the form of helping maintain law and order, assisting socio-
economic development projects and delivery of basic health services or aiding in addressing local
insurgency.

Many, if not all the higher education institutions, found the enforcement of NSP confusing and
unmanageable though. Hence, in December 2001, the NSTP Act, envisioned to address public clamor for
reforms in the ROTC and NSP programs was signed into law by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
as an aggressive modality toward making the former national service training that is military in nature,
relevant to the changing needs of the time.

Compared with ROTC, the NSTP Act ensured that three components – Civic Welfare Training
Service (CWTS), Literacy Training Service (LTS) and Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC)- are given
the same and equal implementation in educational institutions.

The non-military program components of NSTP—the CWTS and LTS are committed to Make
them responsible for peace and development to ensure harmony and growth in the Filipino
communities.
2. What are the components of the NSTP?

a. Reserve Officer’s Training Corps [ROTC] - refers to the program component that was designed
to provide military training to motivate, train organize and mobilize them for national defense
preparedness.
b. Civic Welfare Training Service [CWTS] - refers to the program component or activities
contributory to the general welfare and the betterment of life for the members of the
community or the enhancement of its facilities, especially those devoted to improving health,
education, environment, entrepreneurship, safety, recreation and moral of the citizenry and
other social welfare services.
c. Literacy Training Service [LTS] - refers to the program component designed to train the
students to teach literacy and numeracy skills to school children, out-of-school youth and other
segments of society in need of their services.

3. Who are covered by the NSTP Law?

a. All incoming freshmen students, male, female, starting school year (SY) 2002- 2003 enrolled in
any baccalaureate and in at least two (2) year technical vocational or associate courses, are
required to complete one (1) NSTP component of their choice, as a graduation requirement
b. All higher and technical-vocational education institutions must at least offer one (1) of the
NSTP components.
c. State universities and colleges (SUC‟s), shall offer the ROTC component and at least one (1)
other NSTP component.
d. The Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA),
Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), in view of the special character of these institutions,
are exempted from the NSTP.

4. What is the duration and equivalent course unit of each of the NSTP Component?

Each of the NSTP components shall be undertaken for an academic period of two (2) Semesters
for 54 to 90 training hours per semester. It shall be credited for three (3) units per semester.

5. What fees shall be charged to students taking any of the NSTP components?

No other fees shall be collected except basic tuition fees

6. Who are covered by the suspension of the ROTC requirement?

The completion of ROTC training as a requisite for graduation is set aside for students who have
completed all their academic requirements for their respective courses as certified by the school on or
before the affectivity of the NSTP Act of 2001, which is March 23, 2002. The concerned students may
apply for graduation in their respective schools.

7. What happens to students who are currently enrolled and have not taken nor completed the ROTC
requirements for graduation?

a. Students who are currently enrolled but have not taken any of the Military Service (MS), Civic
Welfare Service (CWS) or Law Enforcement Service (LES) shall be covered by the NSTP Law.
 b. Students who have completed two semesters of the Expanded ROTC (E-ROTC) / National
Service Program (NSP) are deemed to have complied with the NSTP requirement.
c. students who have taken only one (1) semester of Basic ROTC or E-ROTC/NSP shall take any of
the NSTP components to qualify for graduation.

8. How are Clustering and Cross-Enrollment done?

a. Clustering of students from different education institutions during semestral or summer

periods may be done for any of the NSTP component, taking into account logistics, branch of
service and geographical locations. The host school shall be responsible in managing the
Program.
b. Schools that do not meet the required number of students to maintain the optional ROTC and
any of the NSTP components, or do not offer the component chosen by the student shall allow
their students to cross-enroll in other schools irrespective of whether such school is under CHED
or TESDA; and in the case the students taking the ROTC component irrespective of whether the
two semesters shall be taken from different schools whose ROTC is managed by different
branches of service of the Armed forces of the Philippines(AFP).

9. What is NSTP-One Summer Program (NSTP-OSP)?

NSTP-OSP = Is created under RA 9163 or the NSTP Act of 2001, especially Section 6 and jointly
devised, formulated and adopted by DND, CHED and TESDA.

NSTP-OSP = Is established for the three (3) components: ROTC, CWTS and LTS. This is intended
for graduating students in baccalaureate or at least two-year technical-vocational or associate courses,
who have yet to comply with the NSTP as a requirement for graduation, as well as for students to
concentrate on the academic subjects and other co- curricular concerns. Subject to capabilities of
school

10. What is the National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC)?

NSRC is created under Section 11 of RA 9163 or the NSTP Act of 2001, composed of graduates of
the non-ROTC components: the CWTS and LTS. Members of this Corps maybe tapped by the State for
literacy and civic welfare activities, through the joint efforts of DND, CHED, and TESDA.