CHAPTER I

IMPLEMENTING RULES AND

REGULATIONS OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE
TRAINING PROGRAM
 IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 R.A. NO. 9163
ALSO KNOWN AS NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING
PROGRAM (NSTP) ACT OF 2001
• COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION (CHED)
• TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA)
• DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE (DND)
IN CONSULTATION WITH OTHER CONCERNED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES…
• PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION OF STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES (PASUC)
• COORDINATING COUNCIL OF PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE
PHILIPPINES (COCOPEA)
• NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS (NGO)
• RECOGNIZED STUDENTS ORGANIZATION

Hereby jointly issue, adopt and promulgate the

following rules and regulations to implement the
provisions of the act.
 RULE I – GUIDING PRINCIPLES
WHAT IS THE PRIME DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT TO ITS
CITIZEN?
SECTION 1 : GUIDING PRINCIPLES
While it is the prime duty of the government
to serve and protect its citizen,
in turn, it shall be the responsibility of all citizens
to defend the security of the state and in
fulfillment thereof,

The government may require each citizen to

render personal, military or civil service.
 HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZE THE
ROLE OF THE YOUTH IN NATION-BUILDING?
SECTION 2 : ROLE OF THE YOUTH
In recognition of the vital role of the youth in nation-building,
the state shall promote…..
• civic consciousness among them
• shall develop their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and
social well-being
• shall inculcate the ideals of patriotism and nationalism
• advance their involvement in public and civic affairs.
As the most valuable resource of the nation, the youth
shall be……
• Motivated, trained, organized, and involved in the military,
literacy, civic welfare programs and other similar endeavors
in the service of the nation.
 RULE II DEFINITION OF TERMS
SECTION 3 : TERMS DEFINED
a.NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
(NSTP)
refers to the program aimed at
enhancing civic consciousness and defense
preparedness in the youth by developing the
ethics of the three (3) program components,
specifically designed to enhance the youth’s
active contribution to the general welfare.
b. RESERVE OFFICERS’ TRAINING CORPS (ROTC)
refers to the program component ,
institutionalized under section 38 and 39 of
Republic Act No. 7077, designed to provide
military training to tertiary level students in order
to motivate, train, organize, and mobilize them
for national defense preparedness.
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 youths and
other segments of society which are considerably
in need of their services.
d. CIVIC WELFARE TRAINING SERVICES
(CWTS)
refers to the program component of
activities contributory to the general welfare
and the betterment of life for the members
of the community or enhancement of their
facilities, especially those devoted to
improving health, education, environment,
entrepreneurship, safety, recreation, and
moral values of the citizenry and other social
welfare services.
e. PROGRAM COMPONENT
refers to the service components of
the NSTP as defined herein.
f. CLUSTERING
refers to the groupings of students
enrolled in the different schools taking up
the same NSTP component into one (1)
group under the management and
supervision of the designated school.
g. CROSS ENROLMENT
refers to the system of enrolment
where a student is officially enrolled in an
academic program of a school but
allowed to enroll in the NSTP component
of another school
h. NON-GOVERNMENT-ORGANIZATION (NGO)
refers to any private organization duly
accredited by CHED or recognized by
TESDA.
 RULE III
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
SECTION 4 : COVERAGE
Who are required to complete one (1) NSTP
component of their choice as graduation requirement?
a. All incoming freshmen students, male and female,
starting S.Y. 2002-2003 enrolled in baccalaureate. And
in at least two (2) year technical-vocational or
associate courses, are required to complete (1) NSTP
component of their choice, as a graduation
requirement.
b. All higher and technical vocational educational
institutions must offer at least one (1) of the NSTP
components.
 RULE III
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
SECTION 4 : COVERAGE
Who are required to complete one (1) NSTP
component of their choice as graduation requirement?
c. State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), shall offer the
ROTC component and at least one (1) other NSTP
component.
d. Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Philippine
Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), Philippine National
Police (PNP), and other SUCs of similar nature, in view of
the special character of this constitution are exempted
from the NSTP.
 RULE III
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
SECTION 4 : COVERAGE
Who are required to complete one (1) NSTP
component of their choice as graduation requirement?

e. Private higher and technical-vocational education

institutions with at least 350 cadets may offer the ROTC
component and consequently establish/maintain a
Department of Military Science and Tactics (DMST),
subject to the existing rules and regulations of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF THE NSTP?
a. RESERVE OFFICERS’ TRAINING CORPS (ROTC)
refers to the program component , institutionalized under
section 38 and 39 of Republic Act No. 7077, designed to provide
military training to tertiary level students in order to motivate, train,
organize, and mobilize them for national defense preparedness.
b. 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
youths and other segments of society which are considerably in need
of their services.
c. CIVIC WELFARE TRAINING SERVICES (CWTS)
refers to the program component of activities
contributory to the general welfare and the betterment of life
for the members of the community or enhancement of their
facilities, especially those devoted to improving health,
education, environment, entrepreneurship, safety, recreation,
and moral values of the citizenry and other social welfare
services.
What is the duration of the NSTP components and equivalent
course per semester?
Section 6: Duration and Equivalent Course Unit
a. Each of the aforementioned NSTP components shall be
undertaken for an academic period of two (2) semesters.
It shall be credited three (3) units per semester, for a
duration of fifty-four (54) to ninety (90) training hours
per semester.
b. A one (1) summer program in lieu of the two (2)
semester program may be designed, formulated and
adopted by the DND, CHED and TESDA.
However, it will be subjected to the capability of the
school and the AFP to handle the same.
What is NSTP-One Summer Program (NSTP-OSP)?
NSTP-OSP is created under RA 9163 or the NSTP
Act of 2001, specifically 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, who wish to be free of the NSTP activities
during the regular semesters, thus allow them to
concentrate on the academic subjects and other co-
curricular concerns.
How can clustering and cross-enrollment be done?

Section 7: Clustering and Cross-Enrollment

a. Clustering of students from different
educational institutions during semestral
or summer periods may be done in any of
the NSTP components, taking into
account logistics, branch of service and
geographical location, The host school
shall be responsible in managing the
program.
 How can clustering and cross-enrollment be done?
Section 7: Clustering and Cross-Enrollment
b. Schools that did not meet the required number of
students to maintain the optional ROTC and/or any of the
NSTP components, or not offering the components chosen by
the students, shall allow their students to cross-enroll in
other schools, irrespective of whether such schools is under
CHED, or TESDA.
In case of students taking the ROTC components,
irrespective of whether the two semesters shall be taken
from different schools whose ROTC is
administered/managed by different branches of service of
the AFP.
c. Students intending to cross-enroll shall be subject to the
existing rules and regulations of the school of origin and the
accepting school.
 Who will take charge in the management and
monitoring of the NSTP Implementation?

Section 8: Management and Monitoring

a. The school authorities shall exercise academic and

administrative supervision over the design,
formulation, adoption, and implementation of the
different NSTP components of their respective schools.
b. In the case of ROTC, the school authorizes and the
DND, based on the policies and regulations and
programs of DND on the military component of the
training, shall exercise joint supervision over its
implementation.
 Who will take charge in the management and
monitoring of the NSTP Implementation?

Section 8: Management and Monitoring

c. Schools which have contracted CHED-accredited or

TESDA-recognized NGOs to formulate or administer
training modules for any of the NSTP components
shall jointly exercise such academic and
administrative supervision with those NGOs within
forty-five days (45) from approval and issuance of
this IRR; the CHED, TESDA and DND shall issue the
necessary guidelines for the accreditation of NGOs
and training modules to be utilized by these NGOs.
 Who will take charge in the management and
monitoring of the NSTP Implementation?

Section 8: Management and Monitoring

d. CHED Regional Offices, TESDA Provincial / District

Offices and DND-AFP (though the Major Service
Reserve Commands) shall oversee and monitor the
implementation of the NSTP under their respective
jurisdictions, to determine if the training conducted
is in consonance with the Act. These offices shall
submit periodic reports to the Central Offices of the
CHED, TESDA, and DND.
 What are the basic guidelines for the formulation
of the NSTP Curriculum?
A. The curriculum shall be formulated by the Program
Coordinator duly approved by the school authorities,
copy furnished CHED/TESDA Regional Offices. It
shall comply with the intent and requirements of the
NSTP and its components.

B. It shall provide for both lecture and practicum

activities. NSTP Practicum activities shall be
separated from the practicum requirements of other
subjects/courses.
 What are the basic guidelines for the formulation
of the NSTP Curriculum?

C. The course syllabi shall clearly define the objectives,

contents, activities, requirements and student
evaluation system.

D. Program Coordinators and instructors / lecturers

shall be duly qualified in terms of training and
experience, to handle their respective assignments.
 RULE IV
Fees and Incentives

SECTION 10 : INCENTIVES
A. A program of assistance/incentives fro
ROTC students shall be provided and administered
by DND, in accordance with existing laws and
regulations and subject to the availability of funds.
B. Schools authorities concerned, CHED and
TESDA, shall ensure that health and accident
group insurance are provided fro students enrolled
in any of the NST components.
 RULE IV
Fees and Incentives

SECTION 10 : INCENTIVES
C. Schools that already provide health and
accident group insurance and collect the necessary
fees for the purpose from their students as of the
effectivity if this rules, are deemed to have complied
with this requirements.
D. A special scholarship program for qualified
NSTP students shall be administered by CHED and
TESDA, with funds for the purpose to be included in the
annual regular appropriations of the two agencies,
subject to the availability of funds.
 RULE V

Organization of NSTP Graduates

SECTION 11 : ORGANIZATION OF THE NSTP GRADUATES

a. Graduate of the non-ROTC components of the NSTP

shall belong to the National Service Reserve Corps
(NSRC) that could be tapped by the state for literacy and
civic welfare activities through joint efforts of DND,
CHED and TESDA in coordination with DILG, DSWD, and
other concerned agencies/associations.
 RULE V
Organization of NSTP Graduates

SECTION 11 : ORGANIZATION OF THE NSTP GRADUATES

b. The CHED, TESDA and DND, in consultation with other

concerned government and non-government agencies,
shall issue the necessary guidelines for the
establishment, organization, maintenance and
utilization of the National Service Reserve Corps.
c. Graduates of the ROTC program shall form part of the
Citizen Armed Force pursuant to R.A. 7077, subject to
the requirements of DND.
 RULE VI
Transitory Provisions

SECTION 12 : SUSPENSION OF 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 Effectivity of the
NSTP Act of 2001, which is March 23, 2002.
The concerned students may apply for graduation with
their respective schools.
 RULE VI
Transitory Provisions

SECTION 13 : TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

a. Male students who are not covered by section 12 of this

rule and currently enrolled but have not taken any of
the Military Service (MS), Civic Welfare Service (CWS) or
Law Enforcement Service (LES) program shall be
covered by the NSTP Law.

b. Male students who have completed two semesters of

the Expanded ROT (E_ROTC)/ National Service Program
(NSP) are deemed to have complied with the NSTP
requirement.
 RULE VI

Transitory Provisions

SECTION 13 : TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

C. Male students who are not covered by section 12 of this

rule and have taken only one (1) semester of Basic
ROTC or EROTC, NSP shall take semester of any of
the NSTP components to qualify for graduation.

d. Students who want to qualify for enlistment in the

Reserved Force or attend the advanced ROTC program
shall undertake a special program for this purpose.
 RULE VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 14 : Information Dissemination

The CHED, TESDA and DND shall

provide information on these Act and IRR
to all concerned through the different
modes of disseminating information.
 RULE VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 15 : Amendatory Clause
A. Section 35 of Commonwealth Act No 1, Executive
Order No. 207 of 1939, Section 2 and 3 of Presidential
Act No. 7077, as well as all laws, decrees, orders, rules,
and regulations and other issuances inconsistent with
the provision of the ACT are hereby deemed
amended and modified accordingly.
B. These rules may be amended, modified or replaced
jointly by CHED, TESDA and DND in consultation with
PASUC, COCOPEA, NGOs and recognized student
organizations.
 RULE VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 16 : Separability Clause
If any section or provisions this IRR shall be
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or
provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force
and effect.

SECTION 17 : Effectivity
These rules shall take effect immediately upon
adoption and issuance.
 GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM (NSP) AT THE
HIGHER LEVEL
GENERAL
1. All entering tertiary level students, male and
female starting AY 2002-2003, undertake training in
any of the three (3) components (MS, CWS, LES) of
the National Service Program (NSP) of their choice as
a requirement for graduation in any baccalaureate
decree.
2. For the second semester of AY 2001-2002 students
who passed MS 11 under the Expanded Reserve
Officers Training Corps (E-ROTC), may either continue
or opt to enroll in any of the two (2) components.
 GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM (NSP) AT THE
HIGHER LEVEL

3. All male non-freshmen tertiary level students

who have not taken the E-ROTC Program shall be
covered by Guidelines Number 1.
4. Students shall follow the policies and guidelines governing the
program they opt to undergo, as may be required by the lead
agencies DND, CHED and DILG.
All freshmen student trainees shall initially undertake 5 Common
Basic Training Modules (CBTM), in a semester for a total of 51
hours. Those who have taken MS 1 in AY 2001-2002 or earlier
shall be considered to have complied with the CBTM
requirements.
 GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM (NSP) AT THE
HIGHER LEVEL

5. A preference Survey shall be administered to

students trainees towards the end of CBTM.

6. The office of students services (OSS) of CHED

shall serve as the National Secretariat for the NSP
in higher education.
 GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM (NSP) AT THE
HIGHER LEVEL
7. CHED Regional Offices (CHEDROs) shall designate a
Regional Coordinator who will monitor the
implementation in Higher Educational Institution (HEIs)
under their jurisdiction, in coordination with the Regional
DND and DILG Offices. He/She shall render periodic
progress reports as may be required and necessary to the
CHEDRO in the area.

8. Each HEI shall similarly designate a Program

Coordinator who will monitor the implementation of
the NSTP in their respective colleges/ universities and
shall render periodic reports as may be required and
necessary to the CHEDRO in the area.
 GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM (NSP) AT THE
HIGHER LEVEL
9. Establishment of a National Service Program
Office (NSPO) in HEIs and designation of its
Over-all Coordinator (Commandant) shall have
the approval of the DND, through the AFP Chief
of Staff.

10. The current DMST facilities of HEIs, which

shall henceforth be called the National Service
Program Office (NSPO), shall be made available
for use in the implementation of the NSP Program.
 GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM (NSP) AT THE
HIGHER LEVEL
11. Trainors, Coordinators and implementations of the
NSP, MS, CWS and LES shall undergo training for the
uniform interpretation and implementation of the
program to be conducted by DND, CHED and DILG in
collaboration with the other concerned agencies.

12. Orientation and Information campaigns shall be

conducted by the CHEDROs and HEIs for the school
administration and other concerned program
stakeholders, in coordination with OSS-CHED.
 GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM (NSP) AT THE
HIGHER LEVEL
13. Coordination with the Philippine National
Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) on matters concerning LES and
MS implementation respectively shall be dine by
HEIs whenever necessary.

14. All schools may charge and collect an NSP fee

from each student trainee equivalent to 1.5
units/semester.
 GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM (NSP) AT THE
HIGHER LEVEL
15. Fees collected shall form part of a Trust Fund,
which shall be managed by the school,
exclusively for the operation of the NSP and a s
per its accredited curriculum/POI.
16. Seventy Percent (70%) of the NSP fees collected
shall be proportionately allocated to the three (3)
programs according to its number of enrollees; the
remaining thirty percent (30%) shall be used to cover
unprogrammed expenses related to NSP
implementation.
 GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM (NSP) AT THE
HIGHER LEVEL
17. Each coordinator shall prepare a Program of
Expenses (POE) of their respective NSP component, to
be consolidated by the Over-all Project Coordinator
(Commandant) and submitted to the school head of
the HEI for approval.
18. A Certificate of Completion shall be issued by the
over-all coordinator (Commandant) to student trainees
who have successfully complied with the program
requirements upon the recommendation of the
respective Program Coordinators.
 GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM (NSP) AT THE
HIGHER LEVEL
19. HEIs shall provide group insurance coverage
chargeable to the NSP trust fund for all student
trainees. Parent’s consent / waivers shall be
required when undertaking off-campus activities.

20. Cross enrolment shall be allowed in the event

that the program component chosen by the
student trainee is not offered in the HEI where
he/she is enrolled.
 GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM (NSP) AT THE
HIGHER LEVEL

21. DND shall remain the over-all lead agency in

the implementation of the NSP.
 GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM (NSP) AT THE
HIGHER LEVEL
SPECIFIC FOR CWS

1. CHED as lead agency and as part of its

Extension Service function shall oversee the
conduct of CWS fro tertiary level students,
including the formulation of the basic CWS
curriculum in collaboration with DSWD, OCD
and other concerned agencies, the CHEDROs
and HEIs.
 GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM (NSP) AT THE
HIGHER LEVEL
SPECIFIC FOR CWS

2. CWS program activities shall be part of the

HEIs extension service and shall focus on
those which help promote the general
welfare and development of the community
members, particularly in terms of health
education, safety, livelihood, recreation,
environmental protection and the morale of
the citizenry.
 GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM (NSP) AT THE
HIGHER LEVEL
SPECIFIC FOR CWS

3. HEIs are given the flexibility, in line with the

developmental and deregulation policy of
CHED, to enrich the basic CWS
Curriculum/POI provided, however, that the
proposed projects for implementation are
duly approved by the school administration
and the CHEDROs properly informed of the
same.
 GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM (NSP) AT THE
HIGHER LEVEL
SPECIFIC FOR CWS

4. Involvement in the community/extension services

of the HEIs curricular requirements of
internship/community immersion/practicum/on-
the-job training in such courses as education,
social work, dentistry, nursing, nutrition and
dietetics and other courses may be credited in
favor of the student trainee taking the said
activity.
 GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM (NSP) AT THE
HIGHER LEVEL
SPECIFIC FOR CWS

5. The evaluation scheme and rating of students

trainees, shall be devised by the HEIs based
on the quality of their performance, project,
accomplishments and attendance, and shall
from part of their scholastics records.