Unit 1 - The National Service Training Program: An Introduction 1

PRESENTATION OF CONTENT

A. THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (R.A. 9163)

a. 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, amending for the
purpose Republic Act No. 7077 and Presidential Decree No. 1706, and for other purposes.” 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.

b. Who are covered by the NSTP Law?

*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;

*All higher and technical-vocational education institutions must at least offer one (1) of the
NSTP components.

*State universities and colleges (SUC‟s), shall offer the ROTC component and at least one
(1) other NSTP component.

*The Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Philippine Merchant Marine Academy

(PMMA), Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), and other SUC‟s of similar nature, in view of the
special character of these institutions, are exempted from the NSTP.

*Private higher education and technical-vocational education institutions with at least

350student 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).

c. 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.

d. What fees shall be charged to students taking any of the NSTP components?
No other fees shall be collected except basic tuition fees, which should not be more than
50% of the charges of the school per academic unit.

e. 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 effectivity of the NSTP Act of 2001 which is March 23, 2002 The concerned students may apply
for graduation in their respective schools.

National Service Training Program

 Unit 1 - The National Service Training Program: An Introduction 2

f. What happens to male students who are currently enrolled and have not taken nor
completed the ROTC requirements for graduation?
*Male students who are not covered by Section 12 of this Rule and 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.

*Male 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.

*Male students who are not covered by Section 12 of these Rules and have taken only one
1 semester of Basic ROTC or E-ROTC/NSP shall take any of the NSTP components to qualify for graduation.

*Students who want to qualify for enlistment in the Reserve Force or attend the advance
ROTC program shall undertake a special program for this purpose.

g. How are Clustering and Cross Enrollment done?

*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.

*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).

h. 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, thus allow them to concentrate on the academic subjects and other co-
curricular concerns.

i. 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 nonROTC 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.

B. CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS OF NSTP (Article 2, 1987 Philippine Constitution)

Section 4
The prime duty of the government is to serve and protect the people. The
Government may call upon the people to defend the state and, in the fulfillment, thereof,
all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by the law, to render personal,
military or civil service.

National Service Training Program

 Unit 1 - The National Service Training Program: An Introduction 3

Section 5
The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property,
and promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people
of the blessings of democracy.

Section 13
The state recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall
promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being.
It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their
involvement in public in civic affairs.

C. NSTP COMPONENTS
The National Service Training Program is a compulsory 1-year course for all freshmen in the
universities and colleges in the Philippines which was established by virtue of the Republic Act No. 9163.

According to the Article 1, Section 3 of the RA No. 9163:

“NSTP is a program that aims at enhancing 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. Its various components are especially designed to enhance the youth’s active
contribution to the general welfare.”

NSTP

ROTC CWTS LTS

*Provides military *Refers to the activities *Trains the student

training in order to
motivate, train,
organize and
mobilize students for
national defense
preparedness.
contributory to the general to teach literacy and
welfare and betterment of life numerical skills to
for the members of the school children, out-
community or the enhancement of-school youth and
of its facilities, especially those other segments of
devoted to improving health, society in need of
environment, entrepreneurship, their services.
safety, recreation and moral of
the citizenry.

National Service Training Program

 Unit 1 - The National Service Training Program: An Introduction 4

D. NSTP – CWTS SERVICE COMPONENTS (S-E-R-V-I-C-E)

S - afety and Security – involves disaster preparedness during fire, earthquake or other
calamity that needs immediate response from any trained civilians
during emergency situations. Basic life-saving seminar, fire drill
and the like are some of these examples.

E – ducation – involves enhancement of institutional support materials and facilities for the
community and school such as providing materials containing basic literacy
skills for pre-schoolers, alternative learning system for out-of-school youths
and adults, mathematics and science tutorials and extended services of
skilled students.

R – ecreation – involves sports fest, parlor games for street children and painting that enrich
youth’s capacities to relate with one another in the community.

V – alues formation & moral recovery – involves the development of youth to be good
leaders, responsible individuals imbued with good
moral values and active agent of development of
the community.

I – ndustries and Entrepreneurship – includes programs and activities that are vital to
economic growth. CWTS students demonstrate
technical skills in communities like meat
processing and how to establish small business.

C – are for health – aims to give knowledge on medical-related fields and extend health
services needed in the community. It includes medical services like first-
aid operation, vaccination, information dissemination, basic life-saving
seminars, health/nutrition technical assistance and training of youth to be
first aid assistants.

E – nvironment – inculcates environmental awareness and its contribution to health and

related fields. It involves management of waste, environmental protection,
dissemination and application of technologies supportive of the community
needs and livelihood activities related to environment and other related
fields supportive of the national thrust.

National Service Training Program