Module 1

PRIMER

THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (NSTP) ACT OF 2001

1. What is the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Law?

The National Service Training Program (NSTP) law or Republic Act 9163 is a program aimed at
enhancing civic consciousness and defense preparedness in the youth by developing the ethics of service
and patriotism while undergoing training in any of the three (3) program components, specifically,
designed to enhance the youth’s active contribution to the general welfare.

2. What are the program components of the NSTP?

First, is the “Reserve Officers’ Training Corps” (ROTC) which is designed to provide military
training to tertiary level students in order to motivate, train, organize and mobilize them for national
defense preparedness.

Second is the “Literacy Training Service” (LTS) which is designed to train the students to teach
literacy and numeracy skills to school children, out-of-school youths and other segments of society in
need of their services.

Third is the “Civic Welfare Training Service” (CWTS) which refers to 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.

3. Who shall take the NSTP?

All incoming freshmen students, male and female, 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.

4. Since when has the NSTP been implemented?

 The NSTP has been implemented since the start of school year 2002-2003.

5. How is the NSTP taken up?

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

6. What if I cannot take the NSTP during the regular semester?

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, subject to the capability of the school and the AFP to handle
the same.

7. What if the NSTP component of my choice is not offered in my school?

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 students, shall allow their students to
cross-enroll to other schools, irrespective of whether such school is under CHED or TESDA; and in the
case of students taking the ROTC component, irrespective of whether the two semesters shall be taken
from different schools whose ROTC are administered/managed by different branches of service of the
AFP.

These students, however, shall be subjected to the existing rules and regulations of their school origin
and the accepting school.

8. Are currently-enrolled students covered by the NSTP Law?

 Male students currently enrolled but have not taken any program component of the previous Expanded
ROTC (E-ROTC)/National Service Program (NSP) are covered by the NSTP.

9. Will a student who have completed all his academic requirements except ROTC be allowed to
graduate?

A student who has completed all his academic requirements except for ROTC will be allowed to
graduate provided that he is a certified candidate by the school on or before the effectivity of the NSTP
which is on March 23, 2002.

10. What if a male student has taken only one (1) semester of basic ROTC or E-ROTC/NSP?

He shall take one more semester of any of the NSTP components to qualify for graduation.

11. What will become of NSTP graduates?

Graduates of the non-ROTC components of the NSTP shall belong to the National Service Reserve
Corps (NSRC) and could be tapped by the State for literacy and civic welfare activities. Graduates of the
ROTC component shall form part of the AFP Citizen Armed Force, subject to the DND requirements.

12. How can a student continue to qualify for enlistment in the AFP reserve force?

He/she may qualify for enlistment in the AFP reserve force as long as he/she has completed the
two (2) semesters of basic ROTC

13. How much fee will be charged for an NSTP component?

 No fees shall be collected for any of the NSTP components except basic tuition fees which should
not be more than fifty (50%) percent of the charges of the school per academic unit.

14. Are there any student incentives provided for by the NSTP?

The following incentives are to be provided to students when they take up NSTP:

a. A program of assistance/incentives for ROTC students shall be provided and administered by DND,
in accordance with existing laws and regulations and subject to the availability of funds;

b. School authorities concerned, CHED and TESDA shall ensure that health and accident group
insurances are provided for students enrolled in any of the NSTP components; and

c. A Special Scholarship Program for qualified NSTP students shall administered by CHED and
TESDA subject to the availability of funds.

15. Who is responsible in supervising the NSTP?

School authorities shall exercise academic and administrative supervision over the design, formulation,
adoption and implementation of the different NSTP components in their respective schools.

16. What lead agencies will monitor the implementation of the NSTP?

The CHED regional offices, TESDA provincial and district offices and DND-AFP through major service
reserve commands and their ROTC units shall oversee and monitor the implementation of the NSTP
under their respective jurisdiction to determine if the trainings are being conducted in consonance with
this Act.

17. Is the NSTP available in all schools and universities?

All higher and technical-vocational institutions offer at least one (1) of the NSTP components while State
Universities and Colleges offer ROTC component and at least one other NSTP component. Private
 schools that have at least three hundred fifty (350) student cadets offer ROTC component through its
Department of Military Science and Tactics (DMST).

I. GUIDELINES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATONAL SERVICE RESERVE CORPS

(NSRC)

A. Background

Section 11 of RA 9163 or the National Service Training Program Acts of 2001, specifically
provides for the creation of a National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC), composed of graduates of the
non-ROTC components: the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) and Literacy Training Service
(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. The National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC)

1. Mission

To provide a trained and motivated manpower pool that can be tapped by the State for civic
welfare, literacy and other similar endeavors in the service of the nation.

2. Function

a. To assist in the disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and rehabilitation program;

b. To serve as an auxiliary to the Disaster Coordinating Council (DCC) response units;
c. To assist in the promotion of civic welfare activities;
d. To assist in the implementation of literacy programs;
e. To assist in socioeconomic development
f. To assist in environmental protection; and
g. To perform other similar endeavors.

3. Composition

The NSRC shall be composed of the graduates of the National Disaster Coordinating Council
and Literacy Training Service (LTS) components of the NSTP.

4. Organization

The NSRC is organized under the umbrella of the National Disaster Coordinating Council
(NDCC). It shall have a national, regional, provincial and city/municipal level of organization parallel
to the Disaster Coordinating Council (DCC) structures at all levels. The DCC centers shall serve as the
headquarters of the NSRC at respective level of organization. Its National Center shall be based at the
NDCC Disaster Preparedness Center, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. A Secretariat at
all levels shall be organizedand composed of representatives from CHED and TESDA.

5. Inter-Agency Relationship of the NSRC Concerned Agencies

 RDCC – Regional Disaster Coordinating Council

PDCC - Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council

CDCC – City Disaster Coordinating Council

MDCC – Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council

BDCC – Barangay Disaster Coordinating Council

CHEDRO – CHED Regional Office

TESDA RO- TESDA Regional Office

TESDA PO – TESDA Provincial Officer

HEI – Higher Education Institution

6. Duties and Responsibilities

a. NDCC through DND

(1) Shall act as the lead agency in the administration, training, organization, development,
maintenance and utilization of the registered NSRC members;
(2) Maintain an official master list of registered NSRC members;
(3) Coordinate with concerned agencies for the efficient and proper administration, training,
organization, development, maintenance and utilization of NSRC members;
 (4) Conduct performance assessment of NSRC members mobilized for the purpose and furnish
the three (3) implementing agencies results thereof;
(5) Formulate specific guidelines for the administration, training, organization, development,
maintenance and utilization of NSRC members; and
(6) Do related work.

b. CHED/TESDA

(1) Central Offices shall

(a) Provide Secretariat services for the NSRC;

(b) Prepare consolidated national masterlist of officially registered CWTS and LTS graduates
per school year;
(c) Submit official national masterlist of registered NSRC members, with corresponding
centrally-determined serial numbers to NDCC through DND per school year;
(d) Assist in the administration, training, organization, development, maintenance and
utilization of the NSRC members;
(e) Coordinate with NDCC through DND regarding NSRC concerns and activities; and
(f) Do related work.

(2) Regional Offices shall

(a) Prepare consolidated Regional list of CWTS and LTS graduates from HEIs and in the
case of TESDA from the Provincial Office to the schools, for submission to
CHED/TESDA Central Offices;
(b) Coordinate with RDCC (OCD RCs) on matters relative to NSRC concerns;
(c) Maintain a Directory of CWTS and LTS graduates for reference;
(d) Prepare reports as maybe required; and
(e) Do related work.

(3) Higher Education Institution (HEIs), TESDA Provincial Offices and Schools shall

(a) Prepare and submit a certified masterlist with complete addresses and contact numbers of
CWTS and LTS graduates to respective Regional Offices. In the case of TESDA, the
same shall be submitted through its Provincial Offices;
(b) Provide information on CWTS and LTS graduates as may be officially requested by
authorized concerned agencies;
(c) Coordinate with PDCC/CDCC/MDCC/BDCC, as the case may be, on matters relative to
NSRC; and
(d) Do related work.

(4) NSRC Members shall

(a) Report to the call of NSRC for training and respond immediately for utilization in cases
of disasters/calamities and other relevant socio-economic service concerns as the needs
arise, through its Center (RDCC/PDCC/CDCC/MDCC/BDCC) nearest the member’s
residence and/or workplace at the time of the call; and
(b) Register at the said Center and get instructions/briefing for specific duties and
responsibilities.