IROG-IROG, KEM Q.

BSSW 1 – NSTP/CWTS

HISTORY OF NSTP IN THE PHILIPPINES

The National Service Training Program was 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" or Republic Act No. 9163. It was
signed into law in January 23, 2002 a midst the various calls of dissenting sectors for its abolition or
reform.
It invoked the constitutional provision regarding the "duty of the state to serve and protect its
citizens," specifically Article II (Declaration of Principles and State Policies), Section 2, which states
that "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 fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required
under conditions provided by law, to render personal military or civil service" (italics supplied).
This is the same principle that created and sustained the Reserve Officers Training Corps.
The primary objective of the NSTP law is to promote the role of the youth in nation-building. As
such, it aims to encourage the youth to become civic and/or military leaders and volunteers whom
could be called upon by the nation in cases their services are needed.

DEVELOPMENT OF NSTP

The National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001 (R.A. 9163) was enacted in response to
public clamor for reforms in the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Program. This act affirms
that the prime duty of the government shall be to serve and protect its citizens. In turn, it shall be
the responsibility of all its citizens to defend the security of the State; thus, the government may
require each citizen to render personal, military or civil service. In the pursuit of these goals, the
youth shall be motivated, trained, organized, and mobilized in military training, literacy, civic
welfare, and other similar endeavors in service to the nation.
The NSTP 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 its
program components.
Its various components are specially designed to enhance the youth’s active contribution to the
general welfare of the nation. All male and female students enrolled in any baccalaureate or in at
least two (2)-year technical/vocational or associate courses are required to complete the
equivalent of two (2) semesters of an NSTP Common Module for the period of at least 25-hours and
any one of the NSTP.
NSTP DIVISION OF PROGRAMS

The NSTP has three components: the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), the Civic Welfare
Training Service (CWTS), and the Literacy Training Service (LTS). Students are required to take two
NSTP courses under the component of hes/her choice.

Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS)

This program component is designed to provide students with activities contributory to the general
welfare and betterment of life of the members of the community especially those developed to
improve social welfare services.

Literacy Training Service (LTS)

This program component is designed to train students in teaching literacy and numeracy skills to
schoolchildren and out-of-school youths. The hope is to continue learning on a peer - to - peer
interaction.

Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)

This program component is designed to provide military education and training for students to
mobilize them for national defense preparedness. This is also a glimpse for young people to see
how military life is and encourage them into service.