CHAPTER 1

The NSTP Program (RA 9163)

Overview
The enactment of RA 9163 changes the landscape of civic and military services
required of students as part of their academic quest. The manageable internal threats,
the post-colonial era and the abuses committed by some ROTC implementers during
that time might be the triggering points of passing this law. In here, students have the
option which NSTP component is best for them. Consequently, this transcends that
ROTC is no longer mandatory to all boys as it was before. The law explains its
coverage and limitation, the management of the program, the NSTP as a subject and
how the three components will be implemented.

General Objectives
At the end of the chapter, the students can:
1. define and discuss the National Service Training Program Act (RA 9163);
2. enumerate and discuss the different program components of NSTP; and
3. discuss the implementing rules and regulations of the NSTP.

Lesson 1 The NSTP Law

Pre-discussion
The law in itself is purposely legislated for the good of its citizen. For ordinary
Filipino, this is just an ordinary statement. The language where it was written is too
difficult to understand. Hence, every law must be patiently discussed up to the minute
details. Correct interpretation of the law is necessary so as to expect a proper
communication.

Lesson Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the students can:
1. discuss the different sections of the NSTP Law(RA 9163);
2. cite specific situations in which NSTP students are allowed or prohibited to do so
under this law; and
 3. make a comparison on how the academe implements civil or military service
before NSTP Law.

THE NSTP LAW

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (NSTP)

FOR TERTIARY LEVEL STUDENTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7077 AND PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1760, AND FOR THE
PURPOSES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in

Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title– this Act shall be known as the “National Service Training
Program (NSTP) Act of 2001.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy– it is hereby affirmed the prime duty of the

government to serve and protect its citizens to defend the security of the State and in
fulfilment thereof, the government may require each citizen to render personal, military
or civil service.

Recognizing the youth’s vital role in nation building, the State shall promote civic
consciousness among the youth and shall develop their physical, moral, spiritual,
intellectual and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism, nationalism,
and advance their involvement in public and civic affairs.

In pursuit of these goals, the youth, the most valuable resource of the nation shall
be motivated, trained, organized and mobilized in military training, literacy, civic welfare
and other similar endeavors in the service of the nation.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms– For purposes of this Act, the following are hereby
defined as follows:

a. “National Service Training Program” (NSTP) is a program aimed at

enhancing civic consciousness and defence 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
 specially designed to enhance the youth’s active contribution to the
general welfare.
b. “Reserve Officers Training Corps” (ROTC) is a program institutionalized
under Sections 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) is program designed to train students to
become teachers of literacy and numeracy skills to school children, out of
school youth, and other segments of society in need of their service.
d. “Civic Welfare Training Service” (CWTS) refers to the program of activities
contributory to 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 morals of citizenry.
e. Program Components” shall refer to the service components of the NSTP
as enumerated in Section 4 of this Act.

SECTION 4. Establishment of the National Service Training Program – There is

hereby established a National Service Training Program (NSTP), which shall form part
of the curricula of all baccalaureate degree courses and of at least (2) year technical-
vocational courses and requisite for graduation consisting of the following service
components:

1. The Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), which is hereby made

optional and voluntary upon the effectivity of this Act;
2. The Literacy Training Service; and
3. The Civic Welfare Training Service.

The ROTC under the NSTP shall instillpatriotism, moral, virtues, respect for
rights of civilians, and adherence to the constitution, among others. Citizenship training
shall be given emphasis in all three (3)-program components.
 The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in consultation with the Department of National
Defense (DND), Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC),
Coordinating Council of Private Education Associations (COCOPEA) and other
concerned government agencies may design and implement such other program
components as maybe necessary in consonance with the provisions of this act.

SECTION 5. Coverage – Students, male and female of any baccalaureate degree

course or at two (2)-year technical vocational courses in public and private educational
institution shall be required to complete one (1) of the NSTP components as a requisite
for graduation.

SECTION 6. Duration and Equivalent Course Unit– Each of the aforementioned

NSTP program components shall be undertaken for an academic period of two (2)
semesters.

In lieu of the two (2)- semester program for any of the components of the NSTP,
a one (1) summer program may be designed, formulated and adopted by the DND,
CHED and TESDA.

SECTION 7.NSTP Offering in Higher and Technical – Vocational Education

institutions – All higher and technical – vocational institutions, public and private, must
offer at least one of the program components: Provided, that the State Universities and
Colleges shall offer the ROTC component and at least one other components as
provided herein: Provided, further that the private higher and technical – vocation
education institutions may also offer the ROTC if they have at least three hundred and
fifty (350) cadet students.

In offering NSTP whether during the semester or summer periods, clustering of

affected students for different educational institutions may be done, taking into account
logistics, branch of service and geographical considerations. Schools that do not meet
the required number of students to maintain the optional ROTC and of the NSTP
components shall allow their students to cross enrol to other schools irrespective of
whether or not the NSTP components in said schools are being administered by the
same or another branch of service of the Armed of Forces of the Philippines (AFP),
CHED and TESDA to which schools are identified:

SECTION 8.Fees and Incentives. – Higher and Technical Vocational institutions shall
not collect any fee for any of the NSTP components except basic tuition fees, which
shall not be more than fifty percent (50%) of what is currently charged by the schools
per unit.

In the case of the ROTC, the DND shall formulate and adopt a program of
assistance and/or incentive to those students who will take the said component.

The school authorities concerned, CHED and TESDA shall ensure that group
insurance for health and accident shall be provided for students in any of the NSTP
components.

SECTION 9.Scholarships. – There is hereby created a Special Scholarship Program

for qualified students taking the NSTP which shall be administered by the CHED and
TESDA. Funds for the purpose shall be included in the annual regular appropriations of
the CHED and TESDA.

SECTION 10. Management of the NSTP Components – The school authorities shall
exercise academic and administrative supervision over the design, formulation,
adoption and implementation of the different NSTP components in their respective
schools: provided that in case CHED or TESDA accredited, non-government
organization (NGO) has been contracted to formulate and administer a training module
for any of the NSTP components, such academic and administrative supervision shall
be exercised jointly with that accredited NGO. Provided, further, that such training
module shall be accredited by the CHED and TESDA.

The CHED and TESDA regional offices shall oversee and monitor the
implementation of the NSTP under their jurisdiction to determine if the trainings are
being conducted in consonance with the objectives of the Act. Periodic reports shall be
submitted to the CHED, TESDA and DND in this regard.
SECTION 11. Creation of the National Service Reserve Corps – There is hereby
created a National Service Reserve Corps, to be composed of the graduates of the non-
ROTC components. Members of this Corps may be tapped by the State for literacy and
civic welfare activities through the joint effort of DND, CHED and TESDA.

Graduates of the ROTC shall form part of the Citizens Armed Force pursuant to
Republic Act No. 7077.

SECTION 12. Implementing Rules, - The DND, CHED and TESDA shall have the joint
responsibility for the adoption of implementing rules of this Act within sixty (60) days
from the approval of this Act.

These three (3) agencies shall consult with other concerned government
agencies, the PASUC and COCOPEA, NGO’s recognized student organizations in
drafting the implementing rules.

The implementing rules shall include guidelines for the adoption of the
appropriate curriculum for each of the NSTP components as well as the accreditation of
the same.

SECTION 13.Transitory Provisions. – Students, who have yet to complete the basic
ROTC except those falling under Section 14 of this Act, may either continue in the
program component they are currently enrolled or shift to any of the program
components of their choice.

Provided, that in case he shifts to another program component, the Basic ROTC
courses he has completed shall be counted for the purpose of completing the NSTP
requirements. Provided, further, that once he has shifted to another program component
he shall complete the NSTP in that component.

SECTION 14.Suspension of ROTC Requirement.– The completion of ROTC training

as a requisite for graduation is hereby set-aside for those students who despite
completing all their academic units of the effectivity of this Act have not been allowed to
graduate.
SECTION 15.Separability Clause. – if any section or provision of this Act shall be
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions not affected thereby
shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 16.Amendatory Clause. – Section 35 of Commonwealth Act No. 1,

Executive Order No. 207 of 1939, Sections 2 and 3 of Presidential Decree No. 1706,
and Section 38 and 39 of Republic Act No. 7077, as well as all laws, decrees, orders,
rules and regulations and other issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby deemed amended and modified accordingly.

SECTION 17.Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in two (2) newspapers of national circulation, but the implementation of this
Act shall commence in the school year 2002-2003.

Assessment
1. What are the three NSTP components? Discuss each and how it is to be
implemented.
2. Who are the agencies that were given the authority to implement the ROTC
component? Discuss their individual roles.
3. Can a tertiary school offer a unit of ROTC? Why?

Lesson 2 Implementing Rules and Regulations of NSTP

Pre-Discussion
Prior to the implementation of the law, it must have an Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR). These are more specific guidelines of the law. Through this, every
citizen will be able to manage and interpret up to the small details the application of the
law.

Lesson Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the students can:
1. discuss specific guidelines of the RA9163;
2. explain how the program is implemented; and
 3. deliberate the management, monitoring and evaluation of each NSTP
component.

Lesson Outline
REVISEDIMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (NSTP)

Pursuant to Section 12 of Republic Act No. 9163 otherwise known as the

National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001, the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and
Department of National Defense (DND), in consultation with concerned government
agencies, the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC),
Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines
(COCOPEA), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and recognized student
organizations, hereby jointly issues, adapt and promulgate the following implementing
rules and regulations in implementing the provisions of the Act.
Rule I
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Section 1. Guiding Principle. While it is the prime duty of the government to serve
and protect its citizens, in turn it shall be the responsibility of all citizens to
defend the security and promote the general welfare of the State, and in
fulfilment thereof, the government may require each citizen to render personal
military or civil service.
Section 2. Role of the Youth
a. In recognition of the vital role of the youth in nation-building, the State shall
promote civic consciousness among them and shall develop their physical,
moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being. It shall inculcate the ideals
of patriotism, nationalism, and advance their involvement in public and civic
affairs.
b. As the most valuable resource of the nations, they shall be motivated,
trained, organized, and involved in military, literacy, civic welfare programs
and other similar endeavors in the service of the nation
Rule II

DEFINITION OF TERMS
Section 3. As used in this implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), the following
shall mean:
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 service and patriotism while undergoing training
in any of the three (3) program components, especially 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 Sections 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 in
need of their services;
d. “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, moral of the citizenry and other social
welfare services;
e. “Program Component” – refers to the service components of NSTP as
defined herein;
f. “Clustering” – refers to the grouping of students enrolled to different schools
and taking up the same NSTP component into one (1) group under the
management and supervision of a designated school.
 g. “Cross Enrolment” – refers to a system of enrolment where a student is
officially enrolled in an academic program of an origin school but is allowed
to enrol in the NSTP component of another accepting 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
a. All incoming first year students, male and 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.
The above provision, however, does not cover the following:
a.1. Students who finished or graduated from baccalaureate degree or two-
year technical-vocational or associate course and pursuing or enrolled in
another or additional baccalaureate degree or two-year technical-vocational or
associate course in SY 2003-2004, and :
a.2. Students who completed any of the three NSTP components but
considered freshmen to the course where they transferred or shifted.
a.3.Foreign students or aliens
b. All higher and technical-vocational education institutions must offer at least
one (1) of the NSTP components.
c. State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), shall offer the ROTC component
and at least one (1) other NSTO component.
d. The Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Philippine Merchant Marine
Academy (PMMA), and the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) are
exempted from the NSTP in view of the special character of these
institutions. Other State Universities and Colleges of similar nature will be
exempted subject to approval of the Department of National Defense.
e. Private higher and technical-vocational education institutions with at least
350 student-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).
Section 5. Program Components
a. The NSTP shall have the following components which the students can
choose from as defined in Rule II, Section 3 hereof: The Reserve Officers
Training Corps, Literacy Training Service (LTS), and the Civic Welfare
Training Service (CWTS).
b. All program components; the ROTC in particular, shall give emphasis on
citizenship training and shall instill patriotism, moral virtues, respect for the
rights of the civilians and adherence to the Constitution.
c. The CHED, TESDA in consultation with the DND, and PASUC,
COCOPEAand other concerned government agencies, may design and
implement such other non-military training components as may be
necessary in consonance with the provisions of R.A. 9163.
d. Within thirty (3) days from the approval of this revised IRR, the CHED,
TESDA, and the DND shall jointly issue the minimum standards for the
three (3) NSTP components which shall form part of these guidelines.
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 for three (3) units
per semester, for fifty-four (54) to ninety (90) training hours per semester.
b. A one (1) Summer Program (OSP) 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.
c. Earned NSTP units shall not be included in the computation of Grade Point
Average (GPA) grades of college graduating students.
Section 7. Clustering and Cross-Enrolment
a. Clustering of students from different education institutions during the
semester or summer periods may be done for any of the NSTP
 components, 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 students, shall allow their students to cross-enrol
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.
c. Students intending to cross-enroll shall be subject to the existing rules and
regulations of the school of origin and the accepting school.
Section 8. Monitoring and Evaluation
A. Management
1. The school authorities shall exercise academic and administrative
supervision over the design, formulation, adoption and implementation of
the different NSTP components in their respective schools.
2. There should be an NSTP Office in each school or college/university
headed by an NSTP Director or its equivalent position responsible for the
implementation of the Program. Each of the NSTP components is
considered a distinct and/or separate unit under the NSTP office and the
head of the unit shall report directly to the NSTP Director on the equivalent
position.
3. Functional chart of the NSTP Office shall be structured based on the
capability of the institution to sustain the component program being offered
and based on the number of enrolees.
4. In the case of ROTC, the school authorities and DND, subject to the
policies, regulation and programs of DND on the military component of the
training shall exercise joint supervision over its implementation.
 5. Schools which have contracted CHED-accredited or TESDA-recognized
NGOs to formulate and administer training modules for any of the NSTP
components shall jointly exercise such academic and administrative
supervision with those NGOs. Within forty-five (45) days from approval and
issuance of this IRR, the CHED, TESDA, and DND shall issue the
necessary guidelines for the accreditation of non-government organizations
(NGOs) and training modules to be utilized by these NGOs.

B. Monitoring
1. CHED Regional Offices, TESDA Provincial/District Offices and DND-AFP
(through the Major Service Reserve Commands), shall oversee and monitor
the implementation of the NSTP under their respective jurisdiction, to
determine if the trainings conducted are inconsonance with the Act. These
sub-offices shall submit periodic reports to the Central Offices of CHED,
TESDA, and DND.
2. CHED deputized officials shall coordinate and conduct spot visits to actual
NSTP activities.
3. At the end of every school year the Higher Education Institution shall submit
an Annual Report to the CHED Regional Office copy furnished the Office of
Student Services in electronic template, indicating the following:
3.1 names of students who finished under each NSTP component;
3.2 the programs, projects, and activities undertaken with pictorials and
documentations as much as possible; and
3.3 financial statements on the funds collected, allocated and utilized.
The annual report on NSTP by the university or college shall be made
available to faculty, students and the general public in the NSTP
Office.In regions with universities and colleges having two or more
campuses, the university concerned shall consolidate the report
before submission to CHED Regional Offices.
 4. In cases of violations of guidelines, warnings and/or sanctions may be
imposed to schools and accredited NGOs that disregarded or grossly
violated.
Rule IV

FEES AND INCENTIVES

Section 9. Fees
a. No fees shall be collected for any of the NSTP components except basic
tuition which should not be more than fifty (50%) percent of the charges of
the school per academic unit. NSTP tuition collected shall constitute a
Trust Fund which shall be exclusively used for the operation of the
program.
b. NSTP funds derived from NSTP-related operations shall serve as
augmentations to sustain un-programmed activities of the NSTP.
c. The unexpected fund balance shall be carried over to the next semester ;
provided, however, NSTP funds shall not be converted into savings at the
expense of the proper implementation of the program.
d. Subsidies from the government, any legal agency or institution
appropriated for NSTP shall be included in the preparation of the program
of expenditures and report on the utilization of funds.
e. Expenditures/disbursements shall be subjected to periodic audits by the
proper school authorities and concerned NSTP officers.
f. The NSTP Director or its equivalent shall submit a comprehensive report
on the utilization of the NSTP Funds by program component to the school
head, two weeks after the end of every semester.
g. Rental space of school and other similar expenses shall not be charged to
NSTP.

Section 10. Incentive, Insurance and Protection

A. Incentives
 1. 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.
2. A Special Scholarship Program and other forms of assistance and
incentives 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.
3. The college or university may provide scholarship and other forms of
assistance and incentives to qualified and deserving NSTP students, the
funding of which shall come from available NSTP funds of the school.
4. Personnel involved in the NSTP shall be provided honorarium and other
incentives based on the standard policy set forth by the HEIs.
B. Insurance and Protection
1. 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.
2. Schools that already provided health and accident group insurance and
collected the necessary fees for the purpose from their students as of the
effectivity of this Rules, are deemed to have complied with this
requirement.
Rule V

ORGANIZATION OF NSTP GRADUATES

Section 11. Organization of NSTP Graduates
a. Graduates of the non-ROTC components of the NSTP shall belong to the
National Service Reserve Corps (NSPC), and could be tapped by the
State for literacy and civic welfare activities, especially in times of
calamities through the joint efforts of DND, CHED, and TESDA, in
coordination with DILG, DSWD, and other concerned
agencies/associations.
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 RA 7077, subject to the requirements of the DND.
Rule VI

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 12. Certificate of Completion. Certificate of Completion with corresponding
serial number issued by CHED, TESDA or DND, shall be awarded to
students who have successfully complied with the program requirements.
Section 13. Information Dissemination. The CHED, TESDA and DND shall provide
information on these Act and IRR to all concerned publics through different
modes of disseminating information.
Section 14. Amendatory Clause.
a. Section 35 of Commonwealth act No.1 Executive Order No. 207 of 1939,
Section 2 and 3 of Presidential Decree No. 1706, and Sections 38 and 39
of Republic Act No. 7077, as well as all laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations and other issuances inconsistent with the provisions 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.
Section 15. Separability Clause. If any section or provisions of this IRR shall be
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions not
affected thereby shall remain full force and effect.
Section 16. Effectivity. These rules shall take effect 15 days after publication in a
newspaper or general circulation and shall remain in force and effect until
revoked or amended.

Adopted and Issued on__________ day of _________ 2006.

FOR THE SECRETARY:
______________ ___________________
ANTONIO C. SANTOS CARLITO S. PUNO, DPASec. AUGUSTO BOBOY
SYJUCO
Undersecretary of National Defence Chairman, CHED Director General, TESDA
Assessment

1. Who is covered in the NSTP program implementation?

2. Give the benefits of taking either of the components.
3. As a youth in your community, what is your role in accordance with the NSTP
program implementation?
4. What happened to the graduates of NSTP?

Chapter Summary

The NSTP Program has a legal basis anchored on RA 9163. Citizens have the
responsibility to defend the security and promote the general welfare of the State by
rendering personal military or civil service. It is a 3-unit subject and allot 54 hours
engagement per semester. Its three components are ROTC, CWTS and LTS.
Students enrolled in a 2-year course or baccalaureate degree are required to take
NSTP for two semesters as graduation requirement.
HEIs are required to offer at least one component program. ROTC offering is
subject to rules and limitation. School authorities shall exercise academic and
administrative supervision over the activities of the different NSTP components.
Monitoring shall be done by CHED and DND. Graduates of the non-ROTC components
of the NSTP shall belong to the National Service Reserve Corps (NSPC) while
graduates of the ROTC program shall form part of the Citizen Armed Force.

References
Pauya, D. et.al.(2007). NSTP CWTS Handbook: Regional Association of
Implementers in NSTP XII