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Introduction to National Service Training Program

Preamble
We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane society,
and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve
and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity, the blessings of independence and
democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain
and promulgate this Constitution.

Duties and Responsibilities:

According to the Citizen’s Movement for a Federal Philippines (CMFP) Article V. Bill of Duties and Obligations
(2014), the following are some of duties and responsibilities of a Filipino.
 Section 1. Loyalty, obedience, and cooperation – It shall be the duty of the citizen to be loyal to the
Federal Republic of the Philippines and to honor the Philippine flag, to defend the State and contribute
to its development and welfare, to uphold the Constitution and obey the laws, pay the taxes, and
cooperate with the duly constituted authorities in the attainment and preservation of a peaceful, just,
and orderly society.
 Section 2. Correlative Duty – The rights of the individual impose upon him or her the correlative duty
to exercise them responsibly and with due regard for the rights of others.
 Section 3. Human life, dignity, rights – Citizens shall respect the life and dignity of every human
person and help uphold human rights whenever these are threatened or violated. The State and the
citizens shall prevent and prohibit the killing of humans in any form and for whatever purpose.
 Section 4. Duty to work – It shall be the duty of every citizen to engage in gainful work and to work
well to assure himself/herself and his/her family a life worthy of human dignity.
 Section 5. Civic, political participation – It shall be the duty and obligation of every citizen qualified
to vote to register and cast his or her vote at every election, to participate actively in other public and
civil affairs, and to contribute to good governance, honesty and integrity in the public service and the
vitality and viability of democracy. Citizens shall enhance their civic efficiency and political effectiveness
by their involvement in people’s organizations, non-governmental organizations, civic and professional
associations, community associations, or political parties, as well as in discussions on public issues.
 Section 6. Promote equity, social justice – In their own homes, in the workplace, and in their various
organizations and institutions, citizens shall cooperate in the promotion of equity and social justice for
the good of all.
 Section 7. Responsibility of youth – The youth shall assume their responsibility in developing their
social, economic, intellectual and moral well-being. They shall develop their patriotism and nationalism
and their civic and political competence in order to serve the common good and national interest and
their own welfare.
 Section 8. Health, ecology, environment – Citizens shall exercise their right to a balanced and
healthful ecology, and contribute to the maintenance of a clean, enjoyable and sustainable environment.

The NSTP Law

R.A. 9163, also known as the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001, refers to the program
aimed at enhancing civic consciousness and defense preparedness in the youth.

Rationale of the Law

“It is hereby affirmed 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 and 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. 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.”
(R.A. 9163 Section 2)

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The Three Program Components of NTSP Law

 Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) – is a program designed to provide military training to tertiary
level students in order to motivate, train, organize and mobilize them for national defense preparedness.
 Literacy Training Service (LTS) – 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.
 Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) – programs or activities contributory to the general welfare and
betterment of life for the members of the community of enhancement of its facilities.

Coverage of the Law

• Students, male and female, of any baccalaureate degree course or at least two-year technical-
vocational courses in public and private educational institutions shall be required to complete one (1) of
the NSTP components as requisite for graduation.
• All higher and technical-vocational institutions, public and private, must offer at least one of the program
components; Provided, that State universities and colleges shall offer the ROTC component and at
least one other component as provided herein.
• Private higher and technical-vocational education institutions may also offer the ROTC if they have at
least three hundred and fifty (350) cadet students.

Exemptions of the Law

 Students who finished or graduated from a 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 2002-2003.
 Foreign students or aliens.
 Students who completed any of the three NSTP components but considered freshmen to the course
where they transferred or shifted.
 Students of PMA, PMMA, and PNPA in view of the special characters of these institutions.

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 components of the NSTP, a one (1) summer program
may be designed, formulated, and adopted by the DND, CHED, and TESDA.
 A 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.

Evolution of R.A. 9163

 During the Spanish colonial years, there was a training course, similar to what is presently known as
ROTC, at the University of Sto. Tomas.
 The real ROTC in our country did not start until 1912. It started when the military instructions were
conducted in the University of the Philippines.
 National Defense Act 1935 or commonly known as Commonwealth Act No. 1 which states that national
service shall be obligatory for all citizens of the Philippines without distinction of sex or age was enacted
by President Manuel Quezon
 President Ferdinand Marcos issued National Service Law or Presidential Decree No. 1706 which is
composed of three main programs namely; civic welfare service, law enforcement service, and military
service and each citizen should render service in any of these three. Also, that such service shall be
credited in the favor of the citizen for the purpose of fulfilling educational requirements established by
law.
 Republic Act No. 7077 also known as the Citizen Armed Force of Armed Forces of the Philippines
Reservist Act is a military training for students enrolled in colleges, universities and similar institutions
of learning is mandatory pursuant to the provisions of National Defense Act and the 1987 Constitution.
It also established the ROTC Units in colleges and universities in the Philippines.

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References:

Abueva, J. (2014, July 20). Our rights and duties as citizens [Web log post]. Retrieved from
https://joseabueva.wordpress.com/2014/07/20/our-rights-and-duties-as-citizens/
CHED. (2015). Guidelines and procedures on the issuance of national service training program (NSTP) Serial
Numbers. Retrieved from http://ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/CMO-no.-27-s.-2015.pdf
Ortiz, R. (2014, June 30). Evolution of NSTP [PPT]. Prezi
The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.dotr.gov.ph//images/front/GAD/issuances/1987constitution.pdf

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