Civic Duties and NSTP Overview

Duties and Responsibilities

• Loyalty, obedience, and cooperation are essential duties of a citizen to promote national development and welfare.
• Citizens have a correlative duty to exercise their rights responsibly, ensuring mutual respect within society.
• Every citizen must engage in gainful work, promoting personal and familial dignity through employment.
• Civic participation is mandatory, with qualified citizens required to register and vote in elections.
• Citizens are responsible for promoting equity and social justice for community welfare.
• Youth play a pivotal role in their own development regarding social, economic, intellectual, and moral well-being.
• Responsibility towards maintaining a balanced and healthy environment is paramount for all citizens.

NSTP Law and Components

• The National Service Training Program (NSTP) enhances civic consciousness and defense readiness among the youth.
• Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) offers military training to tertiary students.
• Literacy Training Service (LTS) focuses on training students to become literacy teachers.
• Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) involves activities aimed at improving community welfare.

Coverage and Exemptions of NSTP

• NSTP applies to students enrolled in baccalaureate and two-year technical vocational courses in higher education institutions.
• Exemptions include students who have completed a degree or technical course, foreign students, or those who have undertaken any NSTP component, including cadets from military academies.

Duration and Certification

• NSTP requires completion over two semesters to obtain a certificate recognized by CHED, TESDA, or DND.

Environmental Education

• "Environment" originates from the French term "environ," meaning "surrounding."
• Biotic factors include all living organisms; abiotic factors consist of nonliving elements influencing ecosystems.

Four Major Environmental Components

• Hydrosphere: Encompasses all water bodies, crucial for sustaining life.
• Lithosphere: Comprises the earth's crust, mantle, and core layers.
• Atmosphere: Contains gases protecting life from solar radiation, consists of five layers.
• Biosphere: Represents all life forms on earth, integral to ecological balance.

Seven Environmental Principles

• Nature is inherently self-sustaining; disruption can jeopardize resource availability.
• Each organism plays a crucial role in ecological networks.
• Interconnectedness of life forms implies that changes affect the entire system.
• Environmental changes are inevitable; adaptation is key.
• Waste persists and must be managed to prevent ecological harm.
• The earth's resources are finite; sustainable practices are essential.
• Humans, as stewards of creation, must respect and preserve the environment for future generations.

Major Environmental Laws in the Philippines

• EIS Statement of 1978: Facilitates balancing socio-economic and environmental needs.
• Republic Act 6969: Regulates hazardous substances to safeguard health.
• Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (RA 8749): Aims for clean air meeting national standards.
• Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003): Establishes a systematic waste management framework.
• Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (RA 9275): Focuses on protecting water bodies from pollutants.
• Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008 (RA 9512): Mandates integrating environmental education in school curricula.

Environmental Degradation

• Environmental degradation involves resource depletion, habitat destruction, and pollution driven primarily by human activity.
• Pollution can encompass air, land, water, and noise, with significant health impacts.
• Air Pollution: Triggered by emissions from burning fuels and industrial processes.
• Land Pollution: Results from waste accumulation; about 250 million tons of waste produced annually in the U.S. alone.
• Water Pollution: Arises from chemicals and non-biodegradable substances entering water bodies.
• Noise Pollution: Linked to health issues such as stress and heart disease; regulated under environmental laws.

State of Local and International Environment

• The Philippines is a megadiverse country, rich in unique flora and fauna.
• Ranks second globally in fish diversity and hosts 488 coral species, making it a marine biodiversity hub.
• Significant natural resources include agricultural land (47% of total area) and substantial mineral deposits, ranking fifth worldwide.
• Environmental Crisis: Forest cover has dwindled from 70% in 1909 to approximately 25.9% today, significantly impacting biodiversity and fish stocks.