NSTP.docx

NSTP **Republic Act 9163** also known as **National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001** -enacted on January 23, 2002, signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo **Legislative History of the NSTP** - The history of National Service Training Program started with the creation of **...

NSTP **Republic Act 9163** also known as **National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001** -enacted on January 23, 2002, signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo **Legislative History of the NSTP** - The history of National Service Training Program started with the creation of **Commonwealth Act. No.1**, otherwise known as the **National Defense Act**, was the first statutory enactment by the Commonwealth government on December 21, 1935. - **Commonwealth Act No.1** required the compulsory military training of all college students to take compulsory courses of military instructions**.** - The rationale of military training service is the defense of the State, either actual or in preparation to make it more effective in case of need. - With the passage of Act, college students, specifically males were then required to finish 2 years or 4 semesters of military training to be reserved cadet for the national defense of the Philippines**.** - On August 8, 1980, President Ferdinand E. Marcos, repealing Commonwealth Act No. 1, issued **Presidential Decree No.1706,** otherwise known as the **National Service Law.** - The decree made it obligatory for all citizens to render national service in any of the three programs, namely**, civic welfare service, law enforcement service, or military service,** provided that such service shall be credited in his favor for the purpose of fulfilling educational requirements established by law. - It is in this connection that college students were given an option to chose one among these three components to comply with the requirement for tertiary education. - After the ouster of former President Marcos, **Presidential Memorandum Order No.1** of President Corazon C. Aquino suspended the implementation of the National Service Law except the provisions on the Military Service. It became the Basic Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) effective school year 1986-1987. - In the year 1991, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 7077 modified the **Basic ROTC Course** into the **Expanded ROTC program**, as mandated. In contrast to the traditional ROTC program. - The expanded ROTC program offered two curriculum years of training students. It consisted purely of basic military training in the first curriculum and any of the three service components such as Military Training Service, Civic Welfare Service and Law Enforcement Service in the second curriculum year. - This modification aimed to address the clamor of students to be provided with options to fulfill their personal service obligations to the State other than military training by incorporating the concept of national Service Law. The move to expand the ROTC program satisfied the demand of the youth for non-military options, which is considered to be the main source of the AFP Reserve Force. - During its implementation, all male students enrolled in the initial baccalaureate degree programs must take and complete the Expanded ROTC course. Female students, on the other hand, may take it in an optional basis, and may then be exempted from the required physical education subjects. However, students enrolled in non-degree courses may not undertake the expanded ROTC program/course. - Recent events call for the re-examination and review of the 60-year old law requiring college students to render a two-year military service in ROTC program. - It was in this light that the late **Senator Renato Cayetano and Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr**., sponsored and co-sponsored respectively **Senate Bill 1824**, entitled: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR AN OPTIONAL RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (ROTC), ESTABLISHING ALTERNATIVE NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAMS SUCH AS PEACEKEEPING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE IN COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. - Eventually **Republic Act No. 9163** or otherwise known as **AN ACT ESTABLISHING ALTERNATE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (NSTP) FOR TERTIARY LEVEL STUDENTS.** - **Republic Act No.9163** was signed into law by Her Excellency **Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on January 23, 2002**. NSTP is comprised of three program components namely, Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS), Literacy Training Service (LTS), and Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). **Guiding principle in establishing the NSTP** - Section 2 of R.A. 9163 affirmed that it is the prime duty of the government to serve and protect its citizens. In turn, it shall be the responsibility of the citizens to defend the security of the state and in fulfillment thereof, the government may require each citizen to render personal, military or civil service. **Goals of the State from among the youth in nation building** In recognizing the vital role of the youth in nation building, the state shall promote their civic-consciousness and develop their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and advance their involvement in public and civic affairs. **The state should do to pursue the afore cited goals.** The youth shall be motivated, trained, organized and mobilized in military training, literacy, civic welfare and other similar endeavors in the service of the nation. **All about National Service Training Program** It is a program aimed at enhancing civic consciousness and defense preparedness in the youth by developing the ethic of service and patriotism while undergoing training in any of its three (3) program components**.** **3 Program Components of NSTP** - Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) - Literacy Training Service (LTS) - Civic Welfare Training Services (CWTS) **Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC)** is a program institutionalized under section 38 and 39 of RA 7077 designed to provide military training to tertiary-level students in order to motivate, train, organize and mobilize them for defense preparedness. **Literacy Training Service (LTS)** is a program designed to train students to become teachers of literacy and numeric skills to school children, out of school youth and other segments of society in need of their services. **Civic Welfare Training Services (CWTS)** refer to the programs or activities contributory to the general and 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 the citizenry **Who are covered by the NSTP Law?** All incoming freshmen students, male, 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. **Who are not covered by the NSTP Law?** All higher and technical-vocational education institutions must at least offer one (1) of the NSTP components. State universities and colleges (SUC‟s), shall offer the ROTC component and at least one (1) other NSTP component. **Who are not covered by the NSTP Law?** The Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), and other SUC‟s of similar nature, in view of the special character of these institutions, are exempted from the NSTP. **Duration and equivalent course unit of each of the NSTP Component** Each of the NSTP components shall be undertaken for an academic period of two (2) semesters for 54 to 90 training hours per semester. It shall be credited for three (3) units per semester.