RA-9163-1.pdf

NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM REPUBLIC ACT 9163 AUGUST 24, 2024  THE NSTP LAW NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM An Introduction Republic Act (R.A.) 9163 – also known as National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001 -is an act establishing the National Service Training P...

NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM REPUBLIC ACT 9163 AUGUST 24, 2024  THE NSTP LAW NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM An Introduction Republic Act (R.A.) 9163 – also known as National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001 -is an act establishing the National Service Training Program (NSTP) for tertiary level students, amending for the purpose Republic Act 7077 and Presidential Decree 1708 and for other purposes. -enacted on January 23, 2002- date of approval and signature of President Gloria Macapagal -Arroyo.  THE NSTP LAW NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM SECTION 1 – SHORT TITLE SECTION 2 – DECLARATION OF POLICY SECTION 3 – DEFINITION OF TERMS SECTION 4 – ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM SECTION 5 – COVERAGE SECTION 6 – DURATION AND EQUIVALENT COURSE UNIT SECTION 7 – NSTP OFFERING IN HIGHER AND TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SECTION 8 – FEES AND INCENTIVES SECTION 9 – SCHOLARSHIPS SECTION 10 – MANAGEMENT OF THE NSTP COMPONENTS SECTION 11 – CREATION OF THE NATIONAL SERVICE RESERVE CORPS SECTION 12 – IMPLEMENTING RULES RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) SECTION 1 – SHORT TITLE This Act shall be known as the “National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001”.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) SECTION 2 – DECLARATION OF POLICIES It is hereby affirmed 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 of the State and in fulfillment thereof, the government may require each citizen to render personal, military or civil service.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) SECTION 2 – DECLARATION OF POLICIES 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.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) SECTION 2 – DECLARATION OF POLICIES 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.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) SECTION 3 – DEFINITION OF TERMS (a) “National Service Training Program (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 three (3) program components. Its various components are specially designed to enhance the youth’s active contribution to the general welfare.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) SECTION 3 – DEFINITION OF TERMS (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.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) SECTION 3 – DEFINITION OF TERMS (c) “Literacy Training Service” is a 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.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) SECTION 3 – DEFINITION OF TERMS (d) “Civic Welfare Training Service” refers to programs 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 and morals of the citizenry.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) SECTION 3 – DEFINITION OF TERMS (e) “Program component” shall refer to the service components of the NSTP as enumerated on Section 4 of this Act.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) 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 two (2)-year technical-vocational courses and is a 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 Civil Welfare Training Service.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) SECTION 4 – ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM The ROTC under the NSTP shall instill patriotism, 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 Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA) and other concerned government agencies, may design and implement such other program components as may be necessary in consonance with the provisions of this Act.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) SECTION 5 – COVERAGE Students, male and female, of any baccalaureate degree course or at least two (2) -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.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) 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.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) SECTION 7 – NSTP OFFERING IN HIGHER AND TECHNICAL -VOCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 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: Provided, further, That private higher and technical-vocational education institutions may also offer the ROTC if they have at least three hundred and fifty (350) cadet students. In offering the NSTP whether during the semestral or summer periods, clustering of affected students from 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 any of the NSTP components shall allow their students to cross-enroll 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 Forces of the Philippines (AFP), CHED and TESDA to which schools are identified.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) SECTION 8 – FEES AND INCENTIVES Higher and technical-vocational institutions shall not collect any fee for any of the NSTP components except basic institution fees, which shall not be more than fifty percent (50%) of what is currently charged by 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 authorizes concerned, the CHED and TESDA shall ensure that group insurance for health and accident shall be provided for students enrolled in any of the NSTP components.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) 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 this purpose shall be included in the annual regular appropriations of the CHED and TESDA.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) SECTION 10 – MANAGEMENT OF THE NSTP COMPONENTS The school authorities shall exercise academic and administrative supervision over the design, formulation, and adoption and implementation of the different NSTP components in their respective schools: Provided, That in case a 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 this Act. Periodic reports shall be submitted to the CHED, TESDA and DND in this regard. RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) 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 the DND, CHED and TESDA. Graduates of the ROTC shall form part of the Citizens’ Armed Force, pursuant to Republic Act No. 7077.  RA 9163 (NSTP ACT OF 2001) SECTION 12 – IMPLEMENTING RULES The DND, CHED and TESDA shall have the joint responsibility for the adoption of the 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, NGOs and recognized student organizations in drafting the implementing rules. The implementing rules shall include the guidelines for the adoption of the appropriate curriculum for each of the NSTP components as well as for the accreditation of the same.