Lesson 1.

1 Physical Organization and Course Orientation

The 1935 Constitution of the Philippines clearly asserts that the prime duty
of the state is to safeguard and serve the common welfare of its citizens. “The
welfare of the people is the primordial reason for the existence of a State hence;
government service is a public trust,” the so-called distributive justice.” On the
other hand, every citizen has the duty to fulfill his/her responsibility in the
achievement of progress and development through his/her cooperation and
active participation in the affairs and activities of the State—to serve the state in
times of emergency as stated in the constitution the so-called legal justice.

As a preparation for this noble responsibility, the 1935 Constitution requires

male and female students to take Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) aimed
to train, discipline, and prepare them to become responsive citizens. In the 1987
Constitution however, ROTC for female students became voluntary.

The smooth implementation of ROTC was disrupted by questions arising

from moral degradation and unscrupulous practices by people in-charges to
supervise and implement the subject. In the late 1990, the problem of ROTC’s
relevance regarding its objectives and purpose was evident. Corruption,
exploitation, and devious practices were rampant until its constitutionality was
put to a test or question. This paved the way to the enactment of the Republic
Act 9163, otherwise known as the National Service Training Program Act (NSTP)
Act of 2001.

“Recognizing the youth’s significant role in the task of nation-building, the

state shall promote civic consciousness among them and shall develop their
physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and socio well-being. It shall inculcate the
values of patriotism and nationalism, and advance their involvement in public
and civic affairs.”

“In pursuit of these goals, the youth as 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.”

To attain this goal, the NSTP was made a part of the curriculum. Tertiary
students, both male and female of any baccalaureate degree course or at
least two (2) year technical-vocational courses in public and private
educational institutions, are required to complete one (1) of the NSTP
components as a requisite for graduation. ROTC, which was originally
mandatory, was made optional and voluntary. Under this program, students are
given the freedom to choose one among the three (3) program components of
the National Service Training Program (NSTP). First, the “Reserve Officers’ Training
Course (ROTC), which provides military training to tertiary level students in order
to motivate, train, organize and mobilize them for national defense
preparedness. It aims to instill patriotism, moral virtues, respect for rights of
civilians, and adherence to the Constitution, among others. Then, the Literacy
Training Service (LTS) is designed to train students to become mentors of literacy
and numeracy skills to school children, out-of-school youth, and other sector of
the society that

are in need of their service. Finally, the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS)
promotes activities contributory to the general welfare and betterment of life of
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.”

The offering of NSTP enriches the curriculum by providing meaningful

activities to the students, such as community immersion, in addition to the topics
and other activities taught and conducted in the different disciplines usually
done in the classroom setting. The NSTP in general aims to enhance civic
consciousness and defense preparedness among the youth, especially those in
the tertiary level by developing the ethics of service and patriotism while
undergoing training in any of its three (3) program components.

Lesson 1.2 The Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) 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-governmental organizations
(NGOs), and recognized student organizations; hereby jointly issue, 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 fulfillment 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 and nationalism, and advance their
involvement in public and civic affairs.

b. As the most valuable resource of the nation, 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 terms 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, specifically 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 Section
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
in teaching literacy and numeracy skills to school children, out-
of-school youth, and other sectors of society that are in need of
their services.
d. Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS)
- refers to the program component contributory to the general
welfare and the enhancement of life of the members of the
community or the enhancement of its facilities, especially those
devoted to improving health, education, environment,
entrepreneurship, safety, recreation, and 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 Enrollment
- refers to a system of enrollment where a student is officially
enrolled in an academic program of an origin school but is
allowed to enroll in the NSTP component of another accepting
school.
h. Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)
- refers to any private organization duly accredited by CHED or
recognized by TESDA.
Rule III
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATIONS

Section 4.
Coverage
 a. All incoming first year students, male and female, starting School Year (SY)
2002-2003, enrolled in any baccalaureate or 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 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 2003-2004;

a.2. Students who completed any of the three NSTP components but
considered
freshmen to the course where they transferred or shifted; and

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 NSTP components.

d. The Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Philippine Merchant Marine

Academy
(PMMA), and 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 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 civilians, and adherence to the Constitution.
c. The CHED, TESDA in consultation with the DND, PASUC, COCOPEA, and
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 (30) 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-Enrollment

a. Clustering of students from different educational institutions during

semestral or summer periods may be done for any of the NSTP
component, 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-
enroll 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
branches of service of the AFP.
c. Students intended 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 social 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 NSTP Director, or its equivalent
position responsible for the implementation of the program. Each
 of the NSTP component 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 or its equivalent position.
3. A functional chart of the NSTP Office shall be structured based
on the capability of the institution to sustain the component
program being offered based on the number of enrollees.
4. In the case of ROTC, the school authorities and DND, subject to
the policies, regulations, 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-governmental 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
oversees and monitor the implementation of the NSTP under their
respective jurisdiction, to determine of the trainings conducted
are in consonance 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 Institutions
(HEIs) shall submit an Annual Report to the CHED Regional Office
and copy furnished to the Office of Student Services in
electronic template, indication the following:
3.1 Names of students who finished under each NSTP
component; the programs projects, and activities undertaken
with pictorials and documentation as much as possible; and
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 its
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 the provisions of this
implementing rules and regulations.

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 percent
(50%) of the fee charged by 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
augmentation to sustain unprogrammed activities of NSTP.
c. The unexpected fund balance shall be carried over to the next
semester; provider, 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 expenditure 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 annul 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 b provide 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 in any of the NSTP
components.
2. Schools that already provide health and accident group
insurance and collect the necessary fees for the purpose
from their students as of the effectivity of this rule, 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 time 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
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 public through different modes of dissemination information.

Section 14
Amendatory Clause
a. Section 35of Commonwealth Act No. 1, Executive Order No. 207 of
1939, Section 2 and 3 of Presidential Decree No. 1706, and Sectors 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. This Rule 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 provision of this IRR shall be declared unconstitutional or
invalid, the other sections or provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full
force and effect.

Section 16
Effectively
This rule shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper
of general circulation and shall remain in force and effect until revoked or
amended.