National Service Training Program

Lesson 1 and 2 Outline

Objectives:
a. To trace the history of the establishment of the NSTP
b. To explain the significance of the NSTP
c. To identify the components, coverage, and policies of NSTP Act
d. To create awareness on the importance of the program
e. To enhance the community spirit of the students
f. To explain the significance of the constitution in relation to the Bill of Rights

The History of National Service Training Program

 The program started with the passage of Commonwealth Act No. 1 aka National Defense
Act
 Under the government of President Manuel L. Quezon (1935)
 An act to provide national defense of the Philippines penalizing certain violations thereof
appropriating funds therefore, and for other purposes
 Commonwealth Act No. 1 requires:
College students, specifically males
Finish 2 years or 4 semesters of Military Training to be reserved cadets of the national
defense of the country

 August 8, 1980, the Commonwealth Act. No. 1 was amended to give existence to:
 Presidential Decree No. 1706 or National Service Law
 Mandates compulsory national service to all citizens of the country
 Composed of three main component programs, namely:
 Civil Welfare Service (CWTS),
 Law Enforcement Service (LES),
 Military Service
 College students were given an option to choose one among these components to comply
as a requirement of tertiary education
 After the ouster of President Ferdinand Marcos:
 Implementation of the National Service Law except the provisions of Military Service
was suspended by:
 Presidential Memorandum Order No. 1
 President Corazon C. Aquino
 It became Basic Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
 Effective on SY 1986 - 1987
 In the year 1991 –
 The Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 7077 modified:
 Basic ROTC Course to Expanded ROTC as mandated
 The modification is composed of military subject in the first year and any of
the following components:
MTS, CWTS and LES in the second year curriculum
 Mark Welson Chua case (March 18, 2001)
 Reportedly a victim of illegal ROTC practices
  It lead to a massive protest of the college students and concerned parents against
ROTC program.
 Since then, Expanded ROTC program transformed into National Training Service
Program (NSTP)
 A new and latest amendment was brought for creating the Republic Act 9163
 Also known as National Service Training Program
 Signed into law in January 23, 2002
 Implemented in SY 2002 - 2003

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9163

 The act shall be known as the: “NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
(NSTP) Act of 2001”
o An act establishing the NSTP for tertiary level students, amending for the purpose
of the RA 7077 and PD 1706 and for other purposes.

Legal Basis of NSTP

 The Philippine Constitution
 The constitution serves as the fundamental law of the land.
 It establishes the basic framework and underlying principles of the government.
 Just like any other law of the country, the RA 9163 is also based on the Philippine
Constitution.

Article 2, 1987 Philippine Constitution

 Section 4
 The prime duty of the government is to serve and protect the people. The
Government may call upon the people to defend the state and in the fulfilment
thereof, all citizens may be required under conditions provided by the law to render
personal, military and civil service
 Section 5
 The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and
promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of
the blessings of democracy.
 Section 13
 The state recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation- building and shall promote
and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well –being. It shall
inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in
public and civic affairs.
Bill of Rights
Article 3 of the 1987 Philippines Constitution
Bill of rights
 This is an enumeration of the people’s right and privileges, which the Constitution is
designed to protect against violations and abuses.
Section 1. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law,
nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects
against unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any purpose shall be
inviolable, and no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall issue except upon probable cause to
be determined personally by the judge after examination under oath or affirmation of the
complainant and the witnesses he may produce, and particularly describing the place to be
searched and the persons or things to be seized.

Section 3. (1) The privacy of communication and correspondence shall be inviolable except upon
lawful order of the court, or when public safety or order requires otherwise, as prescribed by law.
(2) Any evidence obtained in violation of this or the preceding section shall be
inadmissible for any purpose in any proceeding.

Section 4. No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press,
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of
grievances.

Section 5. No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without
discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the
exercise of civil or political rights.

Section 6. The liberty of abode and of changing the same within the limits prescribed by law
shall not be impaired except upon lawful order of the court. Neither shall the right to travel be
impaired except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be
provided by law.

Section 7. The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be
recognized. Access to official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts,
transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy
development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.

Section 8. The right of the people, including those employed in the public and private sectors, to
form unions, associations, or societies for purposes not contrary to law shall not be abridged.

Section 9. Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.

Section 10. No law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be passed.

Section 11. Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal assistance shall
not be denied to any person by reason of poverty.

Section 12. (1) Any person under investigation for the commission of an offense shall have the
right to be informed of his right to remain silent and to have competent and independent counsel
preferably of his own choice. If the person cannot afford the services of counsel, he must be
provided with one. These rights cannot be waived except in writing and in the presence of
counsel.
(2) No torture, force, violence, threat, intimidation, or any other means which vitiate the
free will shall be used against him. Secret detention places, solitary, incommunicado, or other
similar forms of detention are prohibited.
(3) Any confession or admission obtained in violation of this or Section 17 hereof shall
be inadmissible in evidence against him.
(4) The law shall provide for penal and civil sanctions for violations of this section as
well as compensation to and rehabilitation of victims of torture or similar practices, and their
families.

Section 13. All persons, except those charged with offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua
when evidence of guilt is strong, shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, or be
released on recognizance as may be provided by law. The right to bail shall not be impaired even
when the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended. Excessive bail shall not be
required.

Section 14. (1) No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of
law.
(2) In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall be presumed innocent until the contrary
is proved, and shall enjoy the right to be heard by himself and counsel, to be informed of the
nature and cause of the accusation against him, to have a speedy, impartial, and public trial, to
meet the witnesses face to face, and to have compulsory process to secure the attendance of
witnesses and the production of evidence in his behalf. However, after arraignment, trial may
proceed notwithstanding the absence of the accused provided that he has been duly notified and
his failure to appear is unjustifiable.

Section 15. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended except in cases of
invasion or rebellion when the public safety requires it.

Section 16. All persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all
judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies.

Section 17. No person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.

Section 18. (1) No person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and
aspirations.
(2) No involuntary servitude in any form shall exist except as a punishment for a crime
whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.
Section 19. (1) Excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel, degrading or inhuman
punishment inflicted. Neither shall the death penalty be imposed, unless, for compelling reasons
involving heinous crimes, the Congress hereafter provides for it. Any death penalty already
imposed shall be reduced to reclusion perpetua.
(2) The employment of physical, psychological, or degrading punishment against any
prisoner or detainee or the use of substandard or inadequate penal facilities under subhuman
conditions shall be dealt with by law.

Section 20. No person shall be imprisoned for debt or non-payment of a poll tax.

Section 21. No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment for the same offense. If an
act is punished by a law and an ordinance, conviction or acquittal under either shall constitute a
bar to another prosecution for the same act.

Section 22. No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted.

Principles of Human Rights by UN

Human Rights
Human rights are universal and inalienable; indivisible; interdependent and interrelated.
 Universal - everyone is born with and possesses the same rights, regardless of where they
live, their gender or race, or their religious, cultural or ethnic background.
 Inalienable because people’s rights can never be taken away.
 Indivisible and interdependent because all rights – political, civil, social, cultural and
economic – are equal in importance and none can be fully enjoyed without the others.
 They apply to all equally, and all have the right to participate in decisions that affect their
lives. They are upheld by the rule of law and strengthened through legitimate claims for
duty-bearers to be accountable to international standards.

NSTP and its COMPONENTS

What is NSTP?
Refers to the program aimed to 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.

What are the three (3) components of NSTP?

1. ROTC (RESERVE OFFICERS’ TRAINING CORPS)
 Refers to the Program component, institutionalized under Sections 38 and 39 of the
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.
 2. LTS (LITERACY TRAINING SERVICE)
 Refers to the Program component designed to train the students to teach literacy and
numeracy skills to teach children, out-of-school youths and other segments of society
in need of their services.

3. CWTS (CIVIC WELFARE TRAINING SERVICE)

 Refers to the Program component or activities contributory to the general welfare and
the betterment of life for the members of the community or the enhancements of its
facilities

Who are covered by the NSTP Law?

 All incoming freshmen students, male and female starting 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;
 All higher and technical – vocational education institutions must at least offer one (1) of
the NSTP components
 State universities and colleges (SUCs). Shall offer the ROTC component and at least one
(1) other NSTP component.
 The Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Philippine Merchant Marine Academy
(PMMA), Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), and other SUCs of other similar
nature, in view of the special character of these institutions, are exempted from the
NSTP.
 Private higher education and technical – vocational education institution with at least 350
student cadets, may offer the ROTC component and consequently establish/ maintain a
Department of Military Science Tactics (DMST) subject to the existing rules and
regulations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)

What is the duration and equivalent course unit if each of the NSTP component?
 Each of the NSTP component 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.

What fees shall be charged to students taking any of the NSTP components?
 No other fees shall be collected except basic tuition fees, which should not be more than
50% of the charges of the school per academic unit.

Who will manage the NSTP implementation?

 The school authorities shall exercise academic and administrative supervision on the
design, formulation, adoption and implementation of the different NSTP components in
their respective schools.
 There should be an NSTP Office in each school or college/ university headed by an
NSTP director or its equivalent position responsible for the implementation of the
program.
  In the case of ROTC, the school authorities and Department of National Defense (DND),
subject to the policies, regulations and programs of DND on the military component of
the training, shall exercise joint supervision over its implementation.
 Schools who have contracted CHED accredited or TESDA – recognized Non –
Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to formulate and administer training modules for
any of the NSTP components shall jointly exercise academic and administrative
supervision with those NGOs.
 CHED Regional Offices, TESDA, Provincial/ District Officers and DND – AFP (through
the Major Service Reserve Commands), shall oversee and monitor the implementation of
the NSTP under their respective jurisdiction, to determine if the trainings are being
conducted n consonance with the objectives of the NSTP Law.

What are the incentive programs under NSTP?

 A program of assistance/ incentives for ROTC students shall be provided and
administered by DND, in accordance with existing laws and regulations and to the
availability of funds.
 A Special Scholarship Program and other forms of assistance and incentives for qualified
NSTP students shall be administered by CHED and TESDA, subject to availability of
funds.
 The college or university may provide scholarship and other forms of assistance and
incentives to qualified and deserving NSTP students, the funding which shall come from
available NSTP funds of the school.
 School authorities concerned, CHED and TESDA shall ensure that health and accident
group insurances are provided for students enrolled in any of the NSTP components.

What happens after NSTP completion?

 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 times of calamities through the joint efforts of DND,
CHED and TESDA, in coordination with DILG, DSWD and other concerned agencies/
associations.
 Graduates of ROTC program shall form part of the Citizen Armed Force pursuant to RA
7077, subject to the requirements of DND.

Significance of NSTP and the Role of Youth

Guiding Principle of NSTP

 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 general
welfare of the State, and in fulfilment thereof, the government may require each citizen
to render personal, military and civic service. (Article 2, Sec. 3, 1987 Philippine
Constitution)

Role of Youth
 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 and civic affairs.
 As the most valuable resource of the nation, you shall be motivated, trained,
organized, and involved in military, literacy, civic welfare programs and other similar
endeavors in the service of the nation (Art.2, Sec. 12, 1987 Philippine Constitution)