Constitutional Basis of RA 9163

National Service Training Program

Provisions under 1987 Constitution which serves as bases of NSTP

Article II. Declaration of Principles and State Policies

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
fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required under conditions
provided by law, to render personal military or civil service.
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.

Legislative History of NSTP

1. Commonwealth Act No.1 (National Defense Act). It is the first statutory enactment under
the Commonwealth government which required the compulsory military training of all college
students.
The preservation of the state is the obligation of every citizen.The security of the
Philippines and the freedom ,independence, and perceptual neutrality of the Philippine
Republic shall be guaranteed by the employment of all citizens without distinction of age, or sex
and all resources (Paragraph (a),Section 2, Article I).
This required all male college students to finish two years of military training to be reserved
cadet for the national defense of the Philippines.
2. Presidential Decree No.1706 – National Service Law (PD 1706). This PD was issued by
President Ferdinand E. Marcos and it repealed the National Defense Act. Section 2 of the said
law stated that all citizens are obliged to render national service in any of the three programs:
civic welfare service, law enforcement service, or military service, while Section3 of the same
law provided that such service shall be credited in his/her favor for the purpose of fulfilling
educational requirements.
3. Presidential Memorandum Order No.1 of President Corazon Aquino suspended the
implementation of National Service Law except for the military service in SY 1986-1987 and was
called the Basic Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
4. RA 7077 modified the Basic ROTC to Expanded ROTC . It consist of basic military training in
the first year and in the second year, students were given three options Military Training
Service (MTS), Civic Welfare Service(CWS), and Law Enforcement Service (LES). The modification
in the curriculum was a result of the students clamor to fulfill their personal service obligation
to State other than military training.
Likewise, Expanded ROTC is mandated to all male students in baccalaureate degrees and
optional for female students.
However, due to several issues of corruption and violence that took place in ROTC, its abolition
was called for by the students prompting the Senate to conduct hearings and to enact RA 9163.
5.RA 9163 An Act Establishing alternative National Service Training Program for Tertiary Level
Students, Amending for the Purpose RA 1706 and for other purposes.
What is NSTP?
NSTP aims to enhance civic consciousness and defense preparedness in the youth through
developing the ethics of service and patriotism while undergoing training in its three
component namely: Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS), Reserve Officers Training Corps
(ROTC) and Literacy Training Service (LTS).
What is Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS)?
CWTS refers to the program component of 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 morale of the citizenry and other social welfare services.
What is the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC)?
ROTC under Section 38 and 39 of RA 7077 is designed to provide military training to tertiary
level students in order to motivate, train, organize, and mobilize them for national defense
preparedness.
What is Literacy Training Service (LTS)
LTS refers to the program component designed to train the students to teach literacy and
numeracy skills to school children, out of school youth, and other segments of society.