LEGAL BASIS

Republic Act 9163 is an act establishing the National Training Program (NSTP) for the tertiary level
students, amending for the purpose of Republic Act No. 7077, Presidential Decree No. 1706, and for
other purposes.

Sec 2. R. A 9163 hereby affirms the prime duty of the government to serve and protect its citizens. In
turn, it shall be the responsibility of all citizens to defend security of the state and in the fulfillment
thereof, the government may require each citizen to render personal, military or civil services.

Sec. 4. R. A. 9163 there is hereby established a National Training Service Training Program (NSTP), which
shall form part of the curricula of all baccalaureate degree courses and at of least two (2) year technical
– vocational courses and is a requisite for graduation, consisting of the following service components.

 The reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC), which is hereby made optional and voluntary upon
the effectivity of this Act.

 The Literacy Training Services (LTS); and

 The Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS)

Sec. 15(4) of Batas Pambansa Bilang 323 likewise provides that it is the duty and responsibility of
students to participate actively in civic affairs and be involved in the promotion of the general welfare of
the people particularly in the social, economic and cultural development of the community and in the
attainment of a just, compassionate and orderly society

Pursuant to Section 12 Republic Act No. 9163 otherwise known as the National Service Training
Program (NSTP) Act of 2001, CHED, TESDA, and DND in consultation with concerned government
agencies, the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), Coordinating Council of
Private Educational Association of the Philippines (COCOPEA), NGOs, promulgate the following IRR to
implement the provisions of this Act.

Sec 1, Rule I, IRR to R. A. 9163 (Guiding Principle).

While 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 the fulfillment thereof, the
government may require each citizen to render personal military or civil service.

Sec 2. Rule I, IRR to R. A. 9163

(Role of the Youth)

1. 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 being. It shall inculcate the ideals of patriotism, nationalism, and advance their
involvement in public and civic affairs.
2. As the most valuable resources 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.

Sec. 4, Rule III, IRR to

R. A. 9163 (Coverage)

1. All incoming freshmen students, male and 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.

2. All higher and technical-vocational education institutions must offer at least one (1) of
the NSTP components.

a. State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), shall offer the ROTC Program and at least one
(1) other NSTP component.

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

(PMMA), Philippine national Police Academy (PNPA), and other SUCs of similar nature, in
view of the special character of these institutions, are exempted from the NSTP.

c. Private higher and technical-vocational education institutions with at least 350

students’ cadets, may offer the ROTC Program 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).

Sec 1, Rule I, IRR to R. A. 9163 (Guiding Principle).

While 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 the fulfillment thereof, the
government may require each citizen to render personal military or civil service.

2. A one (1) summer program 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.

Sec. 11, Rule V, IRR to R. A. 9163 (Organization of NSTP Graduates):

1. Graduates of the ROTC components of the NSTP shall belong to the National Service
Reserve Corps (NSRC) and could be tapped by the state for literacy and civic welfare activities, through
the joint efforts of DND, CHED and TESDA, in coordination with DILG, DSWD and other concerned
agencies/ associations.

2. The CHED, TESDA and DND, in consultation with other concerned government agencies, shall
issue the necessary guidelines for the establishment, organization, maintenance and utilization of the
National Reserve Corps.

3. Graduates of the ROTC program shall form part of the Citizen Armed Force, pursuant to R. A.
7077, subject to the requirements of DND.

Sec. 13, Rule VI, IRR to R. A. 9163 (Transitory Provisions):

1. Students who are currently enrolled but have not taken any of the Military Service (MS), Civic
Welfare Service (CWS) or Law Enforcement Service (LES) programs shall be covered by the NSTP law.
 2. Students who have completed two (2) semesters of the Expanded ROTC (E-ROTC) National
Service Program) are deemed to have complied with the NSTP law.

3. Students who are not covered by Section 13 of this Rule and have taken only one (1)
semester or Basic ROTC or E-ROTC/ NSP, shall be take one more semester of any NSTP components to
qualify for graduation purposes.

Sec 1, Rule I, IRR to R. A. 9163 (Guiding Principle).

While 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 the fulfillment thereof, the
government may require each citizen to render personal military or civil service.

AFP ORGANIZATION

 The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recognizes the Constitution of the Republic as the
legitimate expression of the people’s will. It is mandated to serve and protect the people and
secure the sovereignty of the state and the integrity to its national territory from internal and
external threats, adheres to the principle of supremacy of civilian authority over the military at
all times and vows to uphold and defend the Constitution.