A PRIMER ON THE

NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM

ACT OF 2001
or
NSTP
I. What is the National Service Training Program (NSTP) law?

The National Service Training Program (NSTP) law, Republic Act

9163, 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 it’s 3
program components, specifically designed to enhanced the youth’s
active contribution to the general welfare.

II. What are the program components of the NSTP?

First – is the “Reserve Officers Training Corps” (ROTC) which is

designed to provide military training to tertiary level students in
order to motivate, train, organize and mobilize them for the national
defense preparedness.

Second – is the “Literacy Training Service” (LTS), which is designed

to train the students to teach literacy and numeracy skills to school
children, out-of-school youth and other segments of society in need
of their services.

Third – is the “Civic Welfare Training Service” CWTS, which refers to

the activities contributing to the general welfare and betterment of
life for the members of the community or the enhancement of its
facilities, especially those which are developed to improve health,
education, environment, entrepreneurship, safety, recreation and
moral of the citizenry and other social welfare services.

III. Who shall take the NSTP?

All incoming freshmen students, male and female, enrolled in any

baccalaureate and in the two (2) year technical-vocational or
associate courses are required to complete one (1) NSTP
component of their choice as a graduation requirement.
 IV. When was the NSTP be sure implemented?

The NSTP was implemented on school year 2002 - 2003.

V. How will the NSTP be taken up?

Each of the NSTP components shall be undertaken for an academic

period of two (2) semesters and be credited for three (3) units per
semester with fifty four (54) to ninety (90) hours per semester.

VI. What if I cannot take up the NSTP during regular semester?

A one summer program in lieu of the two (2) semester program, may
be designed, formulated and adopted by DND, CHED and TESDA,
subject to the capacity of the school and the AFP to handle the
same.

VII. What if the NSTP component of my choice is not offered in my

school?

Schools that do not meet the required number of students in order to

conduct a program component or do not offer the component
chosen by their students, shall allow them to cross-enroll to other
schools, irrespective of whether that school is under CHED or
TESDA. For the ROTC whether they are managed by different AFP
branches of service.

These students, however shall be subject to the existing rules and

regulations of their school origin and accepting school.

VIII. Are currently enrolled students covered by the NSTP law?

Male students currently enrolled but have not taken any program
component of the previous Expanded ROTC (E-ROTC)/National
Service Program (NSP) are covered by the NSTP.

IX. Will a student who has completed all his academic requirements
except for ROTC be allowed to graduate?

A student who has completed all his requirements except for ROTC
will be allowed to graduate provided that he is certified candidate by
the school on or before the effectivity of the NSTP which is March
23, 2002.
 X. What if a male student has completed two semestersb of the
E-ROTC/NSP?

He is deemed to have complies with the NSTP requirement.

XI. What if a male student has only taken one (1) semester of basic
ROTC or
E-ROTC/NSP?

He shall take one more semester of any of the NSTP components to

qualify for Graduation.

XII. What will become of NSTP graduates?

Graduates of the non-ROTC component shall belong to the National

Service Reserve Corps (NSRC) which could be tapped by the State
for literacy and civic welfare activities. Graduates of the ROTC
component shall form part of the AFP Citizen Armed Force, subject
to DND requirements.

XIII. How can a student continue to qualify for enlistment in the AFP
reserve force?

He/She may qualify for enlistment in the AFP reserve force as long as
he/she has completed two (2) semesters of ROTC.

XIV. Are there any student incentive provided for by the NSTP?

The following incentives are to be provided to the students when

they take up NSTP:

A. A program of assistance/incentives for ROTC students from

DND which will be in accordance with existing laws and
regulations and subject to the availability of funds.

B. School authorities concerned, CHED and TESDA shall ensure

that health and accident group insurances are provided to the
students enrolled in any of the NSTP components.

C. A special scholarship program for qualified NSTP students

shall be administered by CHED and TESDA subject to
availability of funds.
 XV. Who is responsible in supervising the NSTP students?

School authorities shall exercise academic and administrative

supervision over the design, formulation, adoption and
implementation of the different NSTP components in their respective
schools.

In the case of ROTC, the school authorities and DND shall exercise
joint supervision over its implementation.

XVI. What lead agencies will monitor the implementations of the NSTP?

CHED regional offices, TESDA provincial and district offices and

DND-AFP through the major service reserve commands and their
ROTC units shall oversee and monitor the implementation of the
NSTP under their respective jurisdiction, to determine if trainings
conducted are in consonance with this act.

XVII. Is the NSTP available in all schools and universities?

All higher and technical-vocational educational institutions will be

offering at least one (1) NSTP components while State Universities
and Colleges will offer the ROTC component and at least one other
NSTP component. Private schools who have at least 350 student
cadets will be offering the ROTC component through its Department
of Military Science and Tactics (DMST).