LEGAL BASIS
MILITARY SCIENCE (MS-1)
NSTP
- National Service Training Program
REPUBLIC ACT 9163
- Is an act establishing the NSTP for the tertiary
level students, amending for the purpose of
Republic Act No. 7077, Presidential Decree
No. 1706, and for other purposes.
Specific provisions of the fundamental law
pertinent to R.A. 9163
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 the 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 services.
Sec. 4. R.A. 9163 there is hereby established a
National Service Training Program, 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)
➢ The Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS)
Sec. 15(4) of Batas Pambansa Bilang 323 likewise
provides that 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 order society.
Pursuant to Section 12 R.A.. 9163
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 is 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 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).
3. 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 and 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 Training 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/NSTP, shall retake
one more semester of any NSTP components
to qualify for graduation purposes.

● NSTP - National Service Training Program

● ROTC - The Reserve Officer’s Training Corps
● LTS - The Literacy Training Services
● CWTS - The Civic Welfare Training Service
● PASUC - Philippine Association of State
Universities and Colleges
● COCOPEA - Coordinating Council of Private
● PMA - Educational Association of the
Philippines Philippine Military Academy
● PMMA - Philippine Merchant Marine Academy
● PNPA - Philippine National Police Academy
● DMST - Department of Military Science and
Tactics
● AFP - Armed Forces of the Philippines
● NSRC - National Service Reserve Corps