NS TP HI S T O R Y &

RA T I O N A L E
HISTORY

NSTP STARTED WITH THE PASSAGE OF COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 1, ALSO

KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT. AN ACT TO PROVIDE NATIONAL
DEFENSE OF THE PHILIPPINES.
THIS IS UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT MANUEL L. QUEZON (1935) .
IT REQUIRES COLLEGE STUDENTS, SPECIFICALLY MALES TO FINISH 2 YEARS
OR 4 SEMESTERS OF MILITARY TRAINING TO BE RESERVED CADETS OF THE
NATIONAL DEFESE OF THE COUNTRY.
HISTORY
IN AUGUST 8, 1980, THE COMMONWEALTH ACT NO.1 WAS AMENDED TO GIVE
EXISTENCE TO THE PRESEIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1706 OR NATIONAL SERVICE
LAW WHICH MANDATES COMPULSORY NATIONAL SERVICE TO ALL CITIZENS
OF THE COUNTRY.
IT IS COMPOSED OF THREE MAIN COMPONENTS PROGRAMS, NAMELY, CIVIC
WELFARE SERVICE (CWS), LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICE (LES) AND MILITARY
SERVICE. COLLEGE STUDENTS WERE GIVEN AN OPTION TO CHOOSE ONE
AMONG THESE COMPONENTS TO COMPLY AS A REQUIREMENT OF TERTIARY
EDUCATION.
HISTORY

AFTER THE OUSTER OF PRESIDENT MARCOS, THE IMPLEMENTATION

OF THE NATIONAL SERVICE LAW EXCEPT THE PROVISIONS OF
MILITARY SERVICE WAS SUSPENDED BY PRESIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM ORDER NO.1 OF PRESIDENT AQUINO. IT BECAME
RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) THAT TOOK EFFECT ON
SY 1986-1987.
HISTORY

BUT ON MARCH 18, 2001, A DEAD BODY WAS FOUND WRAPPED IN A CARPET
AND FLOATING IN THE PASIG RIVER. THE FACE WAS BOUNDED BODY WAS
IDENTIFIED AS MARK WELSON CHUA, 19 YEAR OLD ENGINEERING STUDENT OF
UST, REPORTEDLY A VICTIM OF ILLEGAL ROTC PRACTICES, LEAD TO A
MASSIVE PROTEST OF THE COLLEGE STUDENTS AND CONCERNED PARENTS
AGAINST ROTC PROGRAM. SINCE THEN, EXPANDED ROTC PROGRAM
MORPHED IN TO NATIONAL TRAINING SERVICE PROGRAM (NSTP).
RATIONALE
NSTP IS PROGRAM AIMED AT ENHANCING THE CIVIC
CONSCIOUSNESS AND DEFENSE PREPAREDNESS IN THE YOUTH BY
DEVELOPING THE ETHICS OF SERVICE AND PATRIOTISM,
UNDERGOING TRAINING IN ANY OF THE THREE PROGRAM
COMPONENTS, ESPECIALLY DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE YOUTH
ACTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE GENERAL WELFARE.