UNIT 1
Lesson 1
The National Service Training Program
“A good citizen takes responsibility for helping home, school, and community
to be a good place for everyone.”
-Anonymous
Learning Objectives
At the end of this Unit, students are expected to:
1. explain the history and significance of the NSTP in the purview of national
security and development;
2. appreciate the value of NSTP as a citizenship training program; and
3. support NSTP-related activities and endeavors.
Overview
The Philippine Constitution provides that the defense of the state is a
prime duty of the government and the people, an in fulfillment of this duty, all
citizens may be required by law to render personal military or civil service. It
further states that it is the duty of the citizen to contribute to our country’s
development in the attainment and preservation of a just and orderly society.
The National Training Service Program (NSTP) Act of 2001 mandates all
citizens, both male and female, to fulfill this civic duty.
Responding to the urgent needs of our developing country today and in the
foreseeable future, it is equally vital to develop and enhance civic
consciousness among the young generation to ensure national security and
development, NSTP, therefore, enables the youth, as the most valuable
resource of the Filipino nation, to be motivated, developed and utilized in
regard to their responsibilities as citizens and in fulfillment of their civil
obligations.
Lesson 1: The evolution of the National Service Training
Program.
The imposition of the national program for service and training of the
youth in the Philippines began with the creation of Commonwealth Act No. 1,
otherwise known as the National Defense Act. It is a legislative act providing
basis for the national defense of the country, punishing certain violations
thereof, appropriating funds therefore and for other purposes under the
government of President Manuel L. Quezon in 1935. The same law that
required college students, particularly males, to finish two years, equivalent to
4 semesters, of military training as a modality to institutionalize the reserve
system in the Philippines national defense.
In 1980, the National Defense Act was amended to give existence to
Presidential Decree No. 1706, otherwise known as the National service Law. It
mandated compulsory national service to all Filipino citizens. It was composed
of three main program components namely: Civic Welfare Service (CWS), Law
Enforcement Service (LES), and Military Service (MS). College students were
given an option to choose among these components in compliance with this
requirement for tertiary education.
The implementation of the National service Law, except the provision of the
Military service was suspended by Presidential Memorandum Order No. 1
under the incumbency of former President Corazon C. Aquino, paving the way
for the conceptualization of the basic Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC),
embodied under Republic Act No. 7077 (The Citizen Armed Forces of the
Philippines Reservist Law), effective school year 1986-1987.
The ROTC program aimed to realize the constitutional mandate of
developing a strong civilian base to supplement the professional military in the
nation’s defense system. It was designed to initiate the ROTC trainees in the
rudiments of soldiership, instilling in them discipline and correct deportment.
The objective of the said program was to train all able-bodied tertiary students
for military skills in case of war. It cannot be disputed, however, that the law
on mandatory military training for male Filipino students that existed for more
than (60) tears was tainted with anomalies and irregularities in the advent of
the post Marcos era that culminated to the unprecedented death of UST ROTC
cadet officer Mark Wilson Chua for alleged anomalies of some erring ROTC
officials in 2001, thus, defeating the purpose upon which this military training
program was anchored in.
As a way to offer alternative in neutralizing people’s aversion to this
military program during the school year 2001-2002, ROTC was only made
optional under the National Service Program (NSP), conceiving the so-called
Expanded ROTC (E-ROTC) characterized by deviation from the rigid tactical
training offering alternatives like rendering civil auxiliary sources in the form
of helping maintain law and order, assisting socio-economic development
projects and delivery of basic health services or aiding in addressing local
insurgency.
In view of the options, it gave the students the choice, among the following
components, Military service (MS), Civic Welfare Service (CWS), and Law
Enforcement Service (LES).
Many if not all Higher Education Institutions, found the enforcement of
NSP confusing and unmanageable though, Hence, in December 2001, the
NSTP Act, envisioned to address public clamor for reforms in the ROTC and
NSP Programs, was signed into law by then President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo as an aggressive modality toward making the national service training
that is military in nature, relevant to the changing needs of time.
The main objective of NSTP is to stress the significant role played by the
youth, male and female alike, in the task of developing our nation via national
service training. As such, it aims to develop the youth to become civic or
military leaders and volunteers through a modified, re-structured and
reinforced training package whom could be called upon by the nation in cases
their services are needed and in the event of disasters or emergencies.
Compared with ROTC, the NSTP Act ensured that three components –
Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS), Literacy Training Service (LTS) and
Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), are given the same and equal
implementation in educational institutions. Moreover, it defined the different
NSTP components, the duration of the training, covered and others.
The non-military program components of NSTP, that is, CWTS and LTS
are committed to strengthening the values and traits of the youth, improving
skills and knowledge on various endeavors, developing interest in community
service and making them responsible for peace and development to ensure
harmony and growth in the Filipino communities.
Legal Basis of NSTP
1. The Philippine Constitution
2. Commonwealth Act No. 1
(National Defense Act)
3. Presidential decree No. 1706
(National Service Law)
4. Republic Act No. 7077 (The
Citizen Armed Forces of the
Philippines Reservist Law)
5. Republic Act No. 9163
(NSTP Act of 2001)
EXERCISE 1
Name:___________________________________ Course:___________
Date:____________________________ Rating:____________
The Evolution of the National Service Training Program
Illustrate a diagram that will explain the legal bases and chronology of events
in the passage of RA 9163 (NSTP Act of 2001)
