POINTERS

THE NSTP LAW

1. What is the legal basis of the National Service Training Program (NSTP)?

The National Service Training Program (NSTP) Law or RA 9163 also known as “An Act
Establishing the National Service Training Program (NSTP) for tertiary level students, amending for the
purpose Republic Act No. 7077 and Presidential Decree No. 1706, and for other purposes.” was enacted
last January 2002 to amend the Expanded ROTC. This program aimed to enhance civic consciousness
and defense preparedness in the youth by developing the ethics of service and patriotism while
undergoing training in any of its three (3) program components, specifically designed to enhance the
youth’s active contribution to the general welfare.

2. What are the components of the NSTP?

a. Reserve Officer’s Training Corps [ROTC] - refers to the program component, institutionalized
under Section 38 and 39 of Republic Act No. 7077, designed to provide military training to motivate,
train organize and mobilize them for national defense preparedness.

b. Civic Welfare Training Service [CWTS] - refers to the program component or activities
contributory to the general welfare and the betterment of life for the members of the community or the
enhancement of its facilities, especially those devoted to improving health, education, environment,
entrepreneurship, safety, recreation and moral of the citizenry and other social welfare services.

c. Literacy Training Service [LTS] - refers to the program component 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.

3. Who are covered by the NSTP Law?

A. All incoming freshmen students, male, 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;

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

C. State universities and colleges (SUC‟s), shall offer the ROTC component and at least one (1)
other NSTP component.

D. The Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA),
Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), and other SUC‟s of similar nature, in view of the special
character of these institutions, are exempted from the NSTP.

E. Private higher education and technical-vocational education institutions with at least 350
student cadets may offer the ROTC component 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).
4. What is the duration and equivalent course unit of each of the NSTP Component?

Each of the NSTP components shall be undertaken for an academic period of two (2) Semesters
for 54 to 90 training hours per semester. It shall be credited for three (3) units per semester.

5. What fees shall be charged to students taking any of the NSTP components?

No other fees shall be collected except basic tuition fees, which should not be more than 50% of
the charges of the school per academic unit.

6. Who are covered by the suspension of the ROTC requirement?

The completion of ROTC training as a requisite for graduation is set aside for students who have
completed all their academic requirements for their respective courses as certified by the school on or
before the affectivity of the NSTP Act of 2001, which is March 23, 2002. The concerned students may
apply for graduation in their respective schools.

7. What happens to male students who are currently enrolled and have not taken nor completed the
ROTC requirements for graduation?

a. Male students who are not covered by Section 12 of this Rule and are currently enrolled but
have not taken any of the Military Service (MS), Civic Welfare Service (CWS) or Law Enforcement Service
(LES) shall be covered by the NSTP Law.

b. Male students who have completed two semesters of the Expanded ROTC (E-ROTC) / National
Service Program (NSP) are deemed to have complied with the NSTP requirement.

c. Male students who are not covered by Section 12 of these Rules and have taken only one (1)
semester of Basic ROTC or E-ROTC/NSP shall take any of the NSTP components to qualify for graduation.

d. Students who want to qualify for enlistment in the Reserve Force or attend the advance ROTC
program shall undertake a special program for this purpose.

8. How are Clustering and Cross-Enrollment done?

a. Clustering of students from different education institutions during semestral or summer

b. Schools that do not meet the required number of students to maintain the optional ROTC and
any of the NSTP components, or do not offer the component chosen by the student shall allow their
students to cross-enroll in other schools irrespective of whether such school is under CHED or TESDA;
and in the case the students taking the ROTC component irrespective of whether the two semesters
shall be taken from different schools whose ROTC is managed by different branches of service of the
Armed forces of the Philippines(AFP).

9. What is NSTP-One Summer Program (NSTP-OSP)?

NSTP-OSP = Is created under RA 9163 or the NSTP Act of 2001, especially Section 6 and jointly
devised, formulated and adopted by DND, CHED and TESDA.
NSTP-OSP = Is established for the three (3) components: ROTC, CWTS and LTS. This is intended for
graduating students in baccalaureate or at least two-year technical-vocational or associate courses, who
have yet to comply with the NSTP as a requirement for graduation, as well as for students, thus allow
them to concentrate on the academic subjects and other co- curricular concerns.

10. What is the National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC)?

NSRC is created under Section 11 of RA 9163 or the NSTP Act of 2001, composed of graduates of
the non-ROTC components: the CWTS and LTS. Members of this Corps maybe tapped by the State for
literacy and civic welfare activities, through the joint efforts of DND, CHED, and TESDA.

REPUBLIC ACT 8491 – FLAG HERALDIC CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

For the implementation of the Flag Heraldic Code of the Philippines, the NSTP should be guided with the
following provisions:

Section .2 states that it is the policy of the state to prescribe the Code of the National Flag,
Anthem, Motto, Coat-of-Arms and other Heraldic Items an Devices of the Philippines, ensure the
promotion and implementation of its corresponding rules and regulations, and adopt effective
administrative, regulatory, coordinative and supervisory programs and activities, where appropriate, in
conformity with national government policies.

Section. 4 the Flag Heraldic Code of the Philippines will promote or sustain reverence and
respect for the flag, the anthem and other national symbols, and those which symbolizes the national
ideals and traditions.

Hoisting and Display of the National Flag

1. The Flag shall be displayed in all public buildings, official residences, public plazas, and
institutions of learning every day throughout the year.

2. The Flag shall be permanently hoisted hoisted, day and night throughout the year, in front of
the following: Malacanang Palace; the Congress of the Philippines building, Supreme Court building; the
Rizal Monument in Luneta, Manila, Aguilnaldo Shrine in Kawit Cavite; Barasoain Shrine in Malolos
Bulacan; the Tomb of the Unkown Soldier, Libingan ng mga Bayani; Musoleo de los Betaranos dela
Revolution; all Internation Ports of Entry and all other places a may be designated by the Institute.

3. The flag shall be properly illuminated at night.

4. The flag shall also be displayed in private building and residences or raised in the open on
flag-staff in front of said building every April 9 ( araw ng Kagitingan), May 1 (Labor Day); May 28
(National Flag Day)

5. To June 12 (Independence Day); last Sunday of August (National Heroes

Day); November 30 (Bonifacio Day); and December 30 (Rizal Day); and on such other days as may be
declared by the President and /or local chief executives.
 6. The Flag may also be displayed throughout the year in private buildings or offices or raised in
the open on flag-staffs in front of private buildings: Provided, that they observe flag-raising ceremonies
in accordance with rules and regulations to be issued by the office of the President.

7. All government agencies and instrumentalities, and local government offices, government-
owned corporations and local government units are enjoined to observed flag day with appropriated
ceremonies. Socio-civic groups, non-government organizations and the private sector are exhorted to
cooperate in making the celebrations a success.

Definition of Terms

These are the terminologies used in these rules:

• Military – means all the branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines including the Philippine
National Police, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Bureau of Fire
Protection.
• National Flag – is the National Flag and Ensign of the Philippines, use on land and sea by public,
private and the military and shall refer to the flag or any other design that resembles it as likely
to cause any person to believe that it is the flag or design stated.
• Symbol – any conventional sign that shows man’s achievement and heroism, identification,
authority and a sign of dignity
• Half-mast – is the lowering of the flag to the middle of the pole.
• National Anthem – the “Lupang Hinirang”, Philippine National Anthem.
• Official Residences – is Malacanang and other government-owned structures Where the
President lives, and other structures occupied by the Philippine Consulate or Embassies abroad.
• Places of Frivolity – places of hilarity marked by or providing boisterous merriment or
recreation.
• Heraldic Items and Devices – are coat-of-arms, seals, logos, insignia, badges, flashes, patches,
orders and decorations, medals, stars, citations, lapel pins, trophies, dry, wax or wet seals, and
imprints on letterheads, envelops and cards.
• Government Entities – all branches of government, its bureaus and attached agencies,
constitutional offices, government owned and or controlled corporations, government financial
institutions, state universities and colleges, Armed Forces of the Philippines and its basic units.
• Vexillary Items – national, local house flags or administrative and corporate organization’s
banner.
Half-Mast

Section. 27 The National Flag should be at half-mast as a sign of mourning on all the buildings and places
where it is displayed on the official day of announcement of the death of the following officials:

a. The President or former President (10 days);

b. The Vice-President, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the President of the Senate and
the Speaker of the House of Representatives (7 days);

c. Cabinet Secretaries, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Members of the Senate and
House of Representatives, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Director-
General of the Philippine National Police (5 days);

d. Head of National Government Agencies, including Government Owned and Control

e. The Commanding Generals of the Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Army and the Flag
Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy (3 days)

f. Governors, Vice -Governors, city and municipal Mayor, city and municipal Vice-Mayors (3
days)

g. Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang Bayan

h. Barangay Chairmen and Barangay Councilmen on the day of

interment.

i. Former National or Local Government Officials, appointive or elective.

j. Regional Directors, Superintendents, Supervisors, Principals, Teachers and other school

Casket

Section. 28 The National Flag may be used to cover the caskets of the dead honored men (military,
veterans of previous wars, National Artists and other civilians) who rendered noble service to our
nation. It should not touch the ground but must be folded solemnly and handed it to the heirs of the

The National Motto

Section. 45 The Philippine National Motto is “MAKA-DIYOS, MAKA-TAO, MAKAKALIKASAN AT

National Coat-of-Arms (Sagisag ng Pilipinas)

Section. 46 The National Coat-of-Arms shall have:

Paleways of two (2) pieces, azure and rules; a chief argent studded with three (3) mullets
equidistant from each other; and, in point of honour, ovoid argent over all the sun raysonnant with eight
minor and lesser rays. Beneath shall be the scroll with the words “REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS, ” inscribed
thereon.

The eight-rayed sun symbolizes the eight provinces (Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Manila, Laguna,
Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Tarlac) which were placed under martial law by Governor-General Ramón
Blanco during the Philippine Revolution, and the three five-pointed stars representing the three primary
geographic regions of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The Great Seal

The Great Seal should be in circular form with the same descriptions with the National Coat-of-Arms but
without the scroll and the inscription “Republika ng Pilipinas”. It should be surrounded by a double
marginal circle which “Republika ng Pilipinas” should appear. The Great Seal should also bear the
National Motto.