Introduction to NSTP

The Philippines government implements the National Service Training Program (NSTP) to
promote civic consciousness and defense preparedness among Filipino youth. Established under
Republic Act No. 9163, it aims to enhance the ethics of service and patriotism among the youth
while contributing to the country's general welfare. The program is mandatory for all students
enrolled in baccalaureate degree courses and selected vocational courses, and it offers three
components: Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS), and
Literacy Training Service (LTS). Through NSTP, students are encouraged to become active
participants in community development and nation-building, fostering a sense of responsibility and
national pride.

• During Spanish colonialism, there was a training course, similar to what is presently known
as ROTC, at the University of Sto. Tomas.
• 1935 – Commonwealth Act No. 1 (National Defense Act) by President Manuel L. Quezon
It was passed by the Philippine National Assembly on December 21, 1935. The purpose
of this act was to create an independent Philippine Army; it was interrupted by World War II.
• 1980 – Presidential Decree No. 1706 (National Service Law) by President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Providing compulsory National Service for Filipino citizens and amending certain
sections of the Commonwealth Act of No. 1.
• 1986-1987 – Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) by President Corazon Aquino
• Republic Act No. 7707 on June 7, 1991
An act providing for the development, administration, Organization, Training,
Maintenance, and Utilization of the citizen armed forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) and other purposes.
• 2001 – RA 9163 NSTP Act of 2001 by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
An act establishing the National Service Training Program (NSTP) for the Tertiary level
students, amending for the RA 7707 and PD No. 1706 and other purposes.
• Higher Education Act of 1994
RA No. 7722 – the act creating the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) which
covers both public and private institutions of higher education as well as degree-granting
programs in all post-secondary educational institutions, be it public or private.
One of the powers and functions of this act which is in line with the goal of NSTP, is to
identify, support, and develop potential centers of excellence in program areas needed for the
development of world-class scholarship, nation-building, and national development.

Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the NSTP

Rule I – Guiding Principles

What is the prime duty of the government to its citizens?

Section 1. Guiding Principle
The 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 and promote the general welfare of the State.

How does the government recognize the role of the youth in nation-building?
Section 2. Role of the Youth
It promotes civic consciousness among them and shall develop their physical, moral,
spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. They shall be motivated, trained, organized, and involved
in the military, literacy, civic welfare programs, and other similar endeavors in the service of the
people.

Rule II – Definition of Terms

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Section 3. As used in this implementing rules and regulations, the following terms shall mean;

➢ National Service Training Program (NSTP) is aimed at enhancing civic consciousness and
defense preparedness in the youth
➢ Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) under Sections 38 and 39 of Republic Act No. 7077
➢ Literacy Training Service (LTS) trains the students to teach literacy and numeracy skills
➢ Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) general welfare and the betterment of life for the
members of the community
➢ Program Component service components of NSTP
➢ Clustering refers to the grouping of students enrolled in different schools and taking up the
same NSTP component into one (1) group under the management and supervision of a
designated school
➢ Cross Enrollment system of enrolment where a student is officially enrolled in an academic
program of an origin school but is allowed to enroll in the NSTP component
➢ Non-Government Organization (NGO) refers to any private organization duly accredited by
CHED or recognized by TESDA.
➢ Student Cadet refers to the student enrolled in the ROTC Component
Rule III – Program Implementation
Who are required to complete one (1) NSTP component of their choice as a graduation requirement?

Section 4. Coverage
All incoming freshmen students, male and female, enrolled in any baccalaureate and at least
two (2) year technical-vocational or associate courses.

What are the different components of NSTP?

Section 5. Program Components
The students can choose from the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), Literacy Training
Service (LTS), and Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS).

What is the duration of the NSTP components and equivalent course per semester?
Section 6. Duration and Equivalent Course Unit
Three (3) units per semester, for fifty-four (54) to ninety (90) training hours per semester.
How can clustering and cross-enrollment be done?
Section 7. Clustering and cross-enrollment
The school must allow any NSTP student to cross-enroll in any CHED/TESDA-recognized
institution. In cases where the enrolment of ROTC Cadets is less than 350 then, the provisions of
clustering in Section 7 of NSTP IRR (RA9163) should be followed.

Who will take charge of the management and monitoring of the NSTP implementation?
Section 8. Management and Monitoring
A. Management
There should be an NSTP Office in each school, college, or university headed by an NSTP
Director or its equivalent position responsible for the implementation of the Program.
B. Monitoring
CHED/TESDA Regional Offices, and DND-AFP (through the Major Service Reserve
Commands), shall oversee and monitor the implementation of the NSTP.

Rule IV – Fees and Incentives

Section 9. Fees
No fees shall be collected for any of the NSTP components except basic tuition which should
not be more than fifty (50%) percent of the charges of the school per academic unit.
The NSTP fees of students of SUCs, qualified LUCs, TVIs shall be covered by RA 10931,
otherwise known as the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

Section 10. Incentives

A program of assistance/incentives for ROTC students shall be provided and administered by
the Department of National Defense (DND), by existing laws and regulations, and subject to the
availability of funds.

Rule V – Organization of NSTP Graduates

Section 11. Organization of NSTP Graduates

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• Graduates of the non-ROTC components of the NSTP shall belong to the National Service
Reserve Corps (NSRC).
• Graduates of the ROTC program shall form part of the Citizen Armed Force under RA 7077,
subject to the requirements of DND.

Rule VI – Transitory Provisions

Section 12. Suspension of 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 Effectivity of the NSTP Act of 2001, which is March 23, 2002. The concerned students
may apply for graduation with their respective schools.

Section 13. Transitory Provisions

• 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) programs shall be covered by the NSTP Law.
• Male students who have completed two semesters of the Expanded ROTC (E_ROTC)/National
Service Program (NSP) and are deemed to have complied with the NSTP requirement.
• Male students who are not covered by section 12 of this rule and have taken only one semester
of Basic ROTC or EROTC, NSP shall take one more semester of any of the NSTP components
to qualify for graduation.
• Students who want to qualify for enlistment in the Reserved Force or attend the advanced
ROTC program shall undertake a special program for this purpose.

Rule VII – Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 14. Information Dissemination
The CHED, TESDA, and DND shall provide information on these Acts and IRR to all concerned
through the different modes of disseminating information.

Section 15. Amendatory Clause

• Section 35 of Commonwealth Act No. 1, Executive Decree Order No. 207 of 1939, Section 2
and 3 of Presidential 7077, Decrees as No. 1706, and Section 38 and 39 Republic Act No. 7077,
as well as all laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances inconsistent
with the provision of the ACT are hereby deemed amended and modified accordingly.
• These rules may be amended, modified, or replaced jointly by CHED, TESDA, and DND in
consultation with PASUC, COCOPEA, NGOs, and recognized student organizations.

Section 16. Separability Clause

If any section or provision of this IRR shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other
sections or provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 17. Effectivity

These rules shall take effect immediately upon adoption and issuance.

The phrase "that body" of laws and precepts that govern the regular exercise of sovereign
powers appears in the Philippine Constitution. The Constitution of the Philippines is a written
document that establishes, defines, and distributes the government's basic powers among its various
departments or branches so that they can be exercised safely and effectively for the benefit of the
people.

PREAMBLE
We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a just and
humane society, and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations,
promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our
posterity, the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of
truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution.

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Who are the Citizens of the Philippines?

Article IV. Citizens of the Philippines, Section 1
The following are the citizens of the Philippines:
[1] Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of this Constitution;
[2] Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines;
[3] Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon
reaching the age of majority; and
[4] Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.

What are the Duties and Obligations of Citizens?

1. To be loyal to the republic.
We have to be proud of being Filipino., respect our customs, traditions, language, and
institutions.
2. To defend the state.
Considering our country as our home, the home of our forefathers who fought for our country
against the invaders, the home of our children, and grandchildren, the seat of our affections,
and the source of our happiness and well-being.
3. Loving one’s country can be shown not by words but by deeds.
In return for the benefits and protection given by the state, it is our primary duty and honor
to defend it against any peril whether from within or from without.
4. To contribute to the development and welfare of the state.
Paying our taxes willingly and promptly, helping to maintain peace and order, conserving
natural resources, and promoting justice by suggesting or supporting measures beneficial to
the people as a whole, patronizing local products and trades, and engaging in productive work.
5. To uphold the constitution and obey the laws.
If the people would disregard the law, our country would collapse and we will not have peace
and order.
6. To cooperate with duty-constituted authorities.
In every organization, there is always a leader to manage the affairs of all the constituents.
7. To exercise rights and responsibilities with due regard for the rights of others.
No man is an island and we have to live with others. In the exercise of our rights, we have to
see to it that we also respect the rights of other people.
8. To engage in gainful work.
It is our obligation as a citizen of our country to become productive by engaging in gainful work
so that we provide the basic needs of our family and ourselves as well.
9. To register and vote.
Suffrage is both a privilege and a duty, which every qualified citizen must perform with
intellectual judgment, especially during an election.

How can we become good citizens?

We can become good citizens by living by citizenship values which we can derive from the
preamble of the constitution such as;
a. Faith in God i. Freedom
b. Unity j. Equality
c. Patriotism k. Peace
d. Work l. Promotion of the common good
e. Respect for life m. Concern for the family and future
f. Respect for law and government generations
g. Truth n. Concern for the environment and order.
h. Justice

For an adult, his basic values can be seen in his outward manifestations as well as in decision-
making. There is always consistency in what he thinks, what he feels, and what he says.
Every Filipino child needs to be helped to form his values and be consistent with basic Filipino
values if he is to grow into a citizen who is “MAKA-DIYOS, MAKA-TAO, MAKA-BAYAN, and MAKA-
KALIKASAN.”

Rights of Workers
1. Right to self-organization.
This can be in the public or private sector which can be in the form of trade or labor or union
of his choice for the protection of his economic and social interest subject to the policy of the
state.

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2. Right to collective bargaining.

Collective bargaining means the representation of the organization negotiating with the
employer concerning wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment.
3. Right to collective negotiation.
This happens when there is a dispute to be resolved between the employer and employees.
4. Right to peaceful and concerted activities including the Right to strike.
This is a mass or group action to enjoy their special form of freedom of expression guaranteed
in the Bill of Rights.
5. Right to security of tenure.
The employees can be terminated with a just cause. If the state protects the workers, the
employees have to be protected, too.
6. Rights to just and humane conditions of work.
The state should see to it that the employers provide safe and healthful working conditions,
equal opportunity to promotion, rest leisure, and reasonable limitation of working hours, a
worker has a right to be protected against unfair labor practices.
7. Right to the living wage.
This means that the employer should provide sufficient and lawful wages to enable the worker
and his family to live reasonably and in frugal comfort, provide education for his children, and
make some savings to meet unexpected expenditures.
8. Right to participate in the policy and decision-making process.
For the protection of the interests of the employees, the employer should exercise participatory
management.

Article II. Labor as a Primary Social Economics Force,

Section 22: The State recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within
the framework of national unity and development.
Indigenous cultural minorities refer to those non-dominant groups in our county who wish that
their preserved ethnic, religious, or linguistic tradition or characteristics, markedly different from the
rest of the population be respected.

In the formulation of the policies, the state sees to it that the customs, traditions, beliefs, and
interest of the indigenous cultural minorities are taken into consideration.

References:

De Chavez, R. G. (2019). National service training program I (Literacy training service I). Books Atbp. Publishing Corp.

Ferrer, R. M., Peralta, E. P. D., Guiwa, H. I. C., & Crudo, E. R. P. (2023). National service training program I. REX
Bookstore.

Bo, E. (2021, March 9). Module 1: Historical and legal basis of NSTP [Document]. Scribd.
https://www.scribd.com/document/49798

De Jesus, G. (2020, August 10). Lesson 1: Historical and legal bases of NSTP [PowerPoint slides]. Scribd.
https://www.scribd.com/presentation/471982292/Lesson-1-Historical-and-Legal-Bases-of-NSTP

Marfil, J. (2021, November 1). Implementing rules and regulations of NSTP [Document]. Scribd.
https://www.scribd.com/document/536355667/Implementing-Rules-and-Regulations-of-NSTP

Jeya Plays YT. (2020, September 18). Implementing rules and regulations of the National Service Training Program
[Document]. Scribd. https://www.scribd.com/document/476511243/Implementing-Rules-and-Regulations-of-the-
National-Service-Training-Program

Montes, K. (2010, June 3). The 1987 Philippine Constitution (codal) [Document]. Scribd.
https://www.scribd.com/doc/33452436/The-1987-Philippine-Constitution-codal