The National Service Training Program (Republic Act 9163)
The National Service Training Program (Republic Act 9163)
The National Service Training Program (Republic Act 9163)
Lucban, Quezon
CHAPTER 1
THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
(Republic Act 9163)
I. Overview
The Philippine Constitution provides that the defense of the state is a primary duty of the
government and the people, and 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 Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001 mandates all citizens, both
male and female, to fulfill the civic duty.
Responding to the 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 obligation.
1. Familiarize with the National Service program history and appreciate the value of
NSTP as a citizenship training program;
2. Review the Philippine Preamble and re-instill its concept;
3. Develop the youth to become civic or military leaders and volunteers through a
modified, re-structured and reinforced training package.
The implementation of the National program for service and training of the youth in the
country began with the creation of Commonwealth Act No. 1, otherwise known as the National
Defense Act. A legislative act that provides basis for the national defense of the country. It
should be notice also that 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
reservist system in eh national defense of the country.
In the year 1980, the National Defense Act was enacted to give existence to Presidential
Decree No. 1706, otherwise known as the national Service Law which mandates compulsory
national service to all Filipino citizens. The program composed of three main components
namely: Civic Welfare Service (CWS), Law Enforcement Service (LES) and Military Science.
Based from the PD No. 1706 College students were given an option to choose one from among
these components in compliance with this requirement for tertiary education.
As the year passed, National Service Program in the country once again reorganized and
offer an alternative in neutralizing people’s aversion to the military program during the school
year 2001-2002, the creation and implementation of the Republic Act No. 9163 other known as
the National Service Training Program wherein the students has the option to choose program
component of their choice as a requirement for graduation.
1|SLSU NSTP
National Service Training Program
Lucban, Quezon
b. The Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) refers to 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 developed to improving health,
education, environment, entrepreneurship, safety recreation and moral of the citizenry
and other social welfare services.
c. The Literacy Training Service (LTS) is 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.
5. What if the NSTP program component chosen by a student is not offered in his/her
school?
School that do not meet the required number of students in order to conduct a program
component or do not offer the component chosen by the students shall allow them to
cross-enroll to other schools irrespective of whether that school is under CHED or
TESDA and for ROTC, whether they are managed by different AFP branches of service.
These students, however, shall be subjected to the existing rules and regulations
of their original school and the accepting school.
2|SLSU NSTP
National Service Training Program
Lucban, Quezon
7. What if a male student has only taken one (1) semester of Basic ROTC and E-
ROTC/NSP?
He shall take one more semester of any of the NSTP components to qualify for
graduation.
9. How can a student continue to qualify for enlistment in the AFP Reserve Force?
He/she may qualify for enlistment in the AFP Reserve Force as long as he/she has
completed the two (2) semesters of Basic ROTC.
The Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippine Reservist Act. Republic Act No. 7077
Under this law, the Citizen Armed Force or alternately referred to as the Reserve Force shall be
organized, trained, developed and maintained as to ensure their readiness to immediately respond
to the call service.
3|SLSU NSTP
National Service Training Program
Lucban, Quezon
11. What student incentives can be provided when they take up NSTP?
The following incentives to students are to be provided they take up NSTP:
13. What lead agencies will monitor the implementation of the NSTP?
CHED Regional Office and the DND-AFP through the major Service Reserve
Commands and their ROTC Units shall oversee if the training conducted are in
consonance with the republic Act.
In summary, the main objective of the National Service Training Program is to stress the
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 their potential to become civic o military
leader and volunteers through a modified, re-structured and reinforced training package to be
ready to answer the call of service in the event of disasters or other emergencies.
4|SLSU NSTP