Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 401)
The short title of Republic Act No. 9163 is the "National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001."
The primary policy is that it is the government's duty to serve and protect its citizens, and in turn, all citizens have the responsibility to defend the security of the State by rendering personal, military, or civil service. It emphasizes promoting civic consciousness and patriotism among the youth.
NSTP is a program aimed at enhancing civic consciousness and defense preparedness in the youth by developing ethics of service and patriotism through training in any of its three program components designed to enhance active youth contribution to general welfare.
The three program components are: (1) Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), (2) Literacy Training Service, and (3) Civic Welfare Training Service.
No, the ROTC is made optional and voluntary upon the effectivity of RA 9163.
All male and female students of any baccalaureate degree course or at least two-year technical-vocational courses in public and private educational institutions.
Each NSTP program component must be undertaken for an academic period of two semesters, or alternatively, a one summer program may be designed and adopted.
Educational institutions shall not collect any fee for NSTP components except basic tuition fees, which shall not exceed fifty percent of the current per-unit tuition fees. Additionally, the DND shall provide assistance/incentives for ROTC participants.
It is a corps composed of graduates of the non-ROTC components of NSTP who may be tapped by the State for literacy and civic welfare activities.
School authorities exercise academic and administrative supervision, potentially jointly with CHED- or TESDA-accredited NGOs involved in NSTP training module formulation and administration.
Such students may continue in ROTC or shift to another NSTP component, with completed ROTC courses credited towards NSTP requirements; however, if shifted, they must complete NSTP in the new component.
Yes, private higher and technical-vocational education institutions may offer ROTC if they have at least 350 cadet students.
The Department of National Defense (DND), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have joint responsibility for implementation, oversight, and adopting implementing rules.
CHED and TESDA shall ensure group insurance for health and accident is provided to students enrolled in any NSTP component.
Implementation of RA 9163 commenced in the school year 2002-2003.