Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 9163)
The short title of Republic Act No. 9163 is the "National Service Training Program" (NSTP) Act of 2001.
The policy declares that it is the prime duty of the government to serve and protect its citizens, and it is the responsibility of all citizens to defend the security of the State. The Act promotes civic consciousness among the youth and develops their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being, inculcating patriotism and nationalism.
NSTP is a program aimed at enhancing civic consciousness and defense preparedness in the youth by developing the ethics of service and patriotism while undergoing training in any of its three program components designed to enhance the youth's active contribution to the general welfare.
The three program components are: 1) Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC); 2) Literacy Training Service (LTS); and 3) Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS).
No, the ROTC component is optional and voluntary upon the effectivity of the NSTP Act.
All male and female students of any baccalaureate degree course or at least two-year technical-vocational courses in public and private educational institutions are required to complete one of the NSTP components as a requisite for graduation.
Each program component must be undertaken for an academic period of two (2) semesters, or alternatively, a one (1) summer program may be designed and adopted by the DND, CHED, and TESDA.
All higher and technical-vocational institutions must offer at least one NSTP component. State universities and colleges are required to offer the ROTC component and at least one other component, while private institutions may offer ROTC if they have at least 350 cadet students.
Institutions shall not collect any fee except basic tuition fees, which shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of what is currently charged per unit. The DND shall provide assistance or incentives to students taking the ROTC component.
The National Service Reserve Corps is created to be composed of graduates of the non-ROTC components of NSTP. They may be mobilized for literacy and civic welfare activities by the State through the DND, CHED, and TESDA.
School authorities exercise academic and administrative supervision over the NSTP components in their schools. If a CHED- or TESDA-accredited NGO administers a training module, supervision will be joint with the NGO, and the module must be accredited by CHED and TESDA.
The Act took effect 15 days after publication, with implementation beginning in the school year of 2002-2003.
Such students may either continue their current program component or shift to any of the other NSTP components of their choice, with completed Basic ROTC courses credited.
Group insurance for health and accident shall be provided for students enrolled in NSTP. Additionally, a Special Scholarship Program for qualified students in NSTP is created and administered by CHED and TESDA with funds included in their regular appropriations.
The Department of National Defense (DND), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have joint responsibility to adopt the implementing rules within 60 days of the Act's approval.