Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4376

Introduced by Representative JOEY SARTE SALCEDA

AN ACT
MANDATING THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION, DEVELOPMENT,
TRAINING, ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF BASIC RESERVE
OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) IN GRADES 11 AND 12 IN PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7077, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“CITIZEN ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES RESERVIST ACT”,
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bills aims to inculcate the spirit of nationalism, nation-building, and national
preparedness among the Filipino youth. It also wants to reinforce the Armed Forces of the
Philippines’ reserve manpower supply and strengthen the capacity of the government to
respond to any national security threat or emergency.

This bill establishes a mandatory Basic ROTC Program for students enrolled in Grades
11 and 12 in public and private educational institutions as requisite for graduation. It also
prescribes the inclusion of the following program of instruction:

« Enhances the students’ consciousness in the ethics of service, patriotism and
nationalism, respect for human rights, appreciation of the role of national heroes in
the historical development of the country, strengthen ethical and spiritual values,
develop personal discipline and leadership, and encourage creative thinking for
scientific and technological development;

© Basic military training for students; and

* Civic training for students.

This bill exempts the following students enrolled in Grades 11 and 12 in public and
private educational institutions, from the coverage of this Act, to wit:


Those who are physically or psychologically unfit, as certified by the AFP Surgeon
General or his authorized medical officer, pursuant to the recommendation of the
concerned educational institutions;

Those who have undergone or are undergoing similar military training;

Those who were chosen by their school to serve as the school’s varsity players in
‘sports competitions; and

Those exempted from training for valid reasons as approved by the DND.

Further, this bill prohibits the use of ROTC Program for political aims, to teach and
instill a particular ideology, and as a mechanism for hazing and abuse. An ROTC Grievance
Board will be established to investigate and resolve complaints in the ROTC Program. The
Secretary of National Defense, in consultation with DepEd and TESDA, is mandated to
prescribe the organization and operational manual of ROTC Units in public and private
educational institutions. The bill establishes an office in the AFP dedicated to the supervision
and administration of the ROTC Program within the Reserve Commands of the AFP, in
coordination with DepEd and TESDA. The bill provides incentives for undergoing ROTC
program, to wit:

Graduates of Basic ROTC are eligible for commissionship/lateral entry and
enlistment in the AFP, PNP, Coast Guard, BJMP, and BFP;

Students undergoing Basic and Advance ROTC are provided with free
hospitalization in any government hospital in case of accident or injury during the
training; and

Students undergoing Basic ROTC are given access and privileges to any AFP
Commissary and PX stores nationwide

Lastly, this bill appropriates funds for the establishment, maintenance and operation of
ROTC in the General Appropriations Act to be included in the budgets of DND, DepEd,
CHED, and TESDA.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnest!



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

3376
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative JOEY SARTE SALCEDA

AN ACT
MANDATING THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION, DEVELOPMENT,
TRAINING, ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF BASIC RESERVE
OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) IN GRADES 11 AND 12 IN PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7077, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“CITIZEN ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES RESERVIST ACT”,
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Reserve Officers
Training Corps (ROTC) Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Constitutional Policy. - The prime duty of the Government is
to serve and protect the people. The Government may call upon the people to defend the
State and, in the fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions provided
by law, to render personal military or civil service. In the same manner, the State recognizes
the vital role of the youth in nation-building, and shall promote civic consciousness among
the youth and shall develop their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being.
It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism, nationalism, and encourage involvement in public
and civic affairs.

Towards this end, the State shall enhance the capacity of the nation to produce the
needed manpower and to expand its human resources in times of war, calamities and
disasters, national or local emergencies, and in support to the Government’s law enforcement

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strategy against crimes, by creating a pool of trained reservists.

SEC. 3. Coverage. — The conduct of military training under the ROTC shall apply to
all students in Grades 11 and 12 in all senior high schools in public and private educational

institutions.

SEC. 4. Establishment of ROTC Program in all Public and Private Educational
Institutions. ~

(a) There is hereby established a mandatory two (2) year Basic ROTC program for
students enrolled in Grades 11 and 12 which shall form part of the basic curricula
for the Senior High School Education in any public and private educational
institutions in pursuance to the provisions of the National Defense Act and the
1987 Constitution, with the objective of producing well-trained and prepared
reservists for military and civic service. The ROTC training is aimed to instill
patriotism, love of country, moral and spiritual virtues, respect for human rights
and adherence to the Constitution. In no way shall the ROTC be used for political
aims, to teach or instill a particular ideology and as a mechanism for hazing and
abuse.

(b) The ROTC shall include the following program of instruction:

(1) Enhancing the students consciousness in the ethics of service, patriotism and
nationalism, respect for human rights, appreciation of the role of national
heroes in the historical development of the country, strengthen ethical and
spiritual values, develop personal discipline and leadership and to encourage
creative thinking for scientific and technological development;

(2) Basic military training for students in order to motivate, train, organize and
utilize for national defense preparedness or civil-military operations:
Provided, That no student below the age of eighteen (18) years shall take a
direct part in hostilities.

(3) Civic training for students in order to be active participants and volunteers
for the development and improvement of health, education, ecology and
environmental protection, disaster risk reduction and management, human
and civil rights awareness and law enforcement.

(c) Any student who fails to undergo the mandatory Basic ROTC in accordance with
this Act shall not be qualified for graduation. In addition thereto, the non-taking

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of Basic ROTC by any student shall be a ground for Compulsory Military
Training in pursuance to Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7077. Any educational
institution that fails to institute and implement the ROTC program in pursuance to
this Act shall be subject to disciplinary and administrative sanctions as the
Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED),
and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) may
impose.

(d) Guided by the provision of Section 4(b) hereof, the Department of National
Defense (DND), DepEd, and TESDA, in consultation with other relevant
government agencies and private stakeholders as the Secretary of National
Defense may determine, shall design and formulate the Program of Instruction
(POI) on the Basic ROTC program in Grades 11 and 12, within sixty (60) days
from approval of this Act and shall jointly issue the implementing rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 5. Students Exempted from this Act. ~ The following may be exempted from the
coverage of this Act:

(a) Those who are physically or psychologically unfit, as certified by Armed Forces
of the Philippines (AFP) Surgeon General or his authorized medical officer, in
pursuance to the recommendation of the educational institutions where the
concerned student is enrolled;

(b) Those who have undergone or are undergoing similar military training;

(c) Those who were chosen by their school to serve as the school’s varsity players in
sports competitions; and

(d) Those who may be exempted from training for valid reasons as approved by the
DND, upon recommendation by any educational institution where the concerned
student is enrolled.

SEC. 6, Acceptance for Advance ROTC. — Students who volunteer for Advance
ROTC program in universities, colleges, vocational schools and other tertiary institutions
shall be governed by Section 40 of RA 7077, or the Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines
Reservist Act. The provisions of Section 42 and 43 of Republic Act No. 7077 in terms of
training, uniforms and supplies, and the scholarship incentive shall remain effective and
applicable for those accepted in the Advance ROTC course.


SEC. 7. Organization, Operation and Maintenance of ROTC Units, — The
organization, operation and maintenance for the establishment of ROTC shall be in
accordance with Sections 41 and 42 of Republic Act No. 7077 which shall remain effective
and operative unless inconsistent with this Act. The Secretary of National Defense, in
consultation with the DepEd and TESDA, shall prescribe the organization and operational
manual of ROTC units in public and private educational institutions for Grades 11 and 12:
Provided, That such educational institutions shall be required to provide an adequate office
for the ROTC administrative staff assigned thereat.

The AFP shall create an office dedicated to the supervision and administration of the
ROTC program within the Reserve Commands of the AFP in coordination with the DepEd
and TESDA.

SEC. 8. Incentives for Undergoing ROTC Program. —

(a) Subject to other requirements prescribed by rules and regulations, graduates of
Basic ROTC shall be eligible for commissionship/lateral entry and enlistment in
the AFP, Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG),
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Fire Protection
(BFP) unless a waiver is issued by the Department Secretaries of the
aforementioned military and civilian armed forces.

(b) Students undergoing Basic ROTC and those accepted in the ROTC Advance
Course shall be provided with free hospitalization in any government hospital in
case of accident or injury during the training. Mandatory insurance for students
undergoing ROTC shall be provided by the school where the students are
enrolled.

(c) Students undergoing Basic and Advance ROTC shall be given access and
privileges with any AFP Commissary and PX Stores nationwide. The Chief of
Staff, AFP shall issue the necessary regulations for the implementation of this
privilege.

SEC. 9. The ROTC Grievance Board. — There shall be created a Reserve Officer's
Training Corps (ROTC) Grievance Board composed of one (1) representative from the
Department of National Defense and two (2) representatives from the Department of
Education with the more senior representative from the Department of Education as

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chairperson. These representatives shall be appointed for their known integrity, probity, and
independence.
The ROTC Grievance Board shall have the following powers:
(a) Investigate and resolve any and all complaints, in any form, involving corruption
and abuse, in any form, in the ROTC Program;
(b) Ensure that the ROTC Program be free from politicization and from being used to
instill a particular ideology; and
(c) Recommend policies and reforms to ensure adherence of the ROTC Program to
the Constitution and all laws penalizing abuse in any form.
Alll decisions of the ROTC Grievance Board shall be appealable to the Office of the
President.

SEC. 10. Liability of the Educational Institution. — The instructor or faculty-in-charge
of the ROTC shall be responsible for monitoring the activities involved in the ROTC. The
instructor or the faculty-in-charge must be a duly recognized active member, in good
standing, of the faculty at the school in which the ROTC course is being implemented.

The school or the university and its administrators shall exercise special parental
authority and supervise the implementation of the ROTC.

In case of violation of any of the provisions of this Act and other related laws, the
instructor or faculty-in-charge and the school or university and its officials shall be
responsible and liable for any damage or injury caused to a student.

SEC. 11. Funding. — The funding requirement to implement the establishment,
maintenance and operations of the ROTC Program shall be included in the budget of the
implementing agencies/departments in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. — Pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 7077, or the
“Citizen Armed Force or Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act”, and all other laws,
decrees, executive orders and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly


SEC. 14. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,