TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
25
-7 An 50
SENATE 
S. No. 200
Introduced by Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa
AN ACT
MANDATING THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION, DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, 
ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING 
CORPS (ROTC) PROGRAM IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND 
TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution provides that: "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 addition. Article II, Section 13 thereof, recognizes the role of the youth in 
nation building, to wit:
"The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building 
and shall promote and protect their physical, moral spiritual, intellectual, 
and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and 
nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs."
Under the proposed measure, the aforementioned constitutional provisions will 
be put into practice through the Reserve Officers Training Corps ("ROTC") Program. 
The ROTC program will consist of mandatory basic military training geared in instill


moral virtues, patriotism, discipline, support and adherence to the Constitution. It will 
also provide training to students for them to be able to lend assistance in reiief and 
rescue during disaster or caiamities.
The proposed measure aims to focus on providing basic military training for 
students as weli as: (a) enhance students' consciousness in the ethics of service, 
patriotism and nationalism, respect for human rights, appreciation of the role of 
national heroes in the historicai deveiopment of the country, strengthen ethical and 
spiritual values, and develop personal discipline and ieadership; (b) reinforce in the 
students the values of civic mindedness, volunteerism and genuine service to others 
in order to be active participants and volunteers for the development and improvement 
of ecology and environmental protection, human and civil awareness and law 
enforcement; and most importantly, (c) provide the students with practical and 
applicable knowledge and skills necessary, essential and ideal for survival, and 
providing service in times of emergencies and disasters inciuding disaster response 
operations, skilis for research, rescue and relief operations, and eariy recovery 
activities.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
RONALD
DELA ROSA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 200
25 JUL -7 All SO
Introduced by Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa
AN ACT
MANDATING THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION, DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, 
ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF RESERVE OFFICERS'TRAINING 
CORPS (ROTC) PROGRAM IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND 
TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Reserve Officers'
2 
Training Corps (ROTC) Act".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to serve and protect
4 
the people and to inculcate in the youth patriotism, nationalism and respect for human
5 
rights; and to encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.
6 
Thus, the government may call upon the people to defend the State and, in the
7 
fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by law, to
8 
render personal military or civil service; shall recognize the vital role of the youth in
9 
nation-building; and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual,
10 
intellectual and social well-being.
11 
Towards this end, the State shall enhance the capacity of the nation to produce
12 
the needed workforce in times of war, calamities and disasters, and in support of the
13 
law enforcement strategy of the government against crimes and maintenance of peace
14 
and order by creating a pool of trained reservists.


1 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
2 
be defined as follows:
3 
a) Armed Forces of the Phiiippines (AFP) Reservist refers to a graduate of
4 
the Basic ROTC Program or Advance ROTC Program as established under
5 
this Act and as defined under Republic Act No. 7077 otherwise known
6 
as the "Citizen Armed Forces or Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist
7 
Act";
8 
b) Higher Education Institution (HEI) refers to a lawfully established
9 
learning institution offering Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-
10 
recognized or permitted higher education programs including the
11 
University of the Philippines System and other universities and colleges
12 
with institutional autonomy; and
13 
c) Technicai-Vocationai Institution (TVI) refers to a Technical Education
14 
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-recognized or accredited
15 
learning institution that offers technical-vocational training.
16 
Sec. 4. Mandatory Basic ROTC in Higher Education Institutions and Technicai-
17 
Vocationai Institutions.-
18 
a) The mandatory Basic ROTC Program in HEIs and TVIs for all students
19 
enrolled in not less than two (2)-year undergraduate degree, diploma,
20 
or certificate programs in HEIs and TVIs is hereby institutionalized;
21 
b) The mandatory Basic ROTC shall be undertaken by all undergraduate
22 
students for four (4) semesters: Provided, That, subject to the
23 
capabilities of the school and the AFP, in lieu of the four (4) semesters,
24 
a training-immersion program in the AFP training base may be designed,
25 
formulated and adopted by the Department of National Defense (DND),
26 
CHED, and TESDA, to complete the requirement of this Act;
27 
c) Any student who fails to undergo the mandatory Basic ROTC in
28 
accordance with this Act shall not be qualified for graduation;
29 
d) Any educational institution that fails to institute and implement the Basic
30 
ROTC pursuant to this Act shall be subject to disciplinary and
31 
administrative sanctions as the CHED or the TESDA may impose.


1 
Sec. 5. Basic ROTC Program Curriculum. - The DND, CHED and TESDA, in
2 
consultation with other relevant government agencies and private stakeholders
3 
including associations of schools, shall design and formulate the Program of
4 
Instruction (POI) on the Basic ROTC and be guided with the following purposes and
5 
objectives:
6 
a) To provide basic military training for students in order to motivate, train,
7 
organize, and utilize for national defense preparedness or civil military
8 
operations, and law enforcement;
9 
b) To enhance the students' consciousness in the ethics of service,
10 
patriotism and nationalism, respect for human rights, appreciation of the
11 
role of national heroes in the historical development of the country,
12 
strengthen ethical and spiritual values, and develop personal discipline
13 
and leadership;
14 
c) To reinforce in students the values of civic mindedness, volunteerism
15 
and genuine service to others in order to be active participants and
10 
volunteers for the development and improvement of ecology and
17 
environmental protection, human 
and civil rights awareness and law
18 
enforcement; and
19 
d) To provide the students with practical and applicable knowledge and
20 
skills that are necessary, essential and ideal for survival, and providing
21 
service in times of emergencies and disasters including disaster response
22 
operations, skills for search, rescue and relief operations, and early
23 
recovery activities.
24 
Sec. 6. Specialized Programs for Students under Special Circumstances. -There
25 
shall be no exemptions from the Basic ROTC Program. However, the DND, CHED and
26 
TESDA, shall prescribe a specialized program to address the special needs and
27 
circumstances of students under the following circumstances:
28 
a) Those who are classified and officially registered as persons with
29 
disabilities;
30 
b) Those whose religious beiiefs prohibit the use of firearms in rendering
31 
service to the country; and


1 
c) Those who have been convicted by final judgment of crimes involving
2 
moral turpitude.
3 
The specialized program shall include modules as the Basic ROTC Program
4 
except for physical military training: Provided, That foreign citizens enrolled in
5 
baccalaureate degree courses or technical vocational courses where the Basic ROTC
6 
is required shall likewise undergo a specialized program that would deepen their
7 
understanding and appreciation of the Philippines, its people, society, culture and
8 
government, and harness their potential as bridges to improve their respective
9 
countries with the Philippines: Provided, Further, That foreign students who will
10 
complete the course shall not be included in the AFP Reserve Force.
11 
Sec. 7. Benefits for Undergoing Basic ROTC Program. - ROTC cadets are entitled
12 
to the following benefits:
13 
a) Subject to existing laws and rules on the use and design of military
14 
uniform and insignias and provisions of this Act, students undergoing
15 
Basic ROTC Program shall be provided with free one (1) set of uniform
16 
including combat boots; and
17 
b) Free hospitalization including medicines and necessary medical tests and
18 
treatments in any government hospital in case of accident or injury
19 
during the training.
20 
Sec. 8. Advance Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Program. - The
21 
voluntary Advance ROTC is hereby re-institutionalized. The DND, in coordination with
22 
the CHED and, where appropriate, the TESDA, shall prescribe the POI for Advance
23 
ROTC.
24 
Students who will undergo the Advance ROTC Program must complete the Basic
25 
ROTC Program prior to admission into the Advance ROTC Program: Provided, That,
26 
acceptance for Advance ROTC shall be subject to the requirements of Section 40 of
27 
R.A. No. 7077.
28 
Students may undergo the Advance ROTC Program for no more than two (2)
29 
academic years.
30 
Sec. 9. Incentives for Undergoing the Advance ROTC Program. - Advance ROTC
31 
cadets are entitled to the following incentives:


1 
a) For students not covered by the provisions of R.A. No. 10931, otherwise
2 
known as the "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act", full
3 
tuition subsidy of their annual tuition for the period of their advance
4 
ROTC;
5 
b) Free hospitalization including medicines and necessary medical tests and
6 
treatments in any government hospital in case of accident or injury
7 
during their training;
8 
c) Subject to other requirements prescribed by rules and regulations of the
9 
DND and other concerned government agencies, graduates of the
10 
Advance ROTC shall be eligible, upon completion of the Advance ROTC
11 
and earning a baccalaureate degree, for commission as officers in the
12 
Reserve Force of the AFP;
13 
d) Priority in recruitment in uniformed services agencies; and
14 
e) Automatic grant of first level civil service eligibility for Advance ROTC
15 
graduates.
16 
Sec. 10. Composition of the Reserve Force. - All students who completed the
17 
Basic ROTC Program shall be enlisted as members of the Reserve Force with ranks
18 
and assignments pursuant to Section 45 of R.A. No. 7077, as amended. However,
19 
those who completed the Advance ROTC Program shall be conferred with ranks and
20 
assignments pursuant to Section 46 of R.A. No. 7077, as amended.
21 
Sec. 11. Organization, Operation and Maintenance of ROTC Units. - There shall
22 
be at least one ROTC unit in every HEI and TVI: Provided, That HEIs and TVIs may
23 
be clustered for the efficient implementation of the provisions of this Act taking into
24 
consideration the ideal number of students per ROTC unit. For this purpose, the DND,
25 
CHED and TESDA, shall jointly formulate the manner by which the educational
26 
institutions shall be clustered in implementing the Basic ROTC and the Advance ROTC
27 
Program.
28 
The DND, CHED and TESDA shall prescribe the organization and operational
29 
manual of ROTC units in HEIs. They shall also designate an office solely dedicated to
30 
the supervision and administration of Basic and Advance ROTC programs.
31 
Sec. 12. Schooi-Based Ready Reserve Units (SBRRUs). - School-Based Ready
32 
Reserve Units may be organized by the DND, through the AFP, in HEI campuses and


1 
TVIs offering baccalaureate degree programs. The DND, through the AFP, shall
2 
promulgate the rules and regulations for the estabiishment, management and
3 
operation of SBRRUs. HEIs shall provide office space, access to faciiities and personnel
4 
to assist the DND and AFP in managing SBRRUs.
5 
Sec. 13. Training Instructors' Capacity Development and Enhancement
6 
Program. - There is hereby established a training program for training instructors, to
7 
ensure that they meet the highest physicai and moral standards to teach and carry
8 
out the Basic ROTC Program. The Instructors' Program shall be jointly developed and
9 
administered by the DND in coordination with the CHED, TESDA, and in consultation
10 
with stakeholders concerned. A comprehensive training manual shall be developed for
11 
the conduct of these trainings, incorporating among other things, gender-appropriate
12 
awareness, familiarity with relevant domestic laws and international obligations
13 
necessary and appropriate to guarantee the integrity and the highest standard of
14 
moraiity for the impiementers of the Basic ROTC Program.
15 
Personnei impiementing the National Service Training Program (NSTP) under
16 
R.A. No. 9163 otherwise known as the "National Service Training Program Act of 2001"
17 
shall have priority for employment as personnel to assist in the management of the
18 
Basic and Advance ROTC Programs in HEIs and TVIs. They may aiso be granted
19 
authority, subject to ruies to be issued by the DND, CHED and TESDA, to be ROTC
20 
Program iecturers, instructors and impiementers.
21 
Sec. 14. Establishment of ROTC Grievance Board- There is hereby estabiished
22 
an ROTC Grievance Board in every ROTC unit that shail receive complaints or motu
23 
proprio conduct investigations on any compiaint or ailegation of abuse, violence or
24 
corruption in any educational institution implementing this Act which shall be
25 
composed of five (5) members:
26 
(1) School President or his/her representative where the ROTC unit is
27 
located, as Chairperson of the Board;
28 
(2) A representative from the CHED Regional Office to be designated by the
29 
CHED Chairperson;
30 
(3) A representative from the TESDA Regional Office to be designated by
31 
the TESDA Director General;


1 
(4) Commandant from the AFP to be designated by the Secretary of the
2 
National Defense; and
3 
(5) A representative from the provincial or city local government unit where
4 
the ROTC unit is located.
5 
The Grievance Board shall function as an independent investigative body, which
6 
shall formulate the recommendation to the proper disciplinary authority that has
7 
jurisdiction over the respondent, depending on whether the said respondent belongs
8 
to the military for which purpose, the Articles of War shall be employed. In case of
9 
school officials or employees of HEIs and TVIs, the provisions of R.A. No. 6713,
10 
otherwise known as the "Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials
11 
and Employees" and other relevant laws on the matter shall be applied. This is without
12 
prejudice to administrative cases that may be filed pursuant to the Civil Service rules
13 
for public officers and employees involved in the complaint.
14 
Sec. 15. Powers and Duties of the Grievance Board. - Every Grievance Board
15 
shall be proactive in its duty to:
16 
a) establish a system and prescribe a process that promotes and
17 
encourages the reporting of any incident of hazing, violence, abuse
18 
and corruption in every ROTC unit;
19 
b) motu proprio or upon a compiaint fiied by any person, investigate,
20 
any act of hazing, violence, abuse and corruption in the ROTC unit;
21 
c) issue an order to preciude those invoived in the incident compiained
22 
of or being investigated from exerting undue influence over the
23 
complainant and impede the normal course of the investigation;
24 
d) recommend the appropriate action for any offense committed in the
25 
ROTC unit to the proper disciplinary authority which has jurisdiction
26 
over the respondent within fifteen (15) days upon receipt of the
27 
complaint or after initiation of the motu proprio investigation;
28 
e) monitor all complaints filed with the Board or with the concerned
29 
HEIs and TVIs and maintain an updated record of the status of each
30 
case;
31 
f) provide the parties of the complaint its findings and
32 
recommendations within thirty (30) days upon receipt thereof;


1 
g) promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out its
2 
objectives, functions and disciplinary procedures; and
3 
h) perform such other functions as may be provided by law.
4 
Sec. 16. National Grievance and Monitoring Committee. - There is hereby
5 
established a National Grievance and Monitoring Committee (NGMC) composed of the
6 
Secretary of National Defense or his or her permanent authorized representative who
7 
will act as the Chairperson, the Chairperson of CHED or any permanent authorized
8 
representative, the Director General of TESDA or any permanent authorized
9 
representative, the Secretary of Justice or any permanent authorized representative,
10 
and the Secretary of Interior and Local Government or any permanent authorized
11 
representative.
12 
The NGMC shall ensure that the provisions and intent of this Act are properly
13 
implemented and adhered to, and that there shall be no abuse of any kind in both the
14 
conduct of training.
15 
In addition, the NGMC shall review the findings or recommendations of any of
16 
the Grievance Boards upon filing of the aggrieved party within fifteen (15) days after
17 
receipt of such findings or recommendations. It shall provide the parties with its
18 
decision within fifteen (15) days from the time of receipt of the petition.
19 
Sec. 17. Free Uniform Voucher. - In order to effectively implement the provision
20 
on free uniform and combat boots for students enrolled in Basic ROTC Program, the
21 
CHED and TESDA, in consultation with HEIs and TVIs, shall provide for a mechanism
22 
to implement a voucher system that will entitle students to purchase through
23 
accredited supplier one set of uniform and combat boots.
24 
The Department of Trade and Industry, in coordination with the DND and CHED,
25 
shall promulgate rules and regulations on the accreditation of uniform and combat
26 
boots suppliers.
27 
Sec. 18. School Fees. - Covered HEIs and TVIs may collect a reasonable training
28 
fee of not more than fifty percent (50%) of the tuition fee per academic unit or subject.
29 
Such funds shall be used only for the implementation of the Basic ROTC Program. The
30 
CHED, TESDA and DND shall determine the reasonable distribution of the fees among
31 
the HEI, TVI and DND to cover the cost of training and related expenses.


1 
Public HEIs and TVIs covered by R.A. No. 10931, otherwise known as the
2 
"Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act", shall not collect any fee for the
3 
Basic ROTC. The training costs shall be included in the annual appropriations of such
4 
HEIs or TVIs. In cases of students not eligible to avail of the benefits under R.A. No.
5 
10931, public colleges, universities and similar learning institutions may collect a
6 
training fee of not more than fifty percent (50%) of the tuition fee per academic unit.
7 
HEIs and TVIs not covered by R.A. No. 10931 may collect a training fee of not
8 
more than fifty percent (50%) of the tuition fee per academic unit. Such funds shall
9 
be used only for the implementation of the Basic ROTC Program and maintenance of
10 
the ROTC Units and SBRRUs, if any.
11 
Sec. 19. Pilot Implementation of the Mandatory Basic ROTC Program. - Upon
12 
approval of this act, the DND, in coordination with CHED and TESDA, shall undertake
13 
a two (2) year pilot program in select public HEIs with existing ROTC units as well as
14 
private HEIs who may want to participate in the said pilot implementation of the
15 
mandatory program. The DND, in coordination with CHED and TESDA, shall ensure
16 
that there shall be ROTC units in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao included In the pilot
17 
implementation.
18 
Sec. 20. Mandatory Review of the Implementation of this Act. - The DND, in
19 
coordination with CHED and TESDA, shall conduct a review of the implementation of
20 
this Act at the end of the two (2) year pilot program and every two (2) years
21 
thereafter. The DND shall submit a report to Congress on the result of the mandatory
22 
review.
23 
Sec. 21. Pena! Provisions. - Any act of abuse, corruption, hazing, torture, data
24 
privacy rights violation, or violation of human rights committed in direct or indirect
25 
relation to the implementation of this Act which are punished criminally or
26 
administratively by existing laws, rules or regulations, shall be prosecuted in
27 
accordance with such laws, rules or regulations. The maximum penalty imposable
28 
under existing laws shall be imposed.
29 
Sec. 22. Prosecution Not a Bar to Civil Action. - Criminal or administrative
30 
prosecution shall not be a bar to any civil action for damages or any appropriate relief
31 
a victim may file for any act of abuse, corruption, hazing, torture, data privacy rights


1 
violation, or violation of human rights committed in direct or indirect relation to the
2 
impiementation of this Act.
3 
Sec. 23. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the impiementation of this
4 
Act shall be charged against those authorized in the current appropriations of the
5 
DND, CHED and TESDA. Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continued
6 
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. Provided,
I 
That, funding for the uniform shali be included in the appropriations of CHED and
8 
TESDA.
9 
Sec. 24. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. - There is hereby created
10 
a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC) to oversee, monitor, and evaluate
II 
the implementation of this Act. The JCOC shall be composed of five (5) members each
12 
from the Senate and the House of Representatives with the Chairpersons of the
13 
Committees on Higher Educations of both houses as Co-Chairpersons. The
14 
Chairpersons of the Committees on National Defense and Security shall likewise be
15 
designated as members of the JCOC. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of
16 
the House of Representatives shall designate the other three (3) members of the
17 
JCOC, one (1) of which shali be from the minority, from the Senate and the House,
18 
respectively.
19 
Sec. 25. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
20 
the effectivity of this Act, the DND, CHED, and TESDA, in consultation with relevant
21 
agencies and stakeholders, shall issue the rules and regulations implementing its
22 
provisions. The IRR issued pursuant to this section shall take effect thirty (30) days
23 
after its pubiication in a newspaper of generai circulation.
24 
Sec. 26. Enrollment under R.A. No. 9163. - Students who are currently enrolled
25 
and will be enrolled until the full implementation of this Act, based on the curriculum
26 
implemented by virtue of R.A. No. 9163, otherwise known as the "NSTP Act of 2001",
27 
shall be allowed to finish the curriculum and be deemed to have satisfied the
28 
requirement for graduation after completion thereof.
29 
Sec. 27. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
30 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect.
31 
Sec. 28. Repealing Clause. - R.A. No. 9163, otherwise known as the "NSTP Act
32 
of 2001", is hereby repeaied. Provisions of R.A. No. 7077, otherwise known as the
10


1
2
3
4
5
6 
7
"Citizen Armed Forces of the Phiiippines Reservist Act" which are inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act are hereby amended accordingiy.
Ail other laws, orders, rules regulations and other issuances, or parts thereof, 
which are inconsistent with the relevant provisions of this Act are likewise hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Sec. 29. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
11