Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES|!
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
1 Regular Session

House Bill No, 903

Introduced by Representatives EDVIC G. YAP, ERIC G. YAP, PAOLO Z.
DUTERTE, and JEFFREY SORIANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 4, Article ITof the 1987 Constitution provides: ” 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.”

Defending the state, as provided in the said Constitutional provision, is both the duty
of the government and the people. In fact, Republic Act No. 7077, otherwise known as
the “Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act” mandated the military training
for students enrolled in colleges, universities, and similar learning institutions and
established Reserves Officers Training Corps (ROTC) as a mandatory requirement in
acquiring a baccalaureate degree. However, the enactment of Republic Act No. 9163
or “the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001” made ROTC optional
among male college students. As a result, there is a significant decline in the enrollees
of the ROTC as more students opt the components of the NSTP, namely: Civic Welfare
ing Service (CWTS) and the Literacy Training Service (LTS)

Figures show that there are only 59,637 graduates from both basic and advanced
training of the ROTC in 2015-2016, while it reached a low of 46,936 in 2017-2018. These
figures only prove the increasing concern of the AFP in sustainability of reserve

manpower supply and capacity of the government in responding to threats to national

‘philippine News Agency, (2019), "Why Mandatory ROTCis Needed Again.” 1



security and cases of emergency such as the recent Marawi City siege and the

harassment of our fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.

Apart from having a pool of reservists to defend state, this bill also seeks to instill
nationalism; discipline and sense of purpose; respect for the laws and the authorities;
and obedience to rules and regulations to the Grade 11 and 12 students in a military

training environment.

In view of the forgoing, approval of this bill is earnestly soughy.

EDVI¢! G. YAP. PAOLO Zj DUTERTE

_—_ JEFFREY SORIANO



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
1 Regular Session

House Bill No. 503

Introduced by Representatives EDVIC G. YAP, ERIC G. YAP, PAOLO Z.
DUTERTE, and JEFFREY SORIANO

AN ACT

MANDATING THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION, DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING,
ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF BASIC RESERCE 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 civil 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 emergences, and in support to the government's law
enforcement 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 Senior High School Education in 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
and instill a particular ideology and as a mechanism for hazing and abuse.

b. The ROTC shall include the following programs of instruction:

1. Enhancing the students consciousness in the ethnic 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)
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 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
Instructions (POD on the Basic ROTC Program in Grades 11 and 12, within


ninety (90) days from the 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 the 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, college, vocational schools, and other tertiary
institutions shall be governed by Section 40 of Republic Act No. 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, uniform 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 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 organizational 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 if Basic ROTC shall be eligible for commissionship . lateral entry
and enlistment in the AFP, Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine
Coast Guard (PCG), Burau of fail 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.

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

SEC. 9. The ROTC Grievance Board. There shall be created a Reserve Officers’
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
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.

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 instruction 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 criminally, civilly, and administratively 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 / department 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 "Citizens 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 ina newspaper of general circulation

Approved,