Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 248%

i
Introduced by Hon. Rodolfo G. Biazon
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EXPLANATORY NOTE
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. (Article II, Section 4)

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines shall be composed of a
citizen armed force which shall undergo military training and
serve as may be provided by law. It shall keep a regular force
necessary for the security of the State.” (Article XVI, Section 4)

Previous laws made the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) a
mandatory training program that formed part of the curricula of all
baccalaureate degrees and other related courses. However, due to reported
violent incidents and corruptions which attended the ROTC, RA 9163,
otherwise known as the National Service Training Program (NSTP) of 2002,
was enacted which, among others, made it optional among the students in the
tertiary level. The passage of years has shown that this course of action
adversely affected the recruitment, formation and development of a military
reserve component which could be utilized for the defense and security of the
State. According to some experts, if this is allowed to continue, the concept of a
citizen armed force as envisioned by the framers of the Constitution will not be


realized. This intent can only come into fruition if the State will have a regular
base from where it can source the members of this citizen armed force.

In order to correct this situation, this proposed measure seeks to make the
ROTC Program mandatory among tertiary students in state colleges and
universities. Since the State subsidizes the education of these students, it is but
proper that it should be able to primarily depend on them for its defense.

Due to the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

uotorro . BIAZON

Representative
Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._ 2488

—

Introduced by Hon. Rodolfo G, Biazon

ee

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED 9163, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. Section 4 (1) of Republic Act No. 9163 is hereby amended
to read as follows:

“Sec. 4. Establishment of the National Service Training Program. -
There is hereby established a National Service Training Program, which
shall form part of the curricula of all baccalaureate degree courses and of
at least two (2)-year technical vocational courses and is a requisite for
graduation, consisting of the following service components:

(1) The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), [which is hereby made
option and voluntary upon the effectivity of this Act] SHALL BE
MANDATORY IN STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES;”

XXX

Sec. 2. Section 7 of the same law is also hereby amended to read as
follows:

“Sec. 4. NSTP Offering in Higher and Technical-Vocational
Educational Institutions - All higher and technical-vocational institutions,
public and private, must offer at least one of the program components;


|, that State universities and colleges shall offer the ROTC
component, WHICH SHALL BE MANDATORY FOR ITS
STUDENTS, and at least one other component as provided herein;
Provided, further, that private higher and technical-vocational education
institutions may also offer the ROTC if they have at least three hundred
and fifly (350) cadet students.

Provide

In offering the NSTP whether during the semestral or summer periods,
clustering of atfeeted students from different educational institutions may
be done, taking into account logistics, branch of service and geographical
considerations. Schools that do not meet the required number of students
to maintain the optional ROTC and any of the NSTP components shall
allow their students to cross-enroll to other schools irrespective of
whether or not the NSTP components in said schools are being
administered by the same or another branch of service in the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP), CHED and TESDA to which schools are
identified.”

See. 3, Separability Clause. = If for any reason, any section or prov
of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other sections or
provisions hereof, unaffected thereby, shall continue to be in full force and
effect

Sec. 4. Repealing Clause. - All law
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby

8, executive issuances or parts
epealed or amended accordingly.

See. 5. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of
general circulation.

Approved,