Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPREENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. MA. THERESA V. COLLANTES.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9163 otherwise known as the National Service Training
Program of 2001 by making the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) a mandatory program instead
of being optional.

Our country is presently plagued by domestic and international terrorism as witnessed in the
recently concluded Marawi Crisis. ‘The continued threats from the New People’s Army and the prevailing
unrest at the southern part of our country, calls for making the ROTC mandatory among our young citizens.

‘The ROTC will provide our youth with renewed patriotism and remind them that democracy,
freedom and our way of life comes at a price. At the same time it will provide an avenue of camaraderie
and union among them thus paving the way for a more nationalistic youth united in a singular goal of nation
building.

‘This may also open the youth to the noble career of serving in the Armed Forces of the Philippines,
which they would otherwise not have known. By making the ROTC mandatory, we will strengthen our
reserve force and allow the country as a whole to be better prepared against all threats, whether domestic
or foreign, including the ravaging effects of natural disasters and calamity.

In light of the foregoing, urgent passage of this bill is proposed.

Allis 0, Blah


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
House of Representatives

17" Congress
2”! Regular Session

House BilNB2 23

Introduced by: HON. MA. THERESA V. COLLANTES,

AN ACT
MANDATING THE RESERVE OFFICERS’ TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) PROGRAM FOR
TERTIARY STUDENTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9163

OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (NSTP) ACT OF

2001.

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

SECTION 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9163, is hereby amended to read as follows:
“Section 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] a mandatory component upon the effectivity of this Act;

(2) The Literacy Training Service; and

(3) The Civil Welfare Training

xXx

xxx
SECTION 2. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 9163, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 7. 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; Provided that State Universities and colleges} shall offer the
mandatory ROTC component and at least one other component as provided herein; Provided,

further, that the private higher and technical-vocational educational institutions may also
offer the ROTC if they have at least three hundred and fifty (350) cadet students}.

In offering the NSTP whether during the semestral or summer periods of affected 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] mandatory 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 administered by the same and another branch of service in the Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP), CHED and TESDA to which schools are identified.”

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. — All laws decrees, executive orders, issuances, regulations
which are inconsistent with the provision of this Act are deemed repealed, amended or modified.

SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If for any reason or reasons, any part or provision of this Act
shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby,
shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 5. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication either in Official Gazette, or in at least a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.