REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS.
rst Regular Session

House Bill No. 1114

Explanatory Note

Section 4 of Article II of the 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
fulfilment thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions provided
by law, to render personal, military or civil service."

Republic Act No. 7077 or the “Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act” was
enacted in 1991 to provide for an organization, training, and utilization of reservists. Graduates
of the ROTC basic and advance courses comprise the majority of the manpower for the reservist
organization, However, upon the enactment of RA 9163 or the “National Service Training
Program (NSTP) Act” in 2002, there has been a drastic decline in the number of students taking
up ROTC. The decline may result to an insufficient number of reserve officers and personnel for
the AFP to tap in times of need,

With the increasing tensions over the West Philippine Sea, and the increasing frequency and
threat from either natural or man-made disasters, there is a need to maintain a robust reservist
force. Hence, this measure seeks to revive the mandatory ROTC training to all students in all
colleges, universities, technical and vocational schools.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

3ARY &. ALEJANO


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 1114

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative

AN ACT
TO RE-INSTITUTIONALIZE THE MANDATORY MILITARY AND CIVIC RESERVE
OFFICERS’ TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) FOR STUDENTS IN ALL COLLEGES,
UNIVERSITIES AND TECHNICAL OR VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS

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

1 SECTION I. Statement of Policy. - a). It is the policy of the State to serve
and protect the people. The government may call upon the people to defend the State
and, in fulfilment thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by
law, to render personal, military or civil service; b) The State recognizes the 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.

Car anunewn

See. 2. Coverage. - The conduct of military training under the ROTC shall be
10 made mandatory to all students enrolled in colleges, universities and technical or
11 vocational schools.

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3B SEC. 3. Establishment of the ROTC, - There is hereby established a
14 mandatory military and civic training for all college students. The ROTC shall form
15 part of the curriculum of all college degree courses as well as technical or vocational
16 courses, and shall be a pre-requisite for graduation

wv ‘The Department of National Defense (DND) with the Commission on Higher
18 Education (CHED) and the Technical and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
19 and other concerned government agencies shall formulate the ROTC course of
20 instruction and adopt the rules and regulations to effectively carry out the objectives
21 — of this Act. The school authorities shall, with the DND, CHED and TESDA provide

22. close coordination and administrative supervision to ensure the fitness and well-being
23 of the students to undertake the training.
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SEC. 4. Funding. - The funds for the establishment, maintenance and
operation of the ROTC shall be provided for in the general appropriations act of the
Department of National Defense.

SEC. 5. Persons Disqualified or Exempted from this Act ~

1, Students who are physically or psychologically unfit, as certified by the
DND medical officer and medical personnel of the academic institution where the
concemed student is enrolled;

2. Students who have undergone or are undergoing similar military training;

3. Students who are active members of the AFP and the PNP;

4. Those who may be exempted from training for valid reasons which may be
authorized jointly by the DND and the academic institution where the concerned

student is enrolled.

SEC. 6. Transitory Provision, - This Act shall apply in the year following its
approval. Any student enrolled and undertaking any component of the National
Service Training Program (NSTP) shall be allowed to continue and complete the

program.
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause, - All other laws, executive orders, presidential
decrees, rules and regulations inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby

repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,