Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES

Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3230

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable ALFONSO V. UMALI, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The multitude of emergencies and contingencies which
confront our people today, especially in the areas of external and
territorial defense, internal security and peace and order, and
disaster risk reduction and management, requires the State to
unsheathe its most valuable resource—the youth—and mobilize
them in service to the nation.

Indeed, the sheer number of our youth as well as their
unrestrained potential makes them the most valuable resource of
this nation. In fact, no less than the 1987 Philippine Constitution
recognizes the vital role of our youth in nation-building.

This proposed measure seeks to establish a comprehensive
framework for the training and mobilization of our youth and
implement the said constitutional vision of drawing them into the
mainstream of national life, by providing avenues for their
participation in public and civic affairs, primarily through the
establishment of the Citizen Service Training Course (CSTC).

Under this measure, the Basic Citizen Service Training
Course shall be declared mandatory for all tertiary-level students
enrolled in baccalaureate degree courses or technical vocational
courses (witch may be compleied in ai ieasi iwo (2) years) in ail
public and private colleges, universities and similar learning


2

institutions. An optional Advance Citizen Service Training Course,

ayluiol Bhartisar lcqiine Miner ainoceetsthercatec’ Guvorieitive 4,
which further cquips the trainces for greater opportunitics in

service to the nation, shall also be instituted. To address the fact
that many of our youth do not proceed to take up tertiary-level
education, a Preparatory Citizen Service Training Course is also
established in Grades 11 and 12, which shall be administered by
the Department of Education. This preparatory course is designed
to impart ru ntary p s to prep this segment of our

The foregoing framework is designed to comply with the
Philippines’ undertaking before the international community that
the minimum age for voluntary recruitment into the Armed Forces
of the Philippines is 18 years, and that minors will only be
subjected to military training if the minors attain the majority age
at the completion date of their training.

In sum, this measure is a structured, coherent and
comprehensive legislative measure for the training and
mobilization of our youth for their holistic development. This bill
also gives life to the constitutional mandate of raising the youth as
partners in nation-building, encouraging their early involvement
in public and civic affairs, and developing a citizenry that is ready
to defend the State in personal military and civil service.

Thus, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _3230__

Introduced by Honorable ALFONSO V. UMALI, JR.

AN ACT INSTITUTING THE CITIZEN SERVICE TRAINING
COURSE, ESTABLISHING THE CITIZEN SERVICE CORPS,
CREATING THE CITIZEN SERVICE MOBILIZATION
COMMISSION, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

ARTICLE 1
TITLE

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the
“Citizen Service Act”.

ARTICLE ii
DECLARATION OF POLICY

SECTION 2. Statement of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the
State:

a} To institutionalize the vital role of the youth in nation
a) utionalize the vital role of the youth in nation

building, promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual,
intellectual, and social well-being; to inculcate in them
patriotism and nationalism; and to encourage their
involvement in public and civic affairs;

b) To constitute the youth into a maior component of the citizen
reserve envisioned in the 1987 Constitution of the Republic


2

of the Philippines, which shall undergo training and may be
called upon to defend the State and te render personal

military or civil service under conditions provided by law; and

c) To train, equip and organize the youth, within the current
frameworks of national and territorial defense, law
enforcement and peace and order and national disaster risk
reduction and management, to prepare them for rapid
mobilization at the soonest possible time in order to address
national and/or local contingencies which may require
manpower beyond the capabilities of existing national
government agencies or local government units.

ARTICLE Ill
INSTITUTION OF CITIZEN SERVICE TRAINING COURSE

SECTION 3. Basic Citizen Service Training Course. — There is
hereby instituted a Basic Citizen Service Training Course (Basic
CSTC) which shall form part of the curricula of all baccalaureate
degree courses and all technical vocational courses (which may be
completed in at least two (2) years).

The Basic CSTC shall have the following components:

a) External and Territorial Defense Training;
b) Internal Security and Peace and Order Training; and
c) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Training.

The Basic CSTC shall be divided into four (4) training modules to
be administered for at least four (4) semesters over two (2) school
years, unless otherwise allowed by the Citizen Service Training
Board. It shall include at least sixty-four (64) hours of lecture and
sixteen (16) hours of practical training every semester, and at least
sixteen (16) hours of field exercises every year.

The trainees, who shall be referred to as cadets, shall be organized
by squads, platoons, companies, battalions, brigades and divisions
similar to military units. Military-type of discipline, organization
and cadet movement shall be observed in the conduct of the Basic

CSTC. The Basic CSTC shall insiili upun ihe youth ihe ideals of
patriotism, nationalism and respect for human rights.


3

Except for justifiable causes and upon the issuance of a Certificate
of Exemption by the Citizen Service Mobilization Commission
(Commission), the Basic CSTC must be completed, as far as
practicable, within the first two (2) years of all baccalaureate
degree courses and technical vocational courses. The completion
of the Basic CSTC shall be a prerequisite for enrollment to the third
year of all baccalaureate degree courses and technical vocational
courses,

When the Basic CSTC is allowed to be taken beyond the first two
(2) years of all baccalaureate degree courses and technical
vocational courses, completion of the Basic CSTC shall be a
requisite for graduation in the said courses.

SECTION 4. Summer Citizen Service Training Camp. - In
addition to the requirements under Section 3, the Basic CSTC
shall require for its completion attendance in a Summer Citizen
Service Training Camp (Summer CSTC), which shall consist of at
least thirty (30) days of direct instruction and training to be
administered in two (2) tranches of fifteen (15) days a year and,
except for justifiable causes, must be completed within the first
two (2) years of all baccalaureate degree courses and technical
vocational courses.

The Summer CSTC shall be conducted within the campuses or
facilities of all public and private colleges, universities, or similar
learning institutions. Should it be determined by the said public
and private colleges, universities, or similar learning institutions
that it is impracticable to conduct the Summer CSTC in their
respective campuses or facilities, they should immediately make
the same known to the Commission’s Citizen Service Training
Board (Training Board), which upon the proposal of the public and
private colleges, universities, or similar learning institutions, shall
designate such safe and appropriate venues for the Summer CSTC.
As far as practicable, the venue shall be proximate to the
campuses or facilities of the public and private colleges,
universities, or similar learning institutions.

The Program of Instruction (POI) for the Summer CSTC shall be
developed by the Training Board and shail fucus on practical and
field training exercises. It shall be administered under the control
and supervision of the Commission, which may tap the personnel


4

and expertise of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the

Philip National Police (PNP) and the Office of Civil Dofonse
Philippine National Police {PNP} and the Office of Civil Defense

(OCD). For such purpose, the AFP, the PNP and the OCD are
hereby directed to make its camps and premises, training facilities
and equipment, and pool of trainers available to the Commission
for the efficient, effective and realistic conduct of the Summer
CSTC.

SECTION 5. Coverage. - All tertiary-level students, male and
female, enrolled in baccalaureate degree courses or technical
vocational courses (which may be completed in at least two (2)
years) in all public and private colleges, universities, or similar
learning institutions shall be required to undergo the Basic CSTC.

SECTION 6. Special CSTC for Students under Specific
Circumstances. - There shall be no exemptions from the Basic
CSTC. However, the Commission shall prescribe Special CSTC to
address the peculiar needs and circumstances of students under
the following circumstances:

a) ‘Those who are classified and ofticially registered as persons
with disabilities;

b) Those whose religious beliefs prohibit the use of firearms in
rendering service to the country; and

cg) Those who lave been couvicied by final judgmeni uf crimes
involving moral turpitude.

Provided, that foreign citizens enrolled in baccalaureate degree
courses or technical vocational courses where CSTC is required
shall also undergo a Special CSTC prescribed by the Commission

that would deepen their understanding and appreciation of the
that would deepen their understanding and appreciation of the

Philippines, its people, society, culture and government, and
harness their potential as bridges to improve, their respective
countries’ ties with the Philippines.

SECTION 7. Advance CSTC. - There is also hereby instituted an
Advance CSTC which may he pursued by all graduates of the Rasic
CSTC, except those who have been convicted by final judgment of
crimes involving moral turpitude; and who have successfully
finished a one-semester Officer Qualifying Course within the first


5

two (2) years of their baccalaureate degree courses or technical
vocational courses. The Officer Qualifying Course shall include
leadership and management training, which will equip the
graduates thereof to themselves administer the Basic CSTC, shall
be completed in one (1) semester; and shall consist of at least one
hundred and twenty-eight (128) hours of lecture, practical training
and field exercises in external and territorial defense, internal
security and peace and order, and disaster risk reduction and
management. Graduates of the Officer Qualifying Course, who
shall be referred to as cadet officers, shall compose the Officer
Corps of the Basic CSTC in each campus and shall administer the
conduct of the Basic CSTC of each campus under the
administrative control and supervision of the Department of
Citizen Service Training (DCST) of the respective campuses.

It shall be mandatory for all public and private colleges,
universities and similar learning institutions offering
baccalaureate degree courses to offer the Advance CSTC in all their
campuses, which shall have a duration of at least eight (8)
semesters over four (4) school years, which shall include the first
two (2) years of Basis CSIC, unless otherwise allowed by the
Training Board.

However, enrolment thereunder shall be voluntary. Graduates of
the Advance CSTC shall be posted to leadership roles in the Citizen
Service Corps (Corps) established herein.

SECTION 8. Preparatory CSTC. - There is further hereby
instituted a Preparatory CSTC which shall be administered and
implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) to all
students, male and female, enrolled in Grades 11 and 12 in all
public and private learning institutions. The Preparatory CSTC

shall be an introductory /crientation course te the Basic CSTC and

is hereby declared a requirement for enrollment in all
baccalaureate degree courses or technical vocational courses
(which may be completed in at least two (2) years) in all public and
private colleges, universities, and similar learning institutions.

ARTICLE IV
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CITIZEN SERVICE CORPS


6

SECTION 9. Citizen Service Corps. — There is hereby established
a Citizen Service Corps which shall be composed of all the
graduates of CSTC and may be called upon and mobilized to assist
the national government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and
the local government units in their functions related to external
and territorial defense, internal security and peace and order, and

disaster risk reduction and management.

ARTICLE V
CREATION OF THE CITIZEN SERVICE MOBILIZATION
COMMISSION

SECTION 10. Citizen Service Mobilization Commission. -
There is hereby created a Citizen Service Mobilization Commission,
which shall oversee the CSTC and the Corps, and implement the
objectives and purposes of this Act. The President shall appoint
the Chairperson and the four (4) Commissioners as provided
herein within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act. The
Commission must organize itself in accordance with the provisions
of this Act within sixty (60) days from the appointment of all its
members. The Commission shall be an attached agency of the
Ottice of the President.

The Commission shall ensure the full implementation of this Act
within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 11.Composition of the Commission. - The
Commissivu shail be compused of a Chaitpersuu aud four (4)
Commissioners, namely, two (2) Commissioners for Training and
two (2) Commissioners for Mobilization. The Secretary of the
Department of National Defense (DND), the Secretary of the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the
Chairperson of the Commission of Higher Education (CHED), and

the Director General of the Technical Education and Skills

Development Authority (TESDA), or their duly-authorized
representatives with a rank of at least Assistant Secretary for the
DND and the DILG, Commissioner for the CHED, or Board Member
for the TESDA, shall be ex-officio voting members of the
Commission.

The Chairperson and the Commissioners shall be citizens and
residents of the Philippines, at least thirty-five (35) years of age, of


7

good moral character, of recognized probity and independence,

th

and

zh their tr pits education, must have
ugh their training, experience, and education, must have
distinguished themselves as best-suited to discharge the duties of
their offices. They must not have been candidates for any elective
national or local office in the immediately preceding elections,
whether regular or special. The Chairperson and _ the
Commissioners, who shall have the rank equivalent of Cabinet
Secretary and Undersecretary, respectively, shall he appointed by
the President.

SECTION 12. Quorum. - Five (5) members of the Commission
shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of at least a
majority of those present, there being a quorum, shall be necessary
for the adoption of any rule, ruling, order, resolution, decision, or
other acts of the Commission; Provided, that the affirmative vote
of at least five (5) members of the Commission shall be necessary
for the exercise of the powers and functions of the Commission
under Section 15(a), (a), (9, (j), and (k), as well as those under
Section 20, paragraph 4, Section 29, and Section 31.

SECTION 13.Term of Office. - Ihe term of office of the
Chairperson and the Commissioners shall be seven (7) years,
without reappointment. Of those first appointed, the Chairperson
and the two (2) Commissioners first to be appointed shall hold
office for seven (7) years, while the two (2) Commissioners last to
be appointed shall hold office for five (5) years. Appointment to any
vacaucy sliail vuly be for tie unexpired term of due predevessur.

SECTION 14. Compensation and Other Emoluments of the
Members and Employees of the Commission. - The
compensation and other emoluments of the members and
employees of the Commission shall be exempted from the coverage

of Republic Act No. 6758, ctherwise known as the Salary

Standardization Act. For this purpose, the compensation and other
emoluments of the Chairperson, Commissioners and employees of
the Commission shall be fixed based on an objective classification
system, taking into consideration the importance and
responsibilities attached to their respective positions, and shall be
submitted to the President for his approval

SECTION 15. Powers of the Commission. - The Commission
shall have the following powers:


£

b)

°)

a)

e)

8)

h)

i)

j)

ribo and /or approve the programs of instruction
Design, prescribe and/or approve the programs of instruction
d

for the CSTC, including special courses for students under
specific circumstances;

Ensure the proper administration of the CSTC;

Exercise supervision and control over all agencies, offices and
persons, directly implementing the CSTC;

Recommend to the President the general, nationwide or large-
scale mobilization of the Corps;

Approve, as required under this Act, the deployment of a
limited number otf the Corps to national government agencies
and to local government units to assist in regional, provincial,
city, municipal or barangay level disasters, emergencies and
other contingencies;

Approve the regular deployment of a limited number of the
Corps iv ihe AFP, ie PNP and ie OCD iv serve as reservisis
and active duty cadres to meet the peace time stand-by
reserve requirements of said agencies;

Investigate or secure the services or assistance of the
appropriate agencies to investigate cases of corruption, graft,
hazing, sexual harassment and other abuses in the conduct
of the CSTC, mobilization of the Corps and implementation
of this Act;

Issue serial numbers to all graduates of the CSTC;

Maintain and update a registry/database of all cadets and
cadet officers of the CST"

Promulgate the appropriate rules and regulations, in
accordance with Section 39 hereof, to fully implement the
provisions of this Act;

Appoini, fix the compensaiiun aud deieruine ie siaius,
qualifications, and duties of the staff of the Commission. The
members of the technical staff, except those performing


9

purely clerical functions, shall possess at least a

baccalaureate degree:
baccalaurcate degree;

)) Generate and utilize resources to fully implement the
provisions of this Act;

m) Audit the utilization of funds appropriated, collected or
advanced for the implementation of this Act; and

n) Exercise such other powers as are necessary or essential to
fully implement the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 16. Organization of the Commission. - The
Commission shall have a Citizen Service Training Board (Training
Board) and a Citizen Service Mobilization Board (Mobilization
Board).

SECTION 17. Citizen Service Training Board. - The Training
Board shall be composed of the Chairperson as head, the two (2)
Commissioners for Training, the Chairperson of the CHED and the
Director General of the TESDA, or their duly authorized
representatives, which shall be a Commissioner for the CHED and
a Board Member for the TESDA. The Secretary of the DepEd, or
his duly authorized representative, with a rank of at least Assistant
Secretary, shall be a consulting non-voting member of the Training
Board.

The Training Buard sisal come up with tie initial CSTC Programs
of Instruction, including the Basic CSTC, the Advance CSTC, the
Program Managers Training Course and the Officer Qualifying
Course (CSTC POI), within sixty (60) days from the organization of
the Commission. For this purpose, the Training Board is hereby
directed to tap the technical expertise of the AFP, the PNP and the

OCD, the expertise and experience of stakeholders in both public
OCD, the expertise and experience of stakeholders in beth public

and private sector, and the curriculum development expertise of
the CHED, the TESDA and the DepEd, as well as public and
private colleges, universities and similar learning institutions. The
CSTC POI shall be subject to the approval of the Commission. The
Training Board shall also supervise and see to the continuous
development of the CSTC POT


10

Thereafter, the Commission, through the Training Board, shall

ensure the incorporation of the CSTC POI in the curricula of all

baccalaureate degree courses and all technical vocational courses
(which may be completed in at least two (2) years) offered by public
and private colleges, universities and similar learning institutions,
and in the curricula of Grade 11 and Grade 12 in all public and
private learning institutions.

The Training Board shall adopt guidelines, which shall be
incorporated in the rules and regulations of the Commission, for
the organization of a DCST in every public and private colleges,
universities and similar learning institutions. For colleges and
universities with multiple campuses, there shall be a DCST for
each campus.

SECTION 18. Citizen Service Mobilization Board. - The
Mobilization Board shall be composed of the Chairperson as head,
the two (2) Commissioners for Mobilization, the Secretary of the
DND and the Secretary of the DILG, or their duly authorized
representatives with a rank of at least Assistant Secretary. The
Secretary of the Department of Social Work and Development, or
his duly authorized representatives with a rank of at least
Assistant Secretary, the Chief of Staff of the AFP and the Director
General of the PNP, or their duly authorized representatives with
a rank of at least Brigadier General, Commodore or Chief
Superintendent, as the c: may be, shall be consulting non-
vuling members uf the Mubilizatiun Buasd.

The Mobilization Board shall administer the process of deployment
of the Corps in accordance with the provisions of this Act. From
time to time as manpower and training resources may allow, the
Mobilization Board may call for retraining of the Corps to maintain

and enhance its level of competency and readiness for
and enhance its level of competency and readiness for

mobilization. For this purpose, the Mobilization Board may call for
training mobilizations for periods not exceeding fifteen (15) days.

SECTION 19. Annual Reports. —- The Commission shall regularly
publish an annual report containing a list of its accomplishments,
status of its operations, number and demography of the Corps,
assessment of readiness for mobilization and the incidence and
details of each mobilization for the year concerned. The annual
report shall also include the results of the audit investigation on


ul

the spending of funds appropriated, collected or advanced for the

8 of this Act, as referred to under

implementation of th:
implementation of the pr

Section 31, Section 32 and Section 33 hereof.

ARTICLE VI
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITIZEN SERVICE TRAINING
COURSE

SECTION 20. Department of Citizen Service Training. —- Within
each campus of their respective institutions, all public and private
colleges, universities and similar learning institutions shall
establish and maintain, in accordance with the structure and
organization provided in the rules and regulations of the
Commission, an autonomous Department of Citizen Service
‘lraining, which shall be tasked with the primary duty and
responsibility of fully implementing the CSTC in their respective
campuses The DCST shall have an overall department head, a
commandant for external and territorial defense, a commandant
for internal security and peace and order, and a commandant for
disaster risk reduction management.

The head of each campus and/or learning institution shall appoint
a department head within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of
the rules and regulations implementing this Act. Within thirty (30)
days from acceptance of his appointment, the department head
shall submit a list of three (3) names for each commandant

vosition from which the head of each campus and/or learning
pesition from which ths eack campus and/or learning

institution shall appoint, within fifteen (15) days from receipt of
the lists, the three (3) commandants.

The DCST shall be directly under the office of the head of each
campus and/or learning institution. It shall be civilian in
character and shall administer the CSTC. However, it is
understood that personnel of the AFP, PNP and the OCD shall not
be disqualified from being appointed as heads of the DCST.

The head of the DCST shall be chosen by the head of the learning
institution from among candidates who by reason of their training,
experience and/or education in the fields of external and territorial
detense, internal security and peace and order and/or disaster risk
reduction management is best qualified to be the head of the


12

DCST. The Commission shall have the authority to prescribe the

qualifications for the head of DCST.

Should a learning institution fail to organize a DCST and/or
appoint a DCST head within the period stated above, the
Commission shall cause the establishment of a DCST and/or
appoint the head thereof.

SECTION 21. The University of the Philippines as Curriculum
and Development Center. —- The University of the Philippines
(U.P.), as the National University, through its various DCSTs in
each of its campuses, shall serve as the CSTC POI research and
development center for the Commission. For this purpose, there is
hereby created a U.P. Center for Citizen Service Training (CCST),
which shall be within the U.P. System and under the Office of the
U.P. President. It shall have the following powers:

a) Undertake studies, surveys, and research to assess and/or
enhance the implementation of the CSTC;

b) Design and develop CSIC subjects and modules tor the
review and approval of the Commission;

c) Pilot test CSTC subjects, modules and programs it designed
and developed within the U.P. system for purposes of
assessment; and

d) Subject to the approval of the U.P. President and the U.P.
Board of Regents, prepare the plantilla of the U.P. CCST.

The governing body of the U.P. CCST shall be an executive
committee composed of the department heads of the various
DCSTs in each campus of the U.P. System. The chairperson of the
executive committee shall be elected for a term of three (3) years
from among the members of the executive committee.

The U.P. CCST shall be located at the U.P. Diliman DCST.

SECTION 22. Development of the CSTC POI. - The U.P. CCST
shall propose improvements to the CSTC POI, which shall undergo
pilot-testing in each of the U.P. campuses. The pilot-tested CSTC
POI shall be submitted for the assessment, consideration and


3

approval of the Commission within thirty (30) days from the last

day of the pilot
day of the pilet-testing semester.

The Commission and the U.P. CCST shall ensure the participation
of third-party stakeholders and experts in the fields of external and
territorial defense, internal security and peace and order, and
disaster risk reduction and management in the continued
development and improvement of the CSTC POI

ARTICLE VII
DEPLOYMENT OF THE CITIZEN SERVICE CORPS

SECTION 23. Requests for Deployment. - The Corps may be
called upon and mobilized to assist the national government, its
agencies and instrumentalities and the local government units in
their functions related to external and territorial defense, internal
security and peace and order, and disaster risk reduction and
management, through requests for deployment by the heads of
such national government agencies or local government units
submitted to the Mobilization Board. The requests shall contain a
justification for the deployment of the Corps and shall contain
information as may be required by the Commission, including the
nature of the national or local contingencies to be addressed, the
purpose of the requested deployment, the number of personnel
requested to be deployed and the period of deployment.

SECTION 24. Evaluation of the Requests for Deployment. - The
Mobilizaiivuu Buard siaii evaluaic ie reyuesis for depluymeni.
When the number of personnel requested does not exceed one
hundred and fifty (150) and the period of deployment does not
exceed sixty (60) days, the Mobilization Board shall decide whether
to approve or disapprove the request within twenty-four (24) hours
from receipt thereof. When the number of personnel requested

exceeds one hundred and fifty (150) or the period of deployment
exceeds one hundred and fifty {150} or the peried of deployment

exceeds sixty (60) days, the Mobilization Board shall make a
recommendation to the Commission within twenty-four (24) hours
from receipt of the request. The Commission shall decide whether
to approve or disapprove the request within twenty-four (24) hours
from receipt of the recommendation of the Mobilization Board.

In case of the approval of the request for deployment, the
Mobilization Board shall issue an Order of Deployment requiring


4

the Corps, or a number thereof, to assist the national government,

its agencies and instrumentalitics and the local
its agencics and instrumentalitics and the local government units

in their functions related to external and territorial defense,
internal security and peace and order, and disaster risk reduction
and management.

SECTION 25. Deployment in Case of a Declaration of a State
of War, State of Lawless Violence or State of Calamity:
Nationwide Mobilization. — In case of a declaration of a state of
war, state of lawless violence or state of calamity, the Commission
may motu proprio recommend the mobilization of the Corps to the
President of the Philippines. The President of the Philippines, by
himself, shall also have the power to order the mobilization of the
Corps to respond to national or local contingencies related to
external and territorial defense, internal security and peace and
order and/or disaster risk reduction management.

SECTION 26. Mobilization Centers. — There shall be established
in each province and city as many mobilization centers as needed
according to the number and geographical distribution of the
Corps, where they will report in case of deployment. ‘I'he local
government units shall provide an office, which shall be known as
the Citizen Service Office, which shall handle the administrative
aspects of mobilization.

In case of mobilization, the equipment of the Corps shall be

supplied in viuse cuurdinaiivn with ie AFP, tie PNP aud ie OCD,
with the end in view of achieving rapid mobilization.

SECTION 27. Lines of Command. - Upon deployment,
operational control over the Corps shall be vested upon the head
of the requesting national government agency or local government

ed, that, in case of deployment for purposes of external
ed, that, ase of deployment fer purposes of external

and territorial defense, when the Corps is mobilized to expand the
AFP in the event of war, invasion, rebellion or similar
circumstances, operational control shall be vested upon the AFP.

SECTION 28. Expenses of Deployment. - The role of the
Commission shall be ta provide and marshal the required

personnel to address national or local contingencies involving
external and territorial defense, internal security and peace and
order, and national disaster risk reduction and management.


Is

Upon deployment, the national government agency or the local
government unit to which the Corps is deployed shall shoulder the

operational expenses of deployment.

SECTION 29. Operationalization of Deployment. - The
Mobilization Board, subject to the approval of the Commission,
shall promulgate the specific mechanisms by which deployment is
efficiently implemented, including the organization of the Corns to
be deployed, their territorial assignments, how deployment orders
are communicated to each member of the Corps and to which
mobilization center they will report.

SECTION 30. Serial Numbers and Registry. - Upon completion
of the Basic CSTC, the graduates shall be issued individual serial
numbers, which will serve as their identification in case of
deployment.

The Commission shall maintain and update a registry /database
containing the names of the members of the Corps, their serial
numbers, address, contact details and such other information as
the Commission may determine. For this purpose, all public and
private colleges, universities and learning institutions are hereby
mandated to annually transmit their records of the graduates of
the CSTC to the Commission, in the form as may be determined
by the Commission.

All graduates of CSTC are required to update their addresses and
couiaci details on file with tie Conmmissivu as uficu as uccessary.
Orders of deployment sent to the addresses and/or through the
contact details on file with the Commission shall be sufficient
notice for the purpose of Section 37 hereof.

SECTION 31. Termination of Deployment. - Upon the

expiration of the requested pericd of deployment, without an
expiration of the requested per of deployment, without

extension having been requested and approved by the
Commission, the Corps shall be discharged of its duties. The
deployment may also be terminated earlier upon a determination
by the Commission, in consultation with the requesting national
government agency or local government unit, that such
deployment is no longer in accordance with the objectives and

purposes of this Act.



16

SECTION 32. Effect on Employment. - Deployment of employees
i h the p: as of this Act shall not be a ground
for dismissal or diminution of any benefit enjoyed by such
employees prior to their deployment. Employees shall be entitled
to their regular wage or salary during the period of their
deployment; Provided, that employers shall be entitled to deduct
such regular wage or salary from their gross income for the same
taxable year that the regular wage or salary was granted

ARTICLE VIII
FUNDING OF THE CITIZEN SERVICE CORPS

SECTION 33. Citizen Service Fund. — A Citizen Service Fund is
hereby established exclusively for the implementation of the
objectives and purposes of this Act. The Office of the President
shall monitor and evaluate the activities and the balances of the
Fund.

SECTION 34. Appropriations. - All funds _ previously
appropriated for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of
the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Program of the AFP,
established under Republic Act No. 7077, as amended, and which
will subsequently and hereafter be appropriated for such purpose
shall be used exclusively for the implementation of the objectives
and purposes of this Act. All funds appropriated for the
implementation of the National Service Training Program under
Republic Act No. 9163 shall also be used exclusively for the
impiemeniaiivn of ike vbjeciives aud purposes of itis Aci.

An initial funding of Fifty Million Pesos (PhP 50,000,000.00)
shall be allocated from the Presidential Social Fund to sustain the
operation of the Commission and the implementation of this Act

for the first year of its effectivity. Thereafter, the Citizen Service
Pund shal! be included in the a

al General Appropriations Act.
al General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 35. School Fees. - Public colleges, universities and
similar learning institutions covered by Republic Act No. 10931,
otherwise known as the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary
Education Act, shall not collect any fee for the CSTC. The training
costs shall be inchided in the annual appropriations of such public

colleges, universities and similar learning institutions. In cases of
students not eligible to avail of the benefits under Republic Act No.


7

10931, public colleges, universities and similar learning

institutions m. ect a training fee of not morc than fifty percent
institutions may colicct a training foc of not morc than fifty percent

(50%) of the tuition fee per academic unit.

Colleges, universities and similar learning institutions not covered
by Republic Act No. 10931 shall have the option of collecting a
training fee of not more than fifty percent (50%) of the tuition fee
per academic unit, or of not collecting any fee for the CSTC;
Provided that, in the latter case, the actual expenses for the
administration of CSTC incurred by such institutions shall be
allowed as a deduction from the gross income of such institutions
for the same taxable year that the expenses are incurred. The
covered institutions shall elect an option and inform the
Commission not later than one hundred and twenty (120) days
before the start of the school year. Such election may be changed
only once every four (4) school years, unless specifically allowed by
the Commission.

For this purpose, the Department of Finance, through the Bureau
of Internal Revenue, shall formulate the appropriate regulations
for the deduction provided under this section. The Commission
shall promulgate budgetary guidelines for all covered institutions
to ensure that the budget appropriated, collected or advanced for
the training costs are reasonable and sufficient to ensure proper
administration of the CSTC.

SECTION 36. Incentives for Students Pursuing Advance
CSTC. - Students pursuing the Advance CSIC shall be entitled to
tuition fee discounts according to the following schedule:

a) Cadet officers shall be entitled to fifty percent (50%) discount
on their tuition fees effective the semester after their
completion of the officer qualifying course until their
vompleiion of tie Basic CSTC provided tiey serve as officers

of the CSTC; and

b) During their training under the Advance CSTC, they shall be
entitled to one hundred percent (100%) discount on their
tuition fees. Cadet officers pursuing the Advance CSTC who,

for any reason, fail to qualify for benefits under Republic Act
for any reason, fail te qu: for benefits under Republic Act

No. 10931 are nonetheless entitled to the incentives provided
above. For this purpose, all colleges, universities and similar


18

learning institutions shall issue tuition waivers/discounts in

favor of the said cadct officers.

For private colleges, universities and similar learning institutions,
the tuition fee waivers/discounts granted pursuant to this section
may likewise be claimed as a deduction from the gross income of
such institutions for the same taxable year that the
discounts/waivers were granted. For income tax-exempt private
colleges, universities and similar learning institutions, they may
claim reimbursement of the discounts/waivers granted under this
section against the Citizen Service Fund created under Section 31
hereof.

Cadet officers shall likewise be entitled to a uniform allowance,
which shall be provided and given in kind by the Commission.

Upon completion of the Advance CSTC and subject to the taking
of the Reserve Officer Qualifying Examination under Section 44
hereof, the graduates of Advance CSTC shall be commissioned as
reserve second lieutenant or its equivalent in the AFP, PNP or OCD;
Provided, that they shall have obtained their baccalaureate degree
courses within four (4) years from such completion, failing which
their reserve commission shall be deemed revoked by operation of
law.

The Commission shall ensure that an adequate portion of the
Citizen Service Fuud is alluvaicd for die above invenuiives. The
budget of the Commission to be submitted to the President shall
likewise incorporate such allocation.

SECTION 37. Audit of Funds. - Without prejudice to the audit
jurisdiction of the Commission on Audit and the Bureau of Internal
Revenue under existing laws and regulations, there shall be
created an Audit Division within the Commission with the limited
authority to conduct audit investigation on the spending of
colleges, universities and similar learning institutions of funds
appropriated, collected or advanced for the administration of the
CSTC, with the specific purpose of ensuring that such funds are
exclusively spent for program implementation and direct training
costs.


19

ARTICLE IX

PENAL AND DISCIPLINARY PROVISIONS

SECTION 38. Failure to Respond. —

a) Failure to respond to the order of deployment despite notice
sent to the address and/or contact details on file with the
Commission for external and territorial defense shall be
punishable in accordance with the Articles of War, and shall,
upon conviction by a court-martial, be punishable by
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more
than two (2) years;

b) Failure to respond to the order of deployment for internal
security and peace and order or disaster risk reduction and
management shall, upon conviction by a civil court, be
punishable as follows:

First Offense: One hundred and twenty (120) hours of
community service;

Second Offense: Two hundred and forty (240) hours of
community service; and

Third and Subsequent Offenses: Six (6) months
imprisonment and four hundred and eighty (480) hours of
community service.

SECTION 39. Disciplinary and Corrective Proceedings. -
Administrative offenses committed by persons involved in or in
relation to the implementation of this Act, including the
administration of the CSTC and the conduct of the Summer Citizen
Service Training Camp, shall be subject to administrative penalties
in aveurdanve with the applivable civil service rules. Jurisdiction
over these Administrative Offenses shall be vested exclusively on
the Disciplinary Board of the Commission.

Complaints against heads and commandants of DCSTs or their
equivalent, officers of the Commission and such employees of the
Commission as may be identified in the implementing rules and
regulations of this Act, shall be filed with and decided by a
Disciplinary Board to be composed of the Chairperson of the


20

Commission, a Commissioner for Training and a Commissioner for

Mobilization, both of which shall be sclected by the Chairperson
Mobilization, both of which shall be sclected by the Chairperson.

All complaints must be decided by the Disciplinary Board within
one hundred and twenty (120) days from filing thereof.

Complaints against officers and employees of the DCSTs, as well
as cadet officers, shall be filed with and decided by the heads of
their respective DCSTs. All complaints must be decided by the
head of the DCST within thirty (30) days from filing thereof, subject
to a one-time extension of thirty (30) days granted by the
Chairperson of the Commission. Unless stayed by the Disciplinary
Board for meritorious reasons, all decisions of the heads of DSCTs
on the complaints shall be immediately executory.

No motions tor reconsideration shall be allowed trom the decision
of the heads of the DCSTS, but the same may be appealed within
fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof by filing a memorandum of
appeal with the Disciplinary Board of the Commission. If the
penalty imposed by the heads of the DCSTs is dismissal, the
decision shall be automatically reviewed to the Disciplinary Board.

In all cases of appeal by parties and automatic review by the
Disciplinary Board, the entire records of the cases shall be
transmitted to the Disciplinary Board within thirty (30) days from
the promulgation of the decision by the heads of the DCSTs. All
appeals and automatic reviews shall be resolved by the

ne hundred and twenty (120) days from
ne hundred and twenty (120) days from

receipt of the entire records of the cases.

Disciplinary Board with
Disciplinary Board with

The decisions of the Disciplinary Board shall be final and may be
assailed only by a petition for certiorari under Rule 65 of the Rules
of Court before the Court of Appeals.

SECTION 40. Corruption, Graft, Hazing and Other Abuses. —
For acts already penalized under existing laws such as corruption,
graft, hazing, sexual harassment, and other abuses committed by
persons authorized to administer the CSTC and deployment of the
Corps, the maximum penalty imposable under existing laws shall
be imposed.


21

ARTICLE X

ING RULES AND REGULATIONS

SECTION 41. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). -
The Commission shall be tasked to formulate and approve the
necessary rules and regulations to implement the objectives and
purposes of this Act within sixty (60) days from its organization.
The rules and regulations shall include provisions on the strz

and organization of the Corps under Section 9, the structure and
organization of the Department of Citizen Service Training under
Section 20, the specific mechanisms for the efficient mobilization
and deployment of the Corps under Section 29, the incentives for
students pursuing Advance CSTC under Section 35, the
assignment of Advance CSTC graduates to the Reserve Forces of
the AFP, PNP and OCD under Section 46, and such other matters
as the Commission may deem necessary or essential to fully
implement the objectives and purposes of this Act.

ARTICLE XI
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

SECTION 42. Period of Implementation. — To ensure efficient
transition and to enable all public and private colleges,
universities, and similar learning institutions to adopt the
necessary structural changes within their units in accordance with
the provisions of this Act, the CSTC shall be administered in all
public colleges, universities, and similar learning institutions after
the Commission has promulgated the necessary implementing
rules and regulations described in Section 39.

SECTION 43. Initial Program Managers. - The Training Board
shall ensure that the initial set of program managers who shall
instruct and train the first sets of enrollees in the CSTC in all
public and privaie colleges, universities and similar learning
institutions are properly trained and equipped. For this purpose,
the Training Board shall develop a Program Managers Training
Course (PMTC). All covered institutions are required to send
program managers, in number sufficient to implement the CSTC,
to undergo and successfully pass the PMTC to be administered

and conducted by the Commission.



2

SECTION 44. Current Enrollment under Republic Act No.

9162. - In all cascs, students whe are currently enrolled under the

curriculum implemented by virtue of Republic Act No. 9163,

otherwise known as the National Service Training Program Act of
2001, shall be allowed to finish the curriculum and be deemed to
have satisfied the requirement for graduation after completion
thereof.

SECTION 45. Integration of Existing Reserve Units and
Service Corps. - All reservists included in the Reserved Force
created under Republic Act No. 7077, otherwise known as the
Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act, and all
members of the National Service Reserve Corps created under
Republic Act No. 9163, shall be absorbed under the Citizen Service
Corps created under this Act. The Citizen Service Mobilization
Board shall determine their ranks and designations within the
Citizen Service Corps.

SECTION 46. Organization of Reserve Components. - To
complement the existing AFP Reserve Force, the Commission is
hereby mandated and authorized to organize the reserve
components of the PNP and the OCD within six (6) months from
the effectivity of this Act. Thereafter, the administration,
operational control and funding of the newly organized reserve
components shall be vested upon the PNP and the OCD,
respectively.

‘rhe Commission shall also develop a Reserve Officer Qualitying
Examination to be administered by the Commission to the cadet
officers prior to the start of the eighth (8‘*) semester of their
Advance CSTC to determine their competencies for the purpose of
assigning them as officers of the respective reserve components of
the AFP, PNP or OCD. Thereafter, the respective reserve commands
of the reserve vumpunienis siuil be respuuisible fur te training aud
advancement of their reserve officers, where they shall be
commissioned as officers.

ARTICLE XII
FINAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 47. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 9163,
otherwise known as the National Service Training Program Act of


23

2001, is hereby repealed. The relevant provisions of Republic Act

No. 7707, otherwise ks

Philippines Reservist Act, are hereby amended as appropriate. All
other laws, orders, rules regulations and other issuances, or parts
thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are likewise hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

wh as the Citizen Armed Forces of the

SECTION 48. Separability Clause. - Any provision of this Act
declared unconstitutional shall not affect the validity of the other
provisions thereof.

SECTION 49. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect
fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) newspapers of
national circulation.

Approved.