CSENTATIVES

Re bli f the Phili RECEIVED
‘epublic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, oare_©9 AUG 2016

Quezon City Metro Manila 2,

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

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. REGISTRATION UNIT
First Regular Session LS AND INDEX SE2\

HOUSE BILL no. 3194 —

Introduced by HON. AMADO T. ESPINO, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This measure seeks to institutionalize a mandatory Military Education and
Training Services (METS) course for all Filipino male college students, amending for
the purpose the provisions of the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of
2001 otherwise known as RA No. 9163 and strengthening the Citizen Armed Force
or Reserved Force in Republic Act No 7077, also known as the Citizen Armed Forces
of the Philippines Reservists Act.

Section 4, Article |I of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides:

"SEC. 4, 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.”

However, with the enactment of RA 9163 (National Service Training Program
of 2001), this constitutional provision has been consigned to more or less oblivion as
it had been very difficult to require able bodied Filipino male to undergo military
education and training services, thereby putting to naught the rationale of Citizen
Armed Force enshrined in the Philippines Reservists Act

Statistically, most college students under the NSTP prefer the other forms of
civic course over the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), thus making it
unimaginable for our country not to have sufficient reserve officers and manpower to
call to render military services when warranted by national exigencies, whether as
response to any national security threat or national emergency.

With the passage of this Bill, it will give flesh and blood to the national policy
envisioned by Section 4, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and that of the
Philippines Reservists Act which provides for the organization, training, development
and maintenance of a Citizen Armed Force to ensure their readiness to immediately
respond to the call to service in times of war, invasion or rebellion


Presently, this constitutional provision has never been more truthfully a
necessity and timely in light of recent events wherein the Philippines is in most
imminent duty-bound to defend its territory over incursions of foreign powers such as
the threat of China.

In the light of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is eamestly sought

Ginodtech , JR.

Representati
Fifth District, Rangasinan


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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 3194

a
Introduced by HON. AMAOT. ESPINO, JR.

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE MANDATORY MILITARY EDUCATION AND
TRAINING SERVICES (METC) FOR FILIPINO MALE STUDENTS IN ALL PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES AND SIMILAR LEARNING
INSTITUTIONS,

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 "Mandatory
MILITARY EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES (METS) Act of 2016".

SECTION 2. Statement of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to serve and
protect the people. The government may call upon the people to defend the State in
the fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by law.
to render personal, military or civil service

SECTION 3. Coverage. - The Mandatory Military Education and Training
SERVICES (METC) shall apply to all male tertiary students enrolled in public or
private universities, colleges, and similar institutions. It shall form part of the
curriculum of all baccalaureate degree courses and two (2)- year technical or
vocational courses as requisite for graduation

SECTION 4. Military Education and Training Services (METS). - The
Mandatory Military Education and Training Services (METS) is hereby declared
mandatory for all male students enrolled in any private or public university, colleges,
and similar learning institutions. The universities, colleges and similar learning
institutions shall request for the conduct of military training in their respective schools,
through the Secretary of National Defense for the purpose of preparing enlisted and
officer reservists.

The program instruction shall be prescribed by the Secretary of National
Defense to prepare male students for military service. Such course of instruction


shall not exceed sixty (60) consecutive days of summer instructions in the case of
enlisted reservists and four (4) academic years in the case of officer reservists which
shall include the necessary summer or probationary training of not more than sixty
(60) consecutive days.

The METS course of instruction for the enlisted reservist, which shall be
mandatory and shall hereafter be referred to as the basic METS, white the course of
instruction for the officer reservist, which is voluntary, shall hereafter be referred to as.
Advance METS. The allocation of METS units to the various services of the AFP
shall conform to the projected manpower needs of their respective reserve
components.

SECTION 5. Acceptance for Advance METS. Students who volunteer for
Advance METS shall be screened by a METS Board of Reception which is hereby
created for the purpose, composed of the Commandant of the METS unit, a
representative of the school nominated by the school authorities, and a military
physician

The student volunteer shall be physically fit for training of his own volition
Where the student is below eighteen (18) years of age, he shall be required to obtain
parents’ or guardian's consent

In the case of students volunteering for reserve officers’ training, they shall
further be subjected to competitive examinations. The students undergoing Advance
METS shall be referred to as Advance METS Cadets.

SECTION G. Persons Disqualified or Exempted. - The following students are
disqualified or exempted from the coverage:

a. Students who are physically or psychologically unfit, as certified by the
medical personnel of the university or institution concemed;

b. Those convicted by final judgment of criminal offenses involving moral
turpitude; and

c. Students of universities, colleges, and other similar learning institutions who
have undergone or are still undergoing METS or similar military training as
recognized by the military authorities as among those undergoing training to qualify
as reservists.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months
from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Department of Education shall, in
coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Department
of National Defense (DND), issue the necessary rules and regulations to carry out
the objectives of this Act.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - For purposes of this Act, pertinent provisions
of Republic Act No. 9163, otherwise known as the "National Service Training Act of


2001” is hereby deemed amended. All other laws, executive orders, presidential
decrees, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with any
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,