Republic of the Philippines
House Or REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3625

Introduced by Honorable Herminia B. Roman

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to include a Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness
Service as a program component of the National Service Training Program,
amending for the purpose Republic Act (RA) No. 9163, otherwise known as
the “National Service Training Program Act of 2001.”

‘The country’s geographical and physical characteristics significantly
contribute to its exposure to disasters. It is an archipelago located in the
world’s busiest typhoon belt with an average of twenty typhoons hitting the
country every year. It is likewise situated in the seismic belt making it
vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis. Recently, the country has also
experienced the worst flooding and storm surges in years. The recurring
calamities that the country faces every year continue to be an impediment to
the country’s progress.

The recent calamities that hit the country once again underscored the
importance of disaster mitigation and preparedness and of being
knowledgeable on what to do before, during and after a calamity. Raising
public awareness and improving the people’s understanding of disasters
would greatly help in lessening the socioeconomic and environmental
impact of disasters.

Recognizing that the youth is the most valuable resource of the nation,
RA 9163 was enacted on January 23. 2002 to motivate, train, organize and
mobilize the youth in military training, literacy, civic welfare and other
similar endeavors. The primary objective of the law in establishing the

Bill Drafting Service


National Service Training Program (NSTP) is to enhance the civic
consciousness and defense preparedness in the youth while developing the
ethics of service and patriotism.

As the country reels from the devastation of the recent disasters that
affected the country, it is appropriate to include a Disaster Risk Reduction
and Preparedness Service as another program component of the NSTP
Through this additional program component, tertiary students would be
educated on the disaster risk reduction and preparedness programs of the
government, including climate change risks, and enable them to help their
families and communities adapt and mitigate risks posed by hazards. The
program is also aimed at training the students in first-aid, search and rescue
operations, medical missions, humanitarian relief assistance, and other
related activities. This program component will help the government raise
public awareness on disaster risks and instill patriotism, social consciousness
and responsibility among our youth who, we believe, would rise to the
occasion and be depended on during times of calamities.

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

ferment B Man
[ERMINIA B. ROMAN,


Republic of the Philippines
House Or REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO,__ 3625

Introduced by Honorable Herminia B, Roman

AN ACT
INCLUDING THE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND
PREPAREDNESS SERVICE AS A PROGRAM COMPONENT OF
THE NATIONAL IRVICE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR
TERTIARY LEVEL STUDENTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9163, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM ACT OF 2001”

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

SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9163 is hereby amended

to read as follows:

C. 3. Definition of Terms. ~ For purposes of this Act,
the following are hereby defined as follows:

(a) "National Service Training Program (NSTP)" is a
program aimed at enhancing civic consciousness and defense
preparedness in the youth by developing the ethics of service and

patriotism while undergoing training in any of its [three (3)]

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FOUR (4) program components. Its various components are
specially designed to enhance the youth's active contribution to the
general welfare
(b) xxx
XXX 20° 20%
(F) “DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND
PREPAREDNESS SERVICE” REFERS TO A PROGRAM

DESIGNED TO TRAIN AND INCULCATE AMONG THE

STUDENTS THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

(CESSARY FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND

MITIGATION AND TO ORGANIZE AND MOBILIZE
THEM IN THE EVENT OF EARTHQUAKE, FIRE, FLOOD
OR ANY NATURAL OR MAN-MADE CALAMITIES.”

SEC. 2. Section 4 of the same Act is hereby amended to read

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 optional and voluntary upon the effectivity of this
Act;

(2) The Literacy Training Service; [and]

(3) The Civic Welfare Training Service; AND

(4) THE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND
PREPAREDNESS SERVICE.

THE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND

PREPARED) SERVICE MUST INSTILL IN THE

MINDS OF THE STUDE! THE CRITICAL ROLE THEY

PLAY IN THIS TIME OF RECURRING DISASTERS AND
CLIMATE CHANGE RISKS. THE PROGRAM MUST
ENABLE THEM TO ASSIST THE GOVERNMENT IN
IMPLEMENTING DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

MEASURES THAT WILL LESSE

THE
SOCIOECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF
DISASTERS. THE PROGRAM MUST ALSO ENABLE THE
GOVERNMENT TO ORGANIZE AND MOBILIZE THE
STUDENTS, IN ENHANCING THE RESPONSE
CAPABILITIES OF COMMUNITIES.

OTHER THAN TRAININGS ON DISASTER RISK

REDUCTION AND PREPAREDNESS MEASURES, THE


PROGRAM MUST INCLUDE FIRST-AID, SEARCH AND
RESCUE OPERATIONS, MEDICAL _ MISSIONS,
HUMANITARIAN RELIEF ASSISTANCE AND OTHER
RELATED ACTIVITIES.

The ROTC under the NSTP shall instill patriotism, moral
virtues, respect for rights of civilians, and adherence to the
Constitution, among others, Citizenship training AND SOCIAL
CONSCIOUSNESS AND RESPONSIBILITY shall be given
emphasis in all [three (3)] FOUR (4) program components.

XXX XXX ae

SEC. 3. Section 7 of the same Act is hereby amended to read

follows:

EG; 7

ISTP. 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 ROTC, THE DISASTER RISK
REDUCTION AND PREPAREDNESS SERVICE component
and at least one OF THE other componentS 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 fifty (350) cadet students.


Bong ayy aay.

SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,