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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Reguiar Session

3437

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Jaime R. Fresnedi

EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Constitution provides:

“The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the peojite. The
Government may call upon the people to defend the State and, in the
fielfillment thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by
leew; to render personal, military or civit service. (Article II, Section 4}

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines shall be composed of a citizen armed
force which shall undergo military trai xing and serve as may be provid
law: It shall keep a regular force necessary for the security of the Siaie.”
(Article XVI, Section 4)

Previous laws made the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) a mandatory
training program that formed part of the curicula of all baccalaureate degrees and other
related courses. However, due to reported violeat incidents and corruption which attended the
ROTC, RA 9163, otherwise known as the National Service Training Program (NSTP) of
2002, was enacted which, among others, made it optional among the students in the tertiary
level. The passage of years has shown that this course of action adversely affected the
recruitment, formation and development of reserve officers which could be utilized for the
defense and security of the State. According to some experts, if this is allowed to continue,
the concept of a citizen armed force as envisioned by the framers of the Constitution will not
be realized,

To rectify this situation, this proposed measure seeks to make the ROTC Prograi
mandatory among tertiary students in state universities and colleges. Since the State
subsidizes the education of these students, it is but proper that it should be ahic to primarily
depend on them for its defense.



A similar version of this bill was previously filed by my predecessor during the last
Congress. ‘This representation is refiling this proposed measure because of the belief that it is

aan important piece of legislation that would berefit our country and the Filipino people.

Due to the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought

Ré&presentative
Lone District, Muntinlupa City


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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No3437

Introduced by Representative Jaime R. Fresnedi

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED 9163, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM ACT OF 2001,” AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Section 4 (1) of Republic Act No. 9163 is hereby amended to read as
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,
sting of the following service components:

(1) The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), which, EXCEPT
IN STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, is hereby made
optional and voluntary upon the effectivity of this Act;”

XXX
See. 2. Section 7 of the same law is also hereby amended to read as follows:

“See. 4. 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 ROTC
component, WHICH SHALL BE MANDATORY FOR ITS MALE
STUDENTS, and at least one other component 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.


In offering the NSTP whether during the semestral or summer
periods, clustering 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 requiied
number of students to maintain the optional ROTC and any of the NSTP
components shall allow their students to cross-enroll to other schoois
irrespective of whether or not the NSTP components in said schools are
being administered by the same or another branch of service in the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP), CHED and TESDA to which schools are
identified.”

Sec. 3. Separability Clause. ~ If for any reason, any section or provision of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other sections or provisions hereof, unaffected
thereby, shall continue to be in full force and ef ct.

Sec. 4. Repealing Clause. - Ail laws, executive issuances or parts thereof

inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Sec. 5. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of genera! <ircutlation,

Approved,