FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 3 5 3 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
After more than two (2) decades, the National Defense College of the 
Philippines (NDCP) continues to provide for continuing and intensive studies 
relative to national defense and security to qualified military leaders and civilian 
executives. 
To strengthen its mandate and mission, this bill seeks to transform the 
NDCP to university status to be known as "National Defense University of the 
Philippines" or NDUP. 
The NDUP shall have as its objectives the development of the skills and 
competence, as well as the enhancement of proper attitude and values of its 
students, to be able to formulate and implement national security policies and 
conduct strategic and international studies in support of said policies. For this 
purpose, masters and doctorate degrees in national security administration shall 
be offered to qualify military officials and civilian executives. 
An organizational set-up with the corresponding personnel, qualifications 
and remuneration shall likewise be established in support of the new mandate. 
Moreover, the NDUP shall be under the general supervision of the Secretary of 
National Defense who shall be responsible for the organization of the university 
and appointment of heads of units and other officials. 
In this regard, immediate passage of the bill is earnestly sought. 


INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE 
NATIONAL DEFENSE 
UNIVERSITY OF THE 
PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1 . Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to provide 
advanced education in national security administration to outstanding men and 
women in the military as well as key officers in government agencies and the 
private sectors. 
SEC 2. Establishment of NDUP. - In furtherance of the policy enunciated 
under Section 1, there shall be established in the Philippines an educational, 
training and research institution to be known as the “National Defense University 
of the Philippines” or NDUP. 
SEC 3. 
Objectives. - As an institution of higher learning, National 
Defense University of the Philippines shall aim to promote, to the highest degree 
possible, the traditional functions of teaching, research and extension. The 
NDUP shall have as its objectives the development of the skills and competence 
as well as the enhancement of proper attitude and values of its students so that 
they can help formulate and implement national security policies. It shall also 
conduct strategic and international studies in support of, or as basis for national 
security policies. 
SEC 4. Functions. - In order to achieve the objective defined in the 
Conduct academic programs consisting of graduate courses at 
both masters and doctorate levels of studies and other special 
courses in the field of national security administration; 
Undertake research and studies program that will enhance the 
quality and effectiveness of national security formulation and 
management; 
Provide an extension program consisting of short courses, 
seminar workshop, policy conferences and public fora on 
national security issues which may be held in various locations 
preceding section, the NDUP shall: 
a. 
b. 
C. 


d. 
in the country to supplement its academic and research studies 
program; 
Perform such other functions as may be directed by the 
Secretary of National Defense or the President of the Republic 
of the Philippines. 
SEC 5. Organization. - The NDUP, as an academic institution of the 
Department of National Defense, shall initially be composed of the National 
Defense University of the Philippines, Center for National Security Studies and a 
Center for Extension Services. Other units may be established by the Secretary 
of the National Defense upon the recommendation of the President of the NDUP 
in response to particular needs of the defense establishment. 
SEC 6. The President. - Under the general direction and supervision of 
the Secretary of National Defense, the NDUP shall be headed by a President 
who shall have full power and authority to administer, manage and control its 
affairs. The President of the NDUP shall be a holder of doctorate degree and 
preferably with a maters’ in National Security Administration shall be appointed 
by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation by the Secretary of 
National Defense. 
To ensure the widest possible area for recruitment and 
selection, a search committee may be appointed by the Secretary of National 
Defense, 
This committee may formulate its rules for selection and based 
therefrom, shall select and recommend at least three (3) candidates from which 
the Secretary of National Defense may choose to recommend for appointment by 
the President of the Philippines. 
SEC 7. The Executive Vice President and other Vice Presidents. - The 
President of NDUP shall be assisted by an Executive Vice President, Vice 
President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Administrative Services, Vice 
President for Research and Special Studies and a Vice President for Extension 
Activities. 
a. 
Functions. 
The Executive Vice President who shall be 
responsible for planning and development shall act for the 
President in his absence and shall perform such other functions 
as may be assigned to him by the President. 
The Vice 
President for Academic Affairs shall be responsible for the 
development, implementation, supervision and evaluation of the 
academic programs. 
The Vice President for Administrative 
Service shall be responsible for the over-all administration 
support to all activities of the university. The Vice President for 
Research and Special Studies shall direct the conduct of 
research work and special studies while the Vice President for 
Extension Services shall be responsible for the outreach 
program and extension activities of the NDUP. 
Qualifications. The Executive Vice President and all the Vice 
Presidents shall be holders of a doctorate degree and preferably 
also holders of National Security Administration or equivalent 
degree. They shall be appointed by the Secretary of National 
Defense. 
b. 
SEC 8. The Dean of the Colleges and the Directors of Centers. - The 
Colleges of the National Defense University of the Philippines shall be headed by 


a Dean while the Center for National Security Studies and Center for Extension 
Services shall each be under a Director. They shall be holders of a doctorate 
degree and preferably also with a master's degree in National Security 
Administration. 
SEC 9. Term of Office. - The President, Executive Vice President, all 
Vice Presidents, the Dean of the Colleges and Directors of the Centers shall 
serve for a term of six (6) years without prejudice to one re-appointment for the 
same period. 
SEC I O .  Registrar. - The NDUP shall have a Registrar who shall be 
appointed by the Secretary of National Defense upon recommendation of the 
University President. The Registrar shall keep all Transcripts of Records and 
related records of students as well as the minutes of academic board meetings. 
SEC 1 I. 
Course Offering. - The University shall offer graduate degree at 
both master and doctorate of study in National Security Administration and 
Development and shall undertake applied research and strategic and 
international studies. The Center for Extension Services shall undertake an 
extension and 
outreach program for 
promotion of 
national security 
consciousness. The NDUP shall conduct such other courses or perform such 
studies as it may deem necessary to carry out its mandate or as directed by the 
Secretary of National Defense or the President of the Philippines. 
SEC 12. Conferment of Academic and Honorary Degrees. - The NDUP 
shall confer graduate degrees upon successful candidates for graduation and 
may award honorary degrees upon persons who have made outstanding 
contributions to or have distinguished themselves in the field of national security. 
SEC 13. Direction and Supervision of NDUP. - The NDUP shall be under 
the general direction and supervision of the Secretary of National Defense who 
shall organize the university and appoint the heads of units other officials with the 
ranks comparable with those of other graduate colleges or universities. The 
NDUP shall have such personnel as may be necessary to enable the institution 
to effectively carry out its mandate. 
SEC 14. The Academic Board. - 
A.) 
Composition. 
The National Defense University of the 
Philippines shall have an academic board composed of the 
Vice-president for Academic Affairs as Chairman, the Dean of 
the NDUP, the Director of the Center for National Strategic 
Studies, the Director of the Center for Extension Services, the 
heads of the academic disciplines of the college, the institutes 
and the centers as members. The Board may be expanded, at 
the discretion of the President, to include such staff and faculty 
members as may be determined by him provided the additional 
members shall not exceed twenty (20). Resource persons may 
be requested to attend academic board meetings to provide 
information or expertise necessary in making appropriate 
recommendations or decisions. 


Function. The Academic Board shall assist the President in the 
discharge of the following functions: 
(1) To supervise the academic affairs of the University; 
(2) To take responsibility for discipline of students; 
(3) To recommend the courses of study which shall 
include, but not neCessarily limited to, all facets and 
elements 
of 
national 
security, 
strategic 
and 
international studies; 
(4) To recommend the establishment of professional 
chairs in the University; and 
(5) To 
recommend 
the 
adoption 
of 
admission 
requirements and the conferment of degrees to 
candidates for graduation for the approval of the 
President. 
SEC 15. The Board of Visitors. - 
Compositions. The NDUP shall have a Board of Visitors 
composed of not more than nine (9) members who are 
distinguished alumni of NDUP, captains of industry, members 
of the academe or government officials whose functional and 
professional expertise span the mission and specific curricula 
of the University and who shall be appointed by the Secretary 
of National Defense for a term of three (3) years. No member 
of the Board shall serve a total of more than nine (9) years. 
(A) 
Meetings. The Board shall meet at least once every year to 
assist the NDUP in the review of the curricular offering, make 
written observations and submit recommendations relative to 
the accomplishment of the mission of the University. 
Honoraria and expenses. The members of the Board shall not 
receive any salary but shall, however, be entitled to honoraria 
and reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses 
incurred in attendance to meetings as may be determined by 
the Secretary of National Defense. 
SEC 16. Remuneration. - The salary, privileges and other benefits of the 
President, the Vice President, the Dean of the College and the Directors of the 
two Centers shall be comparable to that being received by the president, 
academic heads, faculty, and staff of premier educational institutions in the 
country; Provided, That in addition to the regular salaries, merit increases and 
across-the-board salary adjustments and other forms of emoluments and 
benefits may be given. 
SEC 17. Exempfion from Compensation and Position Classifiaation and 
Civil Service Commission Rules. - The President, the Executive Vice President, 
the Vice Presidents, the College Dean, the Institute Director, and the members of 
the faculty shall be exempt from the rules and regulations of the office on the 
compensation and position classification. Likewise, they shall be exempt from 
the civil service examination regulations as a requisite for appointment. No 
religious of political affiliation shall be a matter of inquiry in the appointment of the 
officials or employees of the University. 


SEC 18. Honoraria of Faculty Members and Consultants. - The National 
Defense University of the Philippines shall have a core faculty composed of 
professors, instructors and lecturers in full time basis. 
Consultants of the 
University on part-time basis may be drawn from the military and civilian 
branches of the national government, from business, and from public and private 
educational institutions. All academic consultants, professors, instructors or 
lecturers, whether civilian or military personnel, in additional to their regular 
salaries, shall be entitled to receive honorarium or fees as may be fixed by the 
President with the approval of the Secretary of National Defense. 
SEC 19. Fiscal Autonomy. - The NDUP shall enjoy fiscal autonomy. 
Pursuant to each authority to collect various fees in all academic and training 
courses, it shall be allowed to retain the proceeds of such collection and to 
appropriate the same for the regular expenditure of NDUP subject to government 
accounting rules and regulations. The NDUP may receive in trust legacies, 
devises, gifts, donations of real and personal property of all kinds and nature and 
to administer the same for the benefit of the University in accordance with the 
instructions or directions of the donor or in default thereof, as the law on donation 
may provide. 
SEC 20. Personnel on Special Studies Details or Secondment. - Heads 
of bureaus and officers of the national government are hereby authorized to loan 
or transfer upon request of the President of the University, such apparatus or 
supplies as may be needed by the University and to assign employees on detail 
or secondment, for duty therein, whet? in the judgment of the head of the bureau 
or office such supplies or employees can be spared without serious detriment to 
the public service. For the purpose of promotion or other personnel transactions, 
service in the university either by uniformed or civilian personnel shall be counted 
as part of active service in their mother units. 
SEC 21. Academic Freedom. -The NDUP shall enjoy academic freedom. 
SEC 22. Grant of Career Executive Service Eligibility. - For purposes of 
appointment or promotion to key and sensitive positions in the government, 
graduates of doctoral or graduate courses of the National Defense University of 
the Philippines are granted a career executive service officer eligibility, level 3 
and 5, respectively and preferential consideration and/or credit points in the 
grade or class of their respective positions. This provision on eligibility shall have 
retroactive effect insofar as it benefits holders of a master in national security 
administration degree from the NDUP. 
SEC 23. Promotion to General / Flag Rank. - For purposes of promotion 
to the rank of brigadier general or flag officer in the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines a master’s degree in national security administration shall be a 
requirement. Nonetheless, accreditation of equivalent courses taken in foreign 
schools may be allowed as an exemption on case to case basis upon 
consultation with the Chief of Staff, AFP and the recommendation of NDUP. 
SEC 24. Grant of Commission to Civilian Graduates. - Subject to existing 
AFP regulations, civilian graduates of regular courses from NDUP may be 
commissioned as officers in the Reserve Corps of the AFP with the initial rank of 


lieutenant colonel for those who are holders of master‘s degree. For holders of 
Doctorate in National Security Administration, the rank of full colonel may be 
given provided that the candidate is at least forty-two (42) years old and holds 
the rank equivalent to a department undersecretary. Those who are holders of 
commission in the AFP (inactive) below the rank of lieutenant colonel shall be 
promoted to lieutenant colonel or full colonel, as the case may be. 
SEC 25. Eligibility, Lists, and Authority to Use “MNSA” and “DNSA”. - All 
graduates of the masters in national security administration course and doctorate 
in National Security Administration shall be included in the MNSA and DNSA 
eligibility list and authorized to use with honor the abbreviation ”MNSA after their 
name while those graduating with doctoral degree may use “DNSA. 
The 
eligibility lists shall be published periodically by the NDUP, copy of which shall be 
furnished the Chief of Staff of the AFP. 
SEC 26. Annual Report. -Within thirty (30) days after the opening of the 
regular classes each year, the President of the NDUP shall submit to the 
Secretary of National Defense with a copy of the Offices of the President of the 
Philippines and both Houses of Congress, an annual report containing details on 
the conduct of the preceding classes, progress on the on-going classes, and 
conditions and needs of the University. 
SEC 27. Transfer of Personnel, Equipment, Assets and Liabilities. - All 
personnel, records, equipment, appropriations, assets and liabilities of the 
National Defense College of the Philippines are hereby transferred to the NDUP. 
SEC 28. Campus of NDUP. - The NDUP campus shall be located in 
Metro Manila. 
SEC 29. Oficer-in-Charge of the NDUP. - The incumbent President of 
the NDUP shall be the officer-in-charge of NDUP pending appointment of its 
president. 
SEC 30. 
Promulgation of Implementing Rules. - The Secretary of 
National Defense is hereby empowered to promulgate rules and regulations to 
effectively implement the objectives and purposes of this Act. 
SEC 31. M i a /  Appropriations. - The amount of One Hundred Fifty Million 
Pesos (P150,000,000.00) or such sum or sums as may be needed to carry out 
the provisions of this Act shall be appropriated and shall be carried generally 
under the Department of National Defense in the General Appropriations Act. 
SEC 32. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
presidential issuances, rules and regulations or part thereof contrary to or 
inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended 
accordingly. If any part or provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the 
remaining provisions which are not affected thereby shall continue to have the 
force and effect of law. 


SEC 33. €ffectivity. -This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
Approved,