NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
s. No. 12.‘^5
of tlif :
*22 AUG 31 A 8 '30
RtaiVtOBV f-
Introduced by SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR EJERCUO
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
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that:
"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 fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required, under 
conditions provided by law, to render persona! military or civil service."
As also stated under Section 13 of the same article that:
"The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building 
and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, 
and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and 
nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs."
The Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC) was founded in the country in 1912. 
It became mandatory after the effectivity of the Commonwealth Act 1 or the National 
Defense Act of 1935 by then President Manuel Quezon. After the World War II, the 
ROTC units were "disbanded and demobilized". However, in 1967, President Ferdinand 
Marcos, Sr. issued Executive Order 59 which restored the ROTC and making it 
mandatory. After the issues of corruption, hazing, among others, surrounding the


ROTC, it was made optional under Republic Act (RA) No. 9163 or the National Service 
Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001.
With the enactment of RA No. 9163, the Reserve Officers' Training Corps 
(ROTC) Program became one of the components of the National Service Training 
Program (NSTP), together with Literacy Training Service (LTS) and Civic Welfare 
Training Service (CWTS). As the result of this, the enrollees to the ROTC dramatically 
declined. According to the Department of National Defense, there were around 
800,000 enrollees every year when ROTC Program was mandatory. According to the 
records, an estimate of only 14% of all NSTP graduates have undergone the ROTC 
Program. Consequently, the number of reservists that fulfill the Citizen Armed Force 
mission has reduced. As of July 2018, there are only 398,988 total Armed Forces of 
the Philippines Reserve Force. 1
As accurately stated in the case of People vs. Tranquilino Lagman GR No. 
45892. July 13,1938 : "To leave the organization of an army to the will of the citizens 
would be to make this duty of the Government excusable should there be no sufficient 
men who volunteer to enlist therein."
This bill seeks to establish the Citizen Service Training Course (CSTC), wherein 
a Basic Citizen Service Training Course (CSTC) shall be mandatory component in the 
curriculum of all tertiary-level male and female students enrolled in baccalaureate 
degree and all technical vocational courses. Under this bill, there will also be a Special 
CSTC for students with disabilities, those whose beliefs prohibit the use of firearms in 
rendering service to the country, and those who have been convicted by final 
judgment of crimes involving moral turpitude. Moreover, the measure also include the 
institutionalization of an Advance CSTC which shall consist of one hundred twenty 
eight (128) hours of lecture and practical training in external and territorial defense, 
internal security and peace and order, and disaster risk reductions and management. 
In line with these, a Citizen Service Corps will be established which shall be composed
1 https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/opinion/2022/02/09/2159594/manclatory-militarY-service


of all the graduates of the CSTC, who may be mobilized to assist the national 
government and local government units in relation to external and territorial defense, 
internal security and peace and order, and disaster risk reduction and management.
This measure aims not only to ensure that the youth is instilled with a sense 
of patriotism, civic responsibility and discipline, but also to make the youth our 
partners in nation building while being trained and organized for the noble purpose of 
serving the country.
In view of the foregoing, the swift passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1235
of ti)t &r:.-ftarj>
*22 AUG31 A 8 30
RUCEIVED BY:..
Introduced by SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJEROTO
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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines, in 
Congress assembled:
ARTICLE I 
Title
1 
Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Citizen Service Act".
2 
ARTICLE II
3 
Declaration of Policy
4 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State:
5 
a. To institutionalize the vital role of the youth in nation-building, promote and
6 
protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being; to
7 
inculcate in them patriotism and nationalism; and to encourage their
8 
involvement in public and civic affairs;
9 
b. To constitute the youth into a major component of the citizen reserve
10 
envisioned in the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, which
11 
shall undergo training and may be called upon to defend the State and to
12 
render personal military or civil service under conditions provided by law;
13 
and
14 
c. To train, equip and organize the youth, within the current frameworks of
15 
national and territorial defense, law enforcement and peace and order and


1 
national disaster risk reduction and management, to prepare them for rapid
2 
mobilization at the soonest possible time in order to address national and/or
3 
local contingencies which may require manpower beyond the capabilities of
4 
existing national government agencies or local government units.
5 
ARTICLE III
6 
Institution of Citizen Service Training Course
7 
Sec. 3. Basic Citizen Service Training Course. - There is hereby instituted a
8 
Basic Citizen Service Training Course (Basic CSTC) which shall form part of the
9 
curricula of all baccalaureate degree courses and all technical vocational courses
10 
(which may be completed in at least two (2) years).
11 
The Basic CSTC shall have a duration of at least four (4) semesters over two
12 
(2) school years, unless otherwise allowed by the Citizen Service Training Board.
13 
Except for justifiable causes, the Basic CSTC must be completed, as far as practicable,
14 
within the first two (2) years of all baccalaureate degree courses and technical
15 
vocational courses.
16 
The Basic CSTC is hereby declared as a requisite for graduation in the said
17 
courses.
18 
Sec. 4. Coverage. - All tertiary-level, male and female, enrolled in
19 
baccalaureate degree courses or technical vocational courses (which may be
20 
completed in a t least two (2) years in all public and private colleges, universities, or
21 
similar learning institutions shall be required to undergo the Basic CSTC.
22 
Sec. 5. Special CSTC for Students under Specific Circumstances. - There shall
23 
be no exemptions from the Basic CSTC. However, the Citizen Service Mobilization
24 
Commission shall prescribe Special CSTC to address the peculiar needs and
25 
circumstances of students under the following circumstances:
26 
a. Those who are classified and officially registered as persons with disabilities;
27 
b. Those whose religious beliefs prohibit the use of firearms in rendering
28 
sen/ice to the country; and
29 
c. Those who have been convicted by final judgement of crimes involving
30 
moral turpitude;
31 
Provided, That foreign citizens enrolled in baccalaureate degree courses or
32 
technical vocational courses where CSTC is required shall also undergo a Special CSTC


1 
prescribed by the Citizen Service Mobilization Commission that wouid deepen their
2 
understanding and appreciation of the Philippines, its peopie, society, culture and
3 
government, and harness their potential as bridges to improve their respective
4 
countries' ties with the Phiiippines.
5 
Sec. 6. Advance CSTC. - There is also hereby instituted an Advance CSTC,
6 
except those who have been convicted by final judgement of crimes involving moral
7 
turpitude; and who have successfuily finished a one-semester officer qualifying course
8 
within the first two (2) years of their baccaiaureate degree courses or technicai
9 
vocational courses. The officer quaiif/ing course shall include leadership and
10 
management training, which will equip the graduates thereof to themselves administer
11 
the Basic CSTC; shall be completed in one (1) semester; and shall consist of at least
12 
one hundred and twenty-eight (128) hours of lecture, practical training and field
13 
exercises in externai and territorial defense, internal security and peace and order,
14 
and disaster risk reduction and management.
15 
’It shaii be mandatory for ail public and private colieges, universities and similar
16 
learning institutions offering baccalaureate degree courses to offer the Advance CSTC
17 
in all their campuses, which shall have a duration of at least eight (8) semesters over
18 
four (4) school years, unless otherwise allowed by the Citizen Service Training Board.
19 
However, enroilment thereunder shaii be voiuntary. Graduates of the Advance CSTC
20 
shall be posted to leadership roies in the Citizen Service Corps established herein.
21 
Sec. 7. Preparation CSTC -There is further hereby instituted a Preparatory
22 
CSTC which shall be administered and implemented by the Department of Education
23 
(DepEd) to all students, male and female, enrolled in Grades 11 and 12 in all public
24 
and private iearning institutions. The Preparatory CSTC shaii be an
25 
introductory/orientation course to the Basic CSTC and is hereby deciared a
26 
requirement for enrollment in ali baccalaureate degree courses or technical vocational
27 
courses (which may be completed in at ieast two (2) years) in ali pubiic and private
28 
coiieges, universities, and similar learning institutions.
29
30 
ARTICLE IV
31 
Establishment of the Citizen Service Corps


1 
Sec.8. Citizen Service Corps. - There is hereby established a Citizen Service
2 
Corps (Corps) which shall be composed of all the graduates of CSTC and may be called
3 
upon and mobilized to assist the national government, its agencies and
4 
instrumentalities, and the local government units in their functions related to external
5 
and territorial defense, internal security and peace and order, and disaster risk
6 
reduction and management.
7 
ARTICLE V
8 
Creation of the Citizen Service Mobilization Commission
9 
Sec. 9. Citizen Service Mobilization Commission. - There is hereby created a
10 
Citizen Service Mobilization Commission (Commission), which shall oversee the CSTC
11 
and the Corps, and implement the objectives and purposes of this Act. The President
12 
shall appoint the Chairperson and the four (4) Commissioners as provided herein
13 
within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act. The Commission must organize
14 
itself in accordance with the provision of this Act withing sixty (60) days from the
15 
appointment of all its members. The Commission shall be an attached agency of the
16 
Office of the President.
17 
The Commission shall ensure the full implementation of this Act within one (1)
18 
year from the effectivity of this Act.
19 
Sec. 10. Composition of the Commission. - The Commission shall be composed
20 
of a Chairperson and four (4) Commissioners, namely, the Commissioner for External
21 
and Territorial Defense, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Peace and Order,
22 
the Commissioner for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, and the
23 
Commissioner for Educational Institutions. The Secretary of the Department of
24 
National Defense (DND), the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local
25 
Government (DILG), the Chairperson of the Commission of Higher Education (CHED),
26 
and the Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
27 
(TESDA), or their duly-authorized representatives with a rank of at least Assistant
28 
Secretary for the DND and the DILG, Commissioner for the CHED, or Board Member
29 
for the TESDA, shall be ex-officio members of the Commission.
30 
The Chairperson and the Commissioners shall be citizens and residents of the
31 
Philippines, at least thirty-five (35) years of age, of good moral character, or
32 
recognized probity and independence, and, through their training, experience, and


1 
education, must have distinguished themselves as best-suited to discharge the duties
2 
of their offices. They must not have been candidates for any elective national or local
3 
offices in the immediately preceding elections, whether regular or special. The
4 
Chairperson and the Commissioners, who shall have the rank equivalent of cabinet
5 
secretary and undersecretary, respectively, shall be appointed by the President.
6 
Sec. 11. Quorum. - Five (5) members of the Commission shall constitute a
7 
quorum and the affirmative vote of at least a majority of those present, there being a
8 
quorum, shall be necessary for the adoption of any rule, ruling, order, resolution,
9 
decision, or other acts of the Commission; Provided, That the affirmative vote of at
10 
least five (5) members of the Commission shall be necessary for the exercise of the
11 
powers and functions of the Commission under Section 13(a),(d),(f), 0), and (k), as
12 
well as those under Section 18, paragraph 4, Section 27, and Section 29.
13 
Sec. 12. Term of Office. - The term of office of the Chairperson and the
14 
Commissioners shall be four (4) years, subject to reappointment: Provided, That no
15 
person shall serve as Chairperson or Commissioner for more that two (2) consecutive
16 
terms.
17 
Of those first appointed, the Chairperson and the two (2) Commissioners first
18 
to be appointed shall hold office for four (4) years, while the two (2) Commissioners
19 
last to be appointed shall hold office for two (2) years. Appointment to any vacancy
20 
shall only be for the unexpired term of the predecessor.
21 
Sec. 13. Powers of the Commission. -The Commission shall have the following
22 
powers:
23 
a. Design, prescribe and/or approve the programs of instruction for the CSTC,
24 
including special courses for students under specific circumstances;
25 
b. Ensure the proper administration of the CSTC;
26 
c. Exercise supervision and control over all agencies, offices and persons,
27 
directly implementing the CSTC;
28 
d. Recommend to the President of the Philippines the general, nationwide or
29 
large-scale mobilization of the Corps;
30 
e. Approve, as required under this Act, the development of a limited number
31 
of the Corps to national government agencies and local government units


1 
to assist in regionai, provincial, city, municipal or barangay level disasters,
2 
emergencies and other contingencies;
3 
f. Approve the regular deployment of a limited number of the Corps to the
4 
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP)
5 
and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to serve as reservists and active-duty
6 
cadres to meet the peace time stand by reserve requirements of said
7 
agencies. To complement the existing AFP Reserve Force, the Commission
8 
is hereby authorized and mandated to organize the reserve components of
9 
the PNP and the OCD within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act.
10 
Thereafter, the administration, operational control and funding of the newly
11 
organized reserve components shall be vested upon the PNP and the OCD,
12 
respectively. However, the Commission retains the authority to determine
13 
the allocation of the Corps to each of the reserve components;
14 
g. Investigate or secure the services or assistance of the appropriate agencies
15 
to investigate cases of corruption, graft, hazing, sexual harassment and
16 
other abuse in the conduct of the CSTC, mobilization of the Corps and
17 
implementation of this Act;
18 
h. Issue serial number to all graduates of the CSTC;
19 
i. Maintain a registry of all trainees and graduates of the CSTC;
20 
j. Promulgate the appropriate rules and regulations, in accordance with
21 
Section 26 hereof, to fully implement the provisions of this Act;
22 
k. Appoint, fix the compensation and determine the status, qualifications, and
23 
duties of the staff of the Commission. The members of 
the technical staff,
24 
except those performing purely clerical functions, 
shall possess at least a
25 
baccalaureate degree;
26 
I. Generate and utilize resources to fully implement the provisions of this Act;
27 
m. Audit the utilization of the fees collected by public and private colleges,
28 
universities and similar learning institutions under Section 32 of this Act;
29 
n. Exercise such other powers as are necessary or essential to fully implement
30 
the provisions of this Act.
31 
Sec. 14. Organization of the Commission. -The Commission shall have a Citizen
32 
Service Training Board and a Citizen Service Mobilization Board.


1 
Sec. 15. Citizen Service Training Board. -The Citizen Service Training Board
2 
(Training Board) shall be composed of the Chairperson as head, the four (4)
3 
Commissioners, the Chairperson of the CHED and the Director General of the TESDA,
4 
or their duly authorized representatives, which shall be a Commissioner for the CHED
5 
and a Board Member for the TESDA.
6 
The Training Board shall come up with the initial CSTC Programs of Instruction
7 
(CSTC POI), including the officer qualifying course, within sixty (60) days from the
8 
organization of the Commission. For this purpose, the Training Board is hereby
9 
directed to tap the technical expertise of the AFP, the PNP and the OCD, the expertise
10 
and experience of stakeholders in both public and private sector, and the curriculum
11 
development expertise of the CHED, the TESDA and the DepEd, as well as public and
12 
private colleges, universities and similar learning institutions. The CSTC POI shall be
13 
subject to the approval of the Commission. The Training Board shall also supervise
14 
the continuous development of the CSTC POI.
15 
Thereafter, the Commission, through the Training Board, shall ensure the
16 
incorporation of the CSTC POI in the curricula of all baccalaureate degree courses and
17 
al technical vocational courses (which may be completed in at least 2 years) officered
18 
by public and private colleges, universities and similar learning institutions, and in the
19 
curricula of Grade 11 and Grade 12 in all public and private learning institutions.
20 
The Training Board shall adopt guidelines, which shall be incorporated in the
21 
rules and regulations of the Commission, for the organization of a Department of
22 
Citizen Service Training in every public and private colleges, universities and similar
23 
learning institutions. For colleges and universities with multiple campuses, there shall
24 
be a Department of Citizen Service Training for each campus.
25 
Sec. 16. Citizen Service Mobiiization Board. -The Citizen Service Mobilization
26 
Board (Mobilization Board) shall be composed of the Chairperson as head, the four
27 
(4) Commissioners, the Secretary of the DND, the Secretary of the DILG, and the
28 
Secretary of the Social Welfare and Development, or their duly authorized
29 
representatives, with a rank of at least Assistant Secretary, and the Chief of Staff of
30 
the AFP and the Director General of the PNP, or their duly authorized representatives
31 
with a rank of at least Brigadier General, Commodore or Chief Superintendent, as the
32 
case may be.


1 
The Mobilization Board shall administer the process of deployment of the Corps
2 
in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
3 
ARTICLE VI
4 
Development of the Citizen Service Training Course
5 
Sec, 17. Components of the CSTC. -The CSTC shall have the following basic
6 
components:
7 
a. External and Territorial Defense Training;
8 
b. Internal Security and Peace and Order Training; and
9 
c. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Training.
10 
In addition to the foregoing basic components, the CSTC shall instill upon the
11 
youth the ideals of patriotism, nationalism and respect for human rights. These
12 
components shall be incorporated into four (4) modules which shall be administered
13 
in a span of at least four (4) semesters over at least two (2) years, unless otherwise
14 
allowed by the Training Board, and for at least sixty-four (64) hours every semester
15 
and sixteen (16) hours of field training exercises every year.
16 
The trainees shall be organized by squads, platoons, companies, battalions,
17 
brigades and divisions similar to military units. Military-type of discipline, organization
18 
and trainee movement shall be observed in the conduct of the CSTC
19 
Sec. 18. Department of Citizen Service Training. -Tasked with the primary duty
20 
and responsibility of fully implementing the CSTC in their respective campuses, an
21 
autonomous department within each campus of their respective institutions shall be
22 
established in all public and private colleges, universities and similar learning
23 
institutions in accordance with the structure and organization provided in the rules
24 
and regulations of the Commission. The head of each campus and/or learning
25 
institution shall appoint a department head withing thirty (30) days from the effectivity
26 
of the rules and regulations implementing this Act. This department shall be known
27 
as the Department of Citizen Service Training (DCST), which shall be directly under
28 
the office of the head of each campus and/or learning institution.
29 
The DCST shall be civilian in character and shall administer the CSTC. However,
30 
it is understood that personnel of the AFP, PNP, and the Bureau of Fire Protection
31 
(BFP) shall not be disqualified from being appointed as heads of the DCST.
8


1 
The head of the DCST shall be chosen by the head of the learning institution
2 
from among candidates who by reason of their training, experience and/or education
3 
in the fields of external and territorial defense, internal security and peace and order
4 
and/or disaster risk reduction management is best qualified to be the head of the
5 
DCST. The Commission shall have the authority to prescribe the qualifications for the
6 
head of DCST.
7 
Should a learning institution fail to organize a DCST and/or appoint a DCST
8 
head within the period stated above, the Commission shall cause the establishment of
9 
a DCST and/or appoint the head thereof.
10 
Sec. 19. The University of the Philippines as Curriculum and Development
11 
Center. -The university of the Philippines (U.P.), as the National University, through
12 
its various DCSTs in each of its campuses, shall serve as the CSTC POI research and
13 
development center for the Commission. For this purpose, there shall be created a
14 
U.P. Center for Citizens Service Training (CCST) which shall be an autonomous unit
15 
under the Office of the U.P. President and shall have the following powers:
16 
a. Undertake studies, surveys, and research to assess and/pr enhance the
17 
implementation of the Commission;
18 
b. Design and develop CSTC subjects and modules for the review and approval
19 
of the Commission;
20 
c. Pilot test CSTC subjects, modules and programs if designed and developed
21 
within the U.P. system for purposes of assessment; and
22 
The U.P. CCST shall be located at eh U.P. Diliman DCST.
23 
Sec. 20. Development of the CSTC POI. - The U.P CCST shall propose
24 
improvements to the CSTC POI, which shall undergo pilot-testing in each of the I.P
25 
campuses. The pilot-tested CSTC POI shall be submitted for the assessment,
26 
consideration and approval of the Commission within thirty (30) days from the last
27 
day for the pilot-testing semester.
28 
The Commission and the U.P. CCST shall ensure the participation of third-party
29 
stakeholders and experts in the fields of external and territorial defense, internal
30 
security and peace and order, and disaster risk reduction and management in the
31 
continued development and improvement of the CSTC POI.
32 
ARTICLE VII


1 
Deployment of the Citizen Service Corps
2 
Sec. 21. Requests for Deployment - The Corps may be called upon and
3 
mobilized to assist the national government, its agencies and instrumentalities and the
4 
local government units in their functions related to external and territorial defense,
5 
internal security and peace and order, and disaster risk reduction and management,
6 
through requests for deployment by the heads of such national government agencies
7 
or local government units submitted to the Mobilization Board. The requests shall
8 
contain a justification for the deployment of the Corps and shall contain information
9 
as may be required by the Commission, including the nature of the national or local
10 
contingencies to be addressed, the purpose of the requested deployment, the number
11 
of personnel requested to be deployed and the period of deployment.
12 
Sec. 22. Evaluation of the Requests for Deployment. - The Mobilization Board
13 
shall evaluate the requests for deployment. When the number of personnel requested
14 
does not exceed one hundred and fifty (150) and the period of deployment does not
15 
exceed sixty (60) days, the Mobilization Board shall decide whether to approve or
16 
disapprove the request within twenty-four (24) hours from receipt thereof. When the
17 
number of personnel requested one hundred and fifty (150) or the period of
18 
deployment exceeds sixty (60) days, the Mobilization Board shall make a
19 
recommendation to the Commission within twenty-four (24) hours from receipt of the
20 
request. The Commission shall decide whether to approve or disapprove the request
21 
within twenty-four (24) hours from receipt of the recommendation of the Mobilization
22 
Board.
23 
In case of the approval of the request for deployment, the Mobilization Board
24 
shall issue an Order of Deployment requiring the Corps, or a number thereof, to assist
25 
the national government, its agencies and instrumentalities and the local government
26 
units in their functions related to external and territorial defense, internal security and
27 
peace and order, and disaster risk reduction and management.
28 
Sec 23. Deployment in Case of Declaration of a State of War, State of Lawless
29 
Violence or State of Calamity; Nationwide Mobilization. - In case of a declaration of a
30 
state of war, state of lawless violence or state of calamity, the Commission may motu
31 
proprio recommend the mobilization of the Corps to the President of the Philippines.
32 
The President of the Philippines, by himself, shall also have the power to order the
10


1 
mobilization of the Corps to respond to national or local contingencies related to
2 
external and territorial defense, internal security and peace and order and/or disaster
3 
risk reduction management.
4 
Sec. 24. Mobilization Centers. -There shall be established in each province and
5 
city as many mobilizations as needed according to the number and geographical
6 
distribution of the Corps, where they will report in case of deployment. The local
7 
government units shall provide an office, which shall be known as the Citizen Service
8 
Office, which shall handle the administrative aspects of mobilization.
9 
In case of mobilization, the equipment of the Corps shall be supplied in close
10 
coordination with the AFP, the PNP and the OCD, with the end in view of achieving
11 
rapid mobilization.
12 
Sec. 25. Lines of Command. - Upon deployment, operational control over the
13 
Corps shall be vested upon the head of the requesting national government agency
14 
or local government unit: Provided, That, in case of deployment for purposes of
15 
external and territorial defense, when the Corps is mobilized to expand the AFP in the
16 
event of war, invasion, rebellion or similar circumstances, operational control shall be
17 
vested upon the AFP.
18 
Sec. 26. Expenses of Deployment -The role of the Commission shall be to
19 
provide and marshal the required personnel to address national or local contingencies
20 
involving external and territorial defense, internal security and peace and order, and
21 
national disaster risk reduction and management. Upon deployment, the national
22 
government agency or the local government unit to which the Corps is deployed shall
23 
shoulder the operational expenses of deployment.
24 
Sec. 27. Operationalization of Deployment -The Mobilization Board, subject
25 
to the approval of the Commission, shall promulgate the specific mechanisms by which
26 
deployment is efficiently implemented, including the organization of the Corps to be
27 
deployed, their territorial assignments, how deployment orders are communicated to
28 
each member of the Corps and to which mobilization center they will report.
29 
Sec. 28. Serial Numbers and Registry. - Upon completing of the Basic CSTC,
30 
the graduates shall be issued individual serial numbers, which will serve as their
31 
identification in case of deployment.
11


1 
The Commission shall maintain and update a registry containing information on
2 
the members of the Corps, assigning to them identification numbers and categorizing
3 
them according to their competencies and capabilities. For this purpose, all public and
4 
private coileges, universities and iearning institutions shaii annuaiiy transmit their
5 
records of the graduates of the CSTC to the Commission, in the form as may be
6 
determined by the Commission.
7 
Sec. 29. Termination of Depioyment - Upon the expiration of the requested
8 
period of deployment, without an extension having been requested and approved by
9 
the Commission, the Corps shall be discharged of its duties. The depioyment may also
10 
be terminated earlier upon a determination by the Commission, in consultation with
11 
the requesting nationai government agency or locai government unit, that such
12 
deployment Is no longer in accordance with the objectives and purposes of this Act.
13 
Article VIII
14 
Funding of the Citizen Service Corps
15 
Sec. 30. Citizen Service Fund. - A Citizen Service Fund is hereby established
16 
exclusively for the implementation of the objectives and purposes of this Act. The
17 
Office of the President shall monito and evaluate the activities and the balances of the
18 
Fund.
19 
Sec. 31. Appropriations. - All funds previously appropriated for the
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establishment, maintenance, and operation of the Reserve Officer's Training Corps
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Program of the AFP, established under Republic Act No. 7077, as amended, and which
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will subsequently and hereafter be appropriated for such purpose shall be used
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exclusively for the implementation of the objectives and purposes of this Act. All funds
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appropriated for the implementation of the National Service Training Program under
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Republic Act No. 9163 shall also be used exclusively for the implementation of the
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objectives and purposes of this Act.
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An initial funding of Fifty million pesos (PhpSO,000,00.00) shall be allocated
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from the Presidential Social Fund to sustain the operation of the Commission and the
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implementation of this Act for the first year of its effectivity. Thereafter, the Citizen
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Service Fund shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
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Sec. 32. School Fees. - Public and private colleges, universities and similar
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learning institutions shall not collect any fee for the CSTC, except basic tuition fees.
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which shall be not more than fifty percent (50%) of what is charged per academic 
unit. All such fees collected by the learning institution shali be used exciusively for the 
direct training costs of those undergoing the CSTC in the said iearning institution.
Sec. 33. Incentives for Students Pursuing Advance CSTC. - Students pursuing 
the Advance CSTC shaii be entitled to tuition fee discounts according to the foliowing 
schedule:
a. Successful graduates of the officer qualifying course shali be entitied to fifty 
percent (50%) discount on their tuition fees effective the semester after their 
compietion of the officer qualifying course untii their compietion of the officer 
quaiifying course until their compietion of the Basic CSTC provided they 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.
For this purpose, pubiic, coileges, universities and similar learning institutions 
shaii issue tuition waivers in favor of the said students serving as officers of the CSTC. 
For private colieges, universities and similar learning institutions, the tuition fee 
discounts shaii be subsidized from the Fund.
Officers of the CSTC shaii likewise be entitied to a uniform allowance, which 
shaii be provided and given in kind by the Commission.
Furthermore, upon compietion of the Advance CSTC, the graduates shall be 
entitled to a reserve commission as second iieutenant or its equivalent in the AFP, PNP 
or OCD; Provided, That they shaii 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 Fund if allocated 
for the above incentives. The budget of the Commission to be submitted to the 
President shall likewise incorporate such allocation.
ARTICLE IX
Penal Provisions
Sec. 34. Failure to Respond.
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a. Failure to respond to the order of deployment 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 iess 
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:
Second Offense:
One hundred and twenty (120) hours 
of community service
Two hundred and forty (240) hours of 
community service; and
Third and Subsequent 
Six (6) months imprisonment and four
Offenses: 
hundred and eighty (480) hours of
community service.
Sec. 35. 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 penaity imposable under existing laws shall 
be impose.
ARTICLE X
Implementing Rules and Regulations
Sec. 36. 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 structure and organization of 
the Corps under Section 8, the structure of the Department of Citizen Service Training 
under Section 18, the specific mechanisms for the efficient mobilization and 
deployment of the Corps under Section 27, the incentives for students pursuing 
Advance CSTC under Sec 33, and such other matters as the commission may be deem 
necessary or essential to fully implement the objectives and purposes of this Act.
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ARTICLE IX
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Transitory Provisions
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Sec 37. Transitory Provisions. - To ensure efficient transition and to enable all
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public and private colleges, universities, and similar learning institutions to adopt the
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necessary structural changes within their units in accordance with the provisions oof
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this Act, the CSTC shall be administered in all public colleges, universities, and similar
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learning institutions after the Commission has formulated the necessary implementing
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rules and regulations described in Section 36.
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The Training Board shall ensure that the initial set of program managers who
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shall instruct and train the first sets of enrollees in the CSTC in all public and private
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colleges, universities and similar learning institutions are properly trained and
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equipped. For this purpose, the Training Board shall develop a Program Managers
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Training Course. All covered institutions are required to send program managers in a
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number sufficient to implement the CSTC.
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In all cases, students who are currently enrolled under the curriculum
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implemented by virtue of Republic Act No. 9163, otherwise known as the National
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Service Training Program Act of 2001, shall be allowed to finish the curriculum and be
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deemed to have satisfied the requirement for graduation after completion thereof.
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ARTICLE XIII
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Final Provisions
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Sec. 38. Repeaiing Clause. - Republic Act No. 9163, otherwise known as the
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National Service Training Program Act of 2001, is hereby repealed. The relevant
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provisions of Republic Act No. 7707, otherwise known as the Citizen Armed Forces of
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the Philippines Reservist Act, are hereby amended as appropriate. All other laws,
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orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are
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likewise hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 39. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
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unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force
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and effect.
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Sec. 40. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect immediately after fifteen (15)
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days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
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circulation.
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