TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
s. No. 974
of !ii ■■ .'firr
25 AUG-6 A9:11
RllCtlV.DS'
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY OF THE 
PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) was created by virtue 
of Presidential Decree No. 190 in 1973 as the government's premiere institution for 
education, training and research on defense and national security. NDCP is mandated 
"to train and develop the skills and competencies of potential national defense leaders, 
civilian officials of the different agencies and instrumentalities of government, and 
selected executives from the private sector in the formulation and implementation of 
national security policies, and for high commend and staff duty."
Through the decades, NDCP continues to provide continuing and intensive 
studies relative to national defense and security to qualified military leaders and civilian 
executives. It has produced more than 3,000 graduates comprising of national 
security leaders across the sectors.
The "National Defense University of the Philippines (NDUP) Act" seeks to 
strengthen the mandate and mission of NDCP by elevating it to university status which 
shall be known as the "National Defense University of the Philippines" or NDUP. It 
shall aim to develop the skills and competencies, 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 qualified military officials and civilian executives. 
Moreover, the organizational structure of the NDUP will be strengthened to ensure 
that it will have the capacity to fulfill its mandate.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this 
recommended.
is highly
INGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. ^*^4
‘c:>ciuv •;
••■(©fi'if** of Ml* flag*
25 AUG-6 A9:11
received bv
Introduced by Senator 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:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as "NationalDefense University
2 
of the Philippines (NDUP) Act".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - it shall be the policy of the State to provide
4 
advanced education in national security administration to outstanding men and
5 
women in the military as well as key officers in government agencies and the private
6 
sector.
7 
Sec. 3. Establishment of the National Defense University of the Philippines
8 
(NDUP). - In furtherance of the policy enunciated under Section 2 hereof, there shall
9 
be established in the Philippines an educational, training and research institution to be
10 
known as the "National Defense University of the Philippines" or NDUP.
11 
Sec. 4. Objectives. - As an institution of higher learning. National Defense
12 
University of the Philippines shall aim to promote, to the highest degree possible, the
13 
traditional functions of teaching, research and extension. The NDUP shall have as its
14 
objectives, the development of the skills and competence as well as the enhancement
15 
of proper attitude and values of its students so that they can help formulate and
16 
implement national security policies. It shall also conduct strategic and international
17 
studies and support of, or as basis for national security policies.


1 
Sec. 5. Functions. - In order to achieve the objective defined in the preceding
2 
section, the NDUP shall:
3 
a) Conduct academic program consisting of graduate courses at both masters
4 
and doctorate levels of studies and other special courses in the field of
5 
national security administration;
6 
b) Undertake research and studies program that will enhance the quality and
7 
effectiveness of national security formulation and management;
8 
c) Provide an extension program consisting of short courses, seminar
9 
workshop, policy conferences and fora on national security issues which
10 
may be held various location in the country to supplement its academic
11 
and research studies program;
12 
d) Perform such other functions as may be directed by the Republic of the
13 
Philippines.
14 
Sec. 6. Organizational Structure. - The NDUP, as an academic institution of the
15 
Department of National Defense, shall initially to be composed of the National Defense
16 
University of the Philippines, Center for National Security Studies and a Center of
17 
Extension Services. Other units may be established by the Secretary of the National
18 
Defense upon the recommendation of the President of NDUP in response to particular
19 
needs of the defense established.
20 
Sec. 7. The President - Under the general direction and supervision of the
21 
Secretary of National Defense, the NDUP shall be headed by a President who shall
22 
have full power and authority to administer, manage and control its affairs. The
23 
President of the NDUP shall be a holder of doctorate degree, preferably with a masters
24 
in National Security Administration, and shall be appointed by the President of the
25 
Philippines upon the recommendation by the Secretary of National Defense. Based on
26 
the committee recommendation, this committee may formulate its rule for selection
27 
and based therefrom, shall select and recommended at least three (3) candidates from
28 
which the Secretary of National Defense may choose to recommend for appointment
29 
by the President of the Philippines.
30 
Sec. 8. The Executive Vice President and other Vice President - The President
31 
of NDUP shall be assisted by an Executive Vice President, Vice President of Academic


1 
Affairs, Vice President for Administration Services, Vice President for Research and
2 
special Studies and a Vice President for Extension Activities.
3 
a) Functions. The Executive Vice President who shall be responsible for
4 
planning and development shall act for the President in his absence and
5 
shall perform such other functions as may be assigned to him by the
6 
President. The Vice President for Academic Affairs shall be responsible for
7 
the development, implementation, supervision and evaluation of the
8 
academic program. The Vice President for Administrative Service shall be
9 
responsible for the overall administration support to all activities of the
10 
University. The Vice President for Research and Special Studies shall direct
11 
the conduct of research work and special studies while the Vice President
12 
Extension Services shall be responsible for the outreach program and
13 
extension activities of the NDUP.
14 
b) Qualifications. The Executive Vice President and all the Vice Presidents shall
15 
be holders of a doctorate degree and preferably also holders of masters
16 
degree in National Security Administration or equivalent degree. They shall
17 
be appointed by the Secretary of National Defense.
18 
Sec. 9. The Dean of the Colleges and the Directors of Centers. - The Colleges
19 
of the National Defense University of the Philippines shall be headed by a Dean while
20 
the Center for National Security Studies and Center for Extension services shall each
21 
be under a director. They shall be holders of a doctorate degree and preferably also
22 
with a master's degree in National Security Administration.
23 
Sec. 10. Term of Office. - The President, Executive Vice President, all Vice
24 
President, the Dean of the Colleges and Directors of the Center shall serve for a term
25 
of six (6) years without prejudice to one re-appointment for the same period.
26 
Sec. 11. Registrar. - The NDUP shall have a Registrar who shall be appointed
27 
by the Secretary of National Defense upon recommendation of the University
28 
President. The Registrar shall keep all Transcripts of Records and related records of
29 
students as well as the minutes of academic board meetings.
30 
Sec. 12. Course Offering. — The University shall offer graduate degree at both
31 
master and doctorate of study in National Security Administration and Development
32 
and shall undertake applied research and strategic and international studies. The


1 
Center for Extension Services shall undertake an extension and outreach program for
2 
promotion of national security consciousness. The NDUP shall conduct such other
3 
courses or perform such studies as it may deem necessary to carry out its mandate or
4 
as directed by the Secretary of National Defense or the President of the Philippines.
5 
Sec. 13. Conferment of Academic and Degrees. - The NDUP shall confer
6 
graduate degrees upon successful candidates for graduation and may award honorary
7 
degree upon persons who have made outstanding contribution to or have
8 
distinguished themselves in the field of national security.
9 
Sec. 14. Direction and Supervision of NDUP. - The NDUP shall be under the
10 
general direction and supervision of the Secretary of National Defense who shall
11 
organize the university and appoint the heads of units other official with the ranks
12 
comparable with those of other graduate colleges or universities. The NDUP shall have
13 
such personnel as may be necessary to enable the institution to effectively carry out
14 
its mandate.
15 
Sec. 15. The Academic Board.-
16 
a) Composition. The National Defense University of the Philippines shall have
17 
an academic board composed of the Vice President for Academic Affairs as
18 
Chairman, the Dean of the NDUP, the Director of the Center for National
19 
Strategic studies, the director of the Center for Extension Services, the
20 
heads of the academic disciplines of the college, the institutes and the
21 
centers as members. The Board may be expanded, at the discretion of the
22 
President, to include such staff and faculty members as may be determined
23 
by him provided the additional members shall not exceed twenty (20).
24 
Resource persons may be requested to attend academic board meetings to
25 
provide information or expertise necessary in making appropriate
26 
recommendation or decisions.
27 
b) Function. The Academic Board shall assist the President in the discharge of
28 
the following functions:
29 
(1) To supervise the academic affairs of the University;
30 
(2) To take responsibility for discipline of students;


1 
(3)To recommend the courses of study which shall include, but not
2 
necessarily limited to, all facets and elements of national security,
3 
strategic and international studies;
4 
(4) To recommend the establishment of professional chairs in the University;
5 
and,
6 
(5) To recommend the adoption of admission requirements and the
7 
conferment of degrees to candidates for graduation for the approval of
8 
the President.
9 
Sec. 16. The Board of Visitors.-
10 
a) Composition. The NDUP shall have a Board of Visitors composed of not more
11 
than nine (9) members who are distinguished alumni of NDUP, captains of
12 
industry, members of the academe or government officials whose functional
13 
and professional expertise span the mission and specific curricula of the
14 
University and who shall be appointed by the Secretary of National Defense
15 
for a term of three (3) years. No member of the Board shall serve a total of
16 
more than nine (9) years.
17 
b) Meetings. The Board shall meet at least once every year to assist the NDUP
18 
in the review of the curricular offering, make written observations and
19 
submit recommendations relative to the accomplishment of the mission of
20 
the University.
21 
c) Honoraria and expenses. The members of the Board shall not receive any
22 
salary but shall, however, be entitled to honoraria and reimbursement for
23 
actual and necessary expenses incurred in attendance to meetings as may
24 
be determined by the Secretary of National Defense.
25 
Sec. 17. Remuneration. - The salary, privileges and other benefits of the
26 
President, the Vice President, the Dean of the College and the Directors of the two
27 
Centers shall be comparable to that being received by the president, academic heads,
28 
faculty, and staff of premier educational institutions in the country: Provided, That in
29 
addition to the regular salaries, merit increases and across-the-board salary
30 
adjustments and other forms of emoluments and benefits may be given.
31 
Sec. 18. Exemption from Compensation and Position Classification and Civil
32 
Service Commission Rules. - The President, the Executive Vice President, the Vice


1 
Presidents, the College Dean, the Institute Director, and the members of the faculty
2 
shall be exempt from the rules and regulations on the compensation and position
3 
classification of civil servants. Likewise, they shall be exempt from the Civil Service
4 
Examination as a requisite for appointment. No religious of political affiliation shall be
5 
a matter of inquiry in the appointment of the officials or employees of the University.
6 
Sec. 19. Honoraria of Faculty Members and Consultants. - The National Defense
7 
University of the Philippines shall have a core faculty composed of professors,
8 
instructors and lecturers in full time basis. Consultants of the University on part-time
9 
basis may be drawn from the military and civilian branches of the national government,
10 
from business, and from public and private educational institutions. All academic
11 
consultants, professors, instructors or lecturers, whether civilian or military personnel,
12 
in addition to their regular salaries, shall be entitled to receive honorarium or fees as
13 
may be fixed by the President with the approval of the Secretary of National Defense.
14 
Sec. 20. Fiscal Autonomy. - The NDUP shall enjoy fiscal autonomy. Pursuant to
15 
each authority to collect various fees in all academic and training courses, it shall be
16 
allowed to retain the proceeds of such collection and to appropriate the same for the
17 
regular expenditure of NDUP subject to government accounting rules and regulations.
18 
The NDUP may receive in trust legacies, devises, gifts, donations of real and personal
19 
property of all kinds and nature and to administer the same for the benefit of the
20 
University in accordance with the instructions or directions of the donor or in default
21 
thereof, as the law on donation may provide.
22 
Sec. 21. Personnel on Special Studies Details or Secondment - Heads of
23 
bureaus and officers of the national government are hereby authorized to loan or
24 
transfer upon request of the President of the University, such apparatus or supplies
25 
as may be needed by the University and to assign employees on detail or secondment,
26 
for duty therein, when in the judgment of the head of the bureau or office such
27 
supplies or employees can be spared without serious detriment to the public service.
28 
For the purpose of promotion or other personnel transactions, service in the university
29 
either by uniformed or civilian personnel shall be counted as part of active service in
30 
their mother units.
31 
Sec. 22. Academic Freedom. -The NDUP shall enjoy academic freedom.


1 
Sec. 23. Grant of Career Executive Service Eiigibiiity. - For purposes of
2 
appointment or promotion to key and sensitive positions in the government, graduates
3 
of doctoral or graduate courses of the National Defense University of the Philippines
4 
are granted a career executive service officer eligibility, Level 3 and 5, respectively
5 
and preferential consideration and/or credit points in the grade or class of their
6 
respective positions. This provision on eligibility shall have retroactive effect insofar as
7 
it benefits holders of a master in national security administration degree from the
8 
NDUP.
9 
Sec. 24. Promotion to Generai/ Fiag Rank. - For purposes of promotion to the
10 
rank of brigadier general or flag officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, a
11 
master's degree in National Security Administration shall be a requirement.
12 
Nonetheless, accreditation of equivalent courses taken in foreign schools may be
13 
allowed as an exemption on case-to-case basis upon consultation with the Chief of
14 
Staff, AFP and the recommendation of NDUP.
15 
Sec. 25. Grant of Commission to Civiiian Graduates. - Subject to existing AFP
16 
regulations, civilian graduates of regular courses from NDUP may be commissioned as
17 
officers in the Reserve Corps of the AFP with the initial rank of lieutenant colonel for
18 
those who are holders of master's degree. For holders of Doctorate in National Security
19 
Administration, the rank of full colonel may be given provided that the candidate is at
20 
least forty-two (42) years old and holds the rank equivalent to a department
21 
undersecretary. Those who are holders of commission in the AFP (inactive) below the
22 
rank of lieutenant colonel shall be promoted to lieutenant colonel or full colonel, as
23 
the case may be.
24 
Sec. 26. Eiigibiiity, Lists, and Authority to Use "MNSA" and "DNSA'. - All
25 
graduates of the masters in National Security Administration course and doctorate in
26 
National Security Administration shall be included in the MNSA and DNSA eligibility list
27 
and authorized to use with honor the abbreviation "MNSA" after their name while
28 
those graduating with doctoral degree may use "DNSA". The eligibility lists shall be
29 
published periodically by the NDUP, copy of which shall be furnished the Chief of Staff
30 
of the AFP.
31 
Sec. 27. AnnuaiReport. - Within thirty (30) days after the opening of the regular
32 
classes each year, the President of the NDUP shall submit to the Secretary of National


1 
Defense with a copy to the Office of the President of the Philippines and to both
2 
Houses of Congress, an annual report containing details on the conduct of the
3 
preceding classes, progress on the on-going classes, and conditions and needs of the
4 
University.
5 
Sec. 28. Transfer of Personnel, Equipment, Assets and Liabilities. - All
6 
personnel, records, equipment, appropriations, assets and liabilities of the National
7 
Defense College of the Philippines are hereby transferred to the NDUP.
8 
Sec. 29. Campus of NDUP. -The NDUP campus shall be located in Metro Manila.
9 
Sec. 30. Transitory Provision. - The incumbent President of the NDCP shall be
10 
the officer-in-charge of NDUP pending the appointment of the first President of the
11 
University pursuant to this Act.
12 
Sec. 31. Promulgation of Implementing Rules. - The Secretary of National
13 
Defense is hereby empowered to promulgate rules and regulations to effectively
14 
implement the objectives and purposes of this Act.
15 
Sec. 32. Initial Appropriations. - The amount of One hundred fifty million pesos
16 
(P150,000,000.00) or such sum or sums as may be needed to carry out the provisions
17 
of this Act shall be appropriated and shall be carried generally under the Department
18 
of National Defense in the General Appropriations Act.
19 
Sec. 33. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, presidential
20 
issuances, rules and regulations or part thereof contrary to or inconsistent with any
21 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
22 
Sec. 34. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared
23 
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions which are not affected thereby shall
24 
continue to have the force and effect of law.
25 
Sec. 35. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved,