NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE      ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
     ) 
First Regular Session        
     ) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
H. No. _______
Introduced by Representative Raul C. Tupas 
AN ACT MANDATING THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION, DEVELOPMENT, 
TRAINING, ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF BASIC RESERVE 
OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) IN GRADES 11 AND 12 IN PUBLIC 
AND PRIVATE EDUCATIONALINSTITUTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7077, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"CITIZEN ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINESRESERVIST ACT", AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 4 of Article Il of the Constitution provides: "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 personal, military or 
civil service." 
This constitutional provision upholds that the defense of the State is 
primarily the duty of both the government and its people. It shall be the 
responsibility of every Filipino to defend the security, freedom and 
independence of the Philippine Republic by rendering personal, military or civil 
service. Accordingly, Republic Act No. 7077, otherwise known as the "Armed 
Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act" mandated the military training for 
students enrolled in colleges, universities and similar learning institutions and 
established the Reserves Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) course as a 
requirement in acquiring a baccalaureate degree. 
The enactment of Republic Act No. 9163, otherwise known as the 
"National Service Training Program of 2001", made the Reserve Officers' 
Training Corps (ROTC) optional among male college students and this resulted 
to the decrease in number of those pursuing military training. At present, there 
is an increasing concern about the sustainability of the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines (AFP) reserve manpower supply and the capacity of the government 
to respond to any national security threat or national emergency, not to mention 
our country's stake in the West Philippine Sea. 
This bill seeks to provide for the restoration of mandatory military training 
for all Grade 11 and Grade 12 students in all public and private educations 
institutions. The two (2)-year Basic ROTC program for students enrolled in 
Grades 11 and 12 shall form part of the basic curricula for the Senior High 
School Education in pursuance to the provisions of the National Defense Act 
July 20, 2022
9:41 am
2174




NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
 ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    
 ) 
First Regular Session     
 ) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
H. No. ______
Introduced by Representative Raul C. Tupas 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION, DEVELOPMENT, 
TRAINING, ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF BASIC 
RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) IN GRADES 11 
AND 12 IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7077, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CITIZEN ARMED FORCES OF THE 
PHILIPPINES RESERVIST ACT", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Reserve 
1 
Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Act". 
2 
3 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Constitutional Policy. - The prime duty of the 
4 
government is to serve and protect the people. The government may call 
5 
upon the people to defend the State and, in the fulfillment thereof, all 
6 
citizens may be required, under conditions provided by law, to render 
7 
personal military or civil service. In the same manner, the State 
8 
recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building, and shall promote 
9 
civic consciousness among the youth and shall develop their physical, 
10 
moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the 
11 
youth patriotism, nationalism, and encourage involvement in public and 
12 
civic affairs. 
13 
14 
Towards this end, the State shall enhance the capacity of the nation 
15 
to produce the needed manpower and to expand its human resources in 
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times of war, calamities, and disasters, national or local emergencies, and 
17 
in support to the government's law enforcement strategy against crimes, 
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by creating a pool of trained reservists. 
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SECTION 3. Coverage. - The conduct of military training under the ROTC 
21 
shall apply to all students in Grades 11 and 12 in all senior high schools in 
22 
public and private educational institutions. 
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SECTION 4. Establishment of ROTC Program in All Public and Private 
1 
Educational Institutions. —  
2 
 
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a) There is hereby established a mandatory two (2)-year Basic ROTC 
4 
program for students enrolled in Grades 11 and 12 which shall form 
5 
part of the basic curricula for the Senior High School Education in 
6 
public and private educational institutions in pursuance to the 
7 
provisions of the National Defense Act and the 1987 Constitution, 
8 
with the objective of producing well-trained and prepared reservists 
9 
for military and civic service. The ROTC training is aimed to instill 
10 
patriotism, love of country, moral and spiritual virtues, respect for 
11 
human rights and adherence to the Constitution. In no way shall the 
12 
ROTC be used for political aims, to teach and instill a particular 
13 
ideology and as a mechanism for hazing and abuse. 
14 
 
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b) The ROTC shall include the following program of instruction:  
16 
 
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1. Enhancing the students' consciousness in the ethics of service, 
18 
patriotism 
and 
nationalism, 
respect 
for 
human 
rights, 
19 
appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical 
20 
development of the country, strengthen ethical and spiritual 
21 
values, develop personal discipline and leadership, and to 
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encourage creative thinking for scientific and technological 
23 
development. 
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2. Basic military training for students in order to motivate, train, 
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organize and utilize for national defense preparedness or civil-
27 
military operations: Provided, That no students below the age 
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eighteen (18) shall take a direct part in hostilities. 
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3. Civic training for students in order to be active participants and 
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volunteers for the development and improvement of health, 
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education, ecology and environmental 49 protection, disaster 
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risk reduction and management, human and civil rights 
34 
awareness, and law enforcement. 
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c)  Any student who fails to undergo the mandatory Basic ROTC in 
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accordance with this Act shall not be qualified for graduation. In 
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addition, thereto, the non-taking of Basic ROTC by any student shall 
39 
be a ground for Compulsory Military Training in pursuance to Section 
40 
14 of Republic Act No. 7077. Any educational institution that fails to 
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institute and implement the ROTC Program in pursuance to this Act 
42 
shall be subject to disciplinary and administrative sanctions as the 
43 
Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education 
44 
(CHEd), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 
45 
(TESDA) may impose. 
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d) Guided by the provision of Section 4 (b) hereof, the Department of 
1 
National Defense (DND), DepEd, and TESDA, in consultation with 
2 
other relevant government agencies and private stakeholders as the 
3 
Secretary of National Defense may determine, shall design and 
4 
formulate the Program of Instruction (POI) on the Basic ROTC 
5 
program in Grades 11 and 12, within sixty (60) days from the approval 
6 
of this Act and shall jointly issue the implementing rules and 
7 
regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions of this 
8 
Act. 
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SECTION 5. Students Exempted from this Act. - The following may be 
11 
exempted from the coverage of this Act: 
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a) Those who are physically or psychologically unfit, as certified by the 
14 
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Surgeon General or his 
15 
authorized medical officer, in pursuance to the recommendation of 
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the educational institutions where the concerned student is enrolled; 
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b)  Those who have undergone or are undergoing similar military 
19 
training; 
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c) Those who were chosen by their school to serve as the school's 
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varsity players in sports competitions; and 
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d) Those who may be exempted from training for valid reasons as 
25 
approved by the DND, upon recommendation by any educational 
26 
institution where the concerned student is enrolled. 
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SECTION 6. Acceptance for Advance ROTC. — Students who volunteer 
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for Advance ROTC Program in universities, colleges, vocational schools 
30 
and other tertiary institutions shall be governed by Section 40 of Republic 
31 
Act No. 7077, or the Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist 
32 
Act. The provisions of Section 42 and 43 of Republic Act No. 7077 in terms 
33 
of training, uniforms and supplies, and the scholarship incentive shall 
34 
remain effective and applicable for those accepted in the Advance ROTC 
35 
course. 
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SECTION 7. Organization, Operation and Maintenance of ROTC Units. - 
38 
The organization, operation and maintenance for the establishment of 
39 
ROTC shall be in accordance with Sections 41 and 42 of Republic Act No. 
40 
7077 which shall remain effective and operative unless inconsistent with 
41 
this Act. The Secretary of National Defense, in consultation with the 
42 
DepEd and TESDA, shall prescribe the organizational and operational 
43 
manual of ROTC units in public and private educational institutions for 
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Grades 11 and 12: Provided, That such educational institutions shall be 
45 
required to provide an adequate office for the ROTC administrative staff 
46 
assigned thereat. 
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The AFP shall create an office dedicated to the supervision and 
1 
administration of the ROTC Program within the Reserve Commands of 
2 
the AFP in coordination with the DepEd and TESDA. 
3 
 
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SECTION 8. Incentives for Undergoing the ROTC Program. - 
5 
 
6 
a) Subject to other requirements prescribed by rules and regulations, 
7 
graduates of Basic ROTC shall be eligible for commissionship/ 
8 
lateral entry and enlistment in the AFP, Philippine National Police 
9 
(PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Jail Management 
10 
and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) unless 
11 
a waiver is issued by the Department Secretaries of the 
12 
aforementioned military and civilian armed forces. 
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b) Students undergoing Basic ROTC and those accepted in the 
15 
ROTC Advance Course shall be provided with free hospitalization 
16 
in any government hospital in case of accident or injury during the 
17 
training. Mandatory insurance for students undergoing ROTC 
18 
shall be provided by the school where the students are enrolled. 
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c)  Students undergoing Basic and Advance ROTC shall be given 
21 
access and privileges with any AFP Commissary and PX Stores 
22 
nationwide. The Chief of Staff of the AFP shall issue the necessary 
23 
regulations for the implementation of this privilege. 
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SECTION 9. The ROTC Grievance Board. - There shall be created a 
26 
Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Grievance Board composed of 
27 
one (1) representative from the Department of National Defense and two 
28 
(2) representatives from the Department of Education with the more senior 
29 
representative from the Department of Education as chairperson. These 
30 
representatives shall be appointed for their known integrity, probity, and 
31 
independence. 
32 
 
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The ROTC Grievance Board shall have the following powers: 
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a) Investigate and resolve any and all complaints, in any form, 
36 
involving corruption and abuse, in any form, in the ROTC Program; 
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b) Ensure that the ROTC Program be free from politicization and from 
39 
being used to instill a particular ideology; and 
40 
 
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c) Recommend policies and reforms to ensure adherence of the 
42 
ROTC Program to the Constitution and all laws penalizing abuse in 
43 
any form. 
44 
 
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All decisions of the ROTC Grievance Board shall be appealable to the 
46 
Office of the President. 
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SECTION 10. Liability of the Educational Institution. - The instructor or 
1 
faculty-in-charge of the ROTC shall be responsible for monitoring the 
2 
activities involved in the ROTC. The instructor or the faculty-in-charge 
3 
must be a duly recognized active member, in good standing, of the faculty 
4 
at the school in which the ROTC course is being implemented. 
5 
The school or the university and its administrators shall exercise 
6 
special parental authority and supervise the implementation of the ROTC. 
7 
 
8 
In case of violation of any of the provisions of this Act and other 
9 
related laws, the instructor or faculty-in-charge and the school or 
10 
university and its officials shall be responsible and liable for any damage 
11 
or injury caused to a student. 
12 
 
13 
SECTION 11. Funding. - The funding requirement to implement the 
14 
establishment, maintenance and operations of the ROTC Program shall 
15 
be included in the budget of the implementing agencies/ departments in 
16 
the annual General Appropriations Act. 
17 
 
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SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held 
19 
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall 
20 
remain in force and effect. 
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SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. - Pertinent provisions of Republic Act 
23 
No. 7077, or the "Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act", 
24 
and all other laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and regulations 
25 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
26 
repealed or amended accordingly. 
27 
 
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SECTION 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
29 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
30 
circulation. 
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32 
Approved, 
33