REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2355

Introduced by Kabataan Party-List Rep. Raymond V. Palatino

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Proposals to make the Reserve Officers Training Corps mandatory has ocassionally
surfaced ever since its mandatory implementation was abolished in 2002. In light of the
renewed interest in the discussion of the matter, I would like to propose alternative
programs that will similarly seek to foster nationalism and social consciousness among our
youth without having to train them in the ways of the military, which is inherently prone to
abuses. After all, our Constitution directs the State to uphold the “the vital role of the youth
in nation building” through the promotion and protection of their social well-being, among
others. It also directs the State to inculcate “patriotism and nationalism, and encourage
their involvement in public and civil affairs.”

In this context, instead of making the ROTC mandatory, I propose that we instead
strengthen the social and civic service components of the current National Service Training
Program in order to, primarily, inculcate the values of nationalism, social consciousness
and responsibility in our youth, and secondarily, to assist our government agencies in the
delivery of basic social services to our people. In our present conditions, I believe that what
we need as a nation today is not so much an army of young men and women trained in the
ways of the military but an army of volunteers and advocates ready to serve and uphold the
needs of their communities and the nation as a whole. What the youth needs to defend the
nation from today are not so much of foreign aggression but more so of threats of illiteracy
and of political and social apathy, and the perpetuation of social inequities that continue to
obstruct genuine national progress. Through the strengthening and expansion of the NSTP,
the government can truly foster among the youth patriotism, nationalism and selfless
service to others as enshrined in the Constitution.

Hon. fut V. Palatino
Representative, Kabataan Party-List


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2355

House Bill No.

Introduced by KABATAAN Party-list Rep. Raymond V. Palatino

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE SOCIAL AND CIVIC SERVICE COMPONENTS OF THE
NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF ADDITIONAL SOCIAL AND CIVIC SERVICE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO
STUDENTS BY AMENDING AND EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF REPUBLIC ACT
9163 OR THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (NSTP) ACT OF 2001

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This act shall be known as the “NSTP Reform Act of 2010”

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9163 is hereby amended to
read as follows:

Section 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following are hereby

defined as follows:

(a) "National Service Training Program (NSTP)" is a program aimed at enhancing
civic AND SOCIAL consciousness and defense AND DISASTER preparedness
in the youth by developing the ethics of service and patriotism while
undergoing training in any of its program components. Its various
components are specially designed to enhance the youth's active contribution
to the general welfare;

(b) xxx

() ‘Literacy Training Service” is a CIVILIAN program designed to train students
TO CONDUCT LITERACY TRAINING, LIVELIHOOD TRAINING AND OTHER
SIMILAR TRAININGS WITH THE BASIC SECTORS, ESPECIALLY THE URBAN
POOR, WORKERS, FARMERS, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, FISHER FOLK,
WOMEN AND CHILDREN;


(D)

(3)

(F)

(a)

(H)

i)

SECTION 3.

“GENERAL COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM” IS A CIVILIAN PROGRAM
DESIGNED TO TRAIN STUDENTS IN BASIC SERVICES IN A SPECIFIC
COMMUNITY WHICH MAY INCLUDE SYSTEMIC AND RATIONAL TREE
PLANTING, STREET CLEANING, WASTE SEGREGATION, TRAFFIC
MANAGEMENT, AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES;

“COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH AND NUTRITION PROGRAM" IS A CIVILIAN
PROGRAM DESIGNED TO TRAIN STUDENTS IN HEALTH AND NUTRITION
EDUCATION IN SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES;

“COMMUNITY IMMERSION PROGRAM" IS A CIVILIAN PROGRAM DESIGNED
TO STRENGTHEN THE SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS OF STUDENTS
THROUGH EXPOSURE AND IMMERSION AMONG THE BASIC SECTORS,
SUCH AS THE RURAL AND URBAN POOR COMMUNITIES, TRADE UNIONS,
PEASANTS, FISHER FOLK, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, AMONG OTHERS;
“DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM” IS A CIVILIAN PROGRAM
DESIGNED TO TRAIN STUDENTS IN DISASTER PREVENTION AND
PREPAREDNESS IN THE EVENT OF FLOODS, EARTHQUAKES, FIRE AND
OTHER NATURAL AND MAN-MADE CALAMITIES, RESCUE AND RELIEF
OPERATIONS, MEDICAL AND HUMANITARIAN MISSIONS, AND OTHER
RELATED ACTIVITIES;

“ECOLOGICAL SERVICES PROGRAM” IS A CIVILIAN PROGRAM DESIGNED
TO TRAIN STUDENTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND AWARENESS
ACTIVITIES, AMONG OTHERS;

“HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY” IS A CIVILIAN PROGRAM
DESIGNED TO TRAIN STUDENTS IN THE UNDERSTANDING, PROTECTION
AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL AND
COLLECTIVE CIVIL, POLITICAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL
RIGHTS, DOCUMENTATION, FACT-FINDING MISSIONS, AND OTHER
RELATED ACTIVITIES;

Establishment of the National Service Training Program. Section 4 of Republic

Act No. 9163 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 4. Establishment of the National Service Training Program. ~ There is hereby
established a National Service Training Program, which shall form part of the curricula

of all baccalaureate degree courses and of at least two (2)-year technical vocational

courses and is a requisite for graduation consisting of the following service components:

a)
(2)

XXX

‘The Literacy Training Service;


(3) THE GENERAL COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM

(4) THE COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH AND NUTRITION PROGRAM

(5) THE COMMUNITY IMMERSION PROGRAM

(6) THE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM

(7) THE ECOLOGICAL SERVICES PROGRAM

(8) THE HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM; AND

(9) OTHER SIMILAR PROGRAMS THAT THE SCHOOL, IN CONSULTATION WITH
THE SCHOOL'S STUDENT COUNCILS AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS,
AND WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER
EDUCATION, MAY IMPLEMENT

‘The ROTC under the NSTP shall instill patriotism, moral virtues, respect for rights of
civilians, and adherence to the Constitution, among others. Citizenship AND SOCIAL
CONSCIOUSNESS training shall be given emphasis in ALL THE NSTP PROGRAM
COMPONENTS.

THE SCHOOL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE SCHOOL’S STUDENT COUNCILS,
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER CONCERNED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES,
WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION (CHED), MAY
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT SUCH OTHER PROGRAM COMPONENTS AS MAY BE
NECESSARY IN CONSONANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.

SECTION 4. NSTP Offering in Higher and Technical-Vocational Educational Institutions.
Section 7 of Republic Act No. 9163 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 7. NSTP Offering in Higher and Technical-Vocational Educational
Institutions. - All higher and technical-vocational institutions, public and private, must
offer at least TWO of the program components.

In offering the NSTP whether during the semestral or summer periods, clustering of
affected students from different educational institutions may be done, taking into
account logistics, branch of service and geographical considerations. Schools that do not
meet the required number of students to maintain the optional ROTC and any of the
NSTP components, or that cannot accommodate all students who choose a certain
program, shall allow their students to cross-enroll to other schools. IN NO CASE SHALL
THE SCHOOL RESTRICT THE STUDENTS IN THEIR CHOICE OF PROGRAMS BY
REASON OF LIMITATIONS IN SLOTS NOR SHALL THE SCHOOL FORCE THE
STUDENTS TO TAKE A PROGRAM NOT OF HIS OR HER CHOICE.

SECTION 5. Implementing Rules. The Commission on Higher Education shall have the
responsibility of revising the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9163


in order to adapt to the amendments provided for by this Act. It shall consult with other
concerned government agencies, student councils and organizations, non-government and

other people’s organizations, and school associations in drafting the revisions.

SECTION 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act
shall be incorporated in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any section or pro\
unconstitutional, the remaining sections or provisions shall not be affected thereby.

ion of this Act shall be declared

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, letters of
instruction, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with any of the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 9. _Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general
circulation and shall be implemented in schools on the semester immediately succeeding
the effectivity.

Approved,