Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
With the continuing threats to our sovereignty, especially in the West Philippine Sea, the 
restoration of the mandatory citizens’ military training in higher education becomes more urgent. 
Additionally, mandatory citizens’ military training also serves as an instrument for instilling a 
deeper sense of nationalism among today’s youth. 
This bill mirrors the substitute bill to revive citizens’ military training in the first two (2) 
years of higher education, which was approved on third reading in the 19th Congress. The bill 
proposes to establish the National Citizens Service Training (NCST) Program, to be implemented 
by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in all higher education institutions and Technical 
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in all technical vocational institutions, in 
consultation with the Department of National Defense. The NCST program shall be mandatory for 
all students in higher education for at least four (4) semesters or 240 hours of training. 
The curriculum shall cover a combination of survival skills, disaster resilience and citizenry 
competency training that would be useful in case of national emergencies. 
For the foregoing reasons, the early approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ, DPA 
August 27, 2025
11:40 am
4062


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________ 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING A NATIONAL CITIZENS SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM IN ALL 
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TERTIARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, REPEALING 
FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9163, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
“NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM ACT”, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
    TITLE 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "National Citizens Service 
Training 
Program 
Act”. 
ARTICLE II 
DECLARATION OF POLICY 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Constitutional Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State: 
a) To institutionalize the vital role of the youth in nation-building, promote, propagate
and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being; to inculcate in 
them patriotism, nationalism and respect for human rights; and to encourage their involvement 
in public and civic affairs; 
4062


 
b) To constitute the youth into a major component of the Citizen Armed Force envisioned 
in the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, which shall undergo training and may be 
called upon to defend the State and to render personal military or civil service under conditions 
provided by law; 
c) To train, equip and organize the youth, within the current frameworks of national and 
territorial defense, law enforcement and peace and order and national disaster risk reduction and 
management, to prepare them for rapid mobilization at the soonest possible time in order to 
address national and local contingencies which may require personnel beyond the capabilities 
of existing national government agencies or local government units; and 
d) To capacitate the youth with the knowledge and practical skills to survive, respond, 
and recover individually and as part of a bigger community in times of national and local 
emergencies, 
contingencies 
and 
disasters, 
both 
natural 
and 
man-made. 
 
 
ARTICLE III 
DEFINITION OF TERMS 
SEC. 3. Definition of terms. – As used in this Act: 
a) Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Citizen Armed Force refers to the 
component of the AFP comprised of Citizen Soldiers or AFP Reservists trained and recruited in 
accordance with Republic Act No. 7077, otherwise known as the Citizen Armed Force or Armed 
Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act, that serves as the base for the expansion of the AFP in 
the event of war, invasion or rebellion; to assist in relief and rescue during disaster or calamities; 
to assist in socioeconomic development; and to assist in the operation and maintenance of 
essential government or private utilities in the furtherance of its overall mission. It is alternately 
referred to as the AFP Reserve Force; 
b) AFP reservist refers to a graduate of the National Citizens Service Training (NCST) 
as established under this Act and as defined under Republic Act No. 7077. An AFP Reservist is 
alternately referred to as Citizen Soldier; 
c) Authorized organization refers to a legitimate juridical entity created by law, or 
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Cooperative 
Development Authority (CDA) which has the competence to deliver courses of the NCST, a 
track record of undertaking quality programs, projects and activities for the youth which 
inculcate in the beneficiaries the values of patriotism, love of country, civic-mindedness, civic 
duty, service to others, and authorized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) or the 


 
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to deliver courses under the 
NCST Program; 
d) Cadet officer refers to a cadet who completed five (5) months of specialized training 
to be an officer with the intention of undergoing and completing the Reserve Officers Training 
Corps (ROTC) Program; 
e) Citizen-cadet refers to a student undergoing NCST and ROTC Training; 
f) Community-based NSRC Unit refers to the official aggrupation, organization, and 
operational unit of National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC) based in the barangays; 
g) Higher education refers to the stage of formal education, or its equivalent, requiring 
completion of secondary education and covering programs of study leading to bachelor and 
advanced degrees, including associate degrees; 
h) Higher education institution (HEI) refers to an institution of higher learning which 
primarily offers degree-granting programs duly recognized by the CHED and leading to the 
conferment of a diploma; 
i) National Citizens Service Training Monitoring and Oversight Committee refers to 
a multi-agency committee with private sector representatives mandated to ensure that the 
provisions and intent of this Act are properly implemented and adhered to. It shall ensure that 
there shall be no abuse of any kind in both the conduct of the trainings and the deployment of 
National Service Reservists and Citizen Soldiers; 
j) National Citizens Service Training Program refers to a two-year mandatory citizen 
service program administered and implemented by the CHED and TESDA in accordance with 
this Act; 
k) National Service Reserve Corps refers to the official aggrupation and organization 
of National Service Reservists maintained and placed under the control and supervision of the 
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) through the Office of 
Civil Defense (OCD) pursuant to Section 13 of Republic Act No. 10121, or the Philippine 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. It shall be civilian in nature and shall be 
a source for volunteers and conscripts in times of national or local necessity, calamities, 
emergencies, disasters, or armed conflict to perform non-combat duties and render services as 
the President or the appropriate local sanggunian may deem necessary; 
l) National Service Reservist refers to a graduate of the NCST Program registered under 
the NSRC as defined under this Act; 


 
m) Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Program refers to a citizen service and military 
training program designed to produce officers for both the AFP Regular and Reserve Force; 
n) School-based NSRC Unit refers to the official aggrupation, organization and 
operational unit of National Service Reservists based in an HEI; 
o) School-based ready reserve unit refers to an operational unit of the AFP Citizen 
Armed Force based in an HEI; 
p) Sector or skill-based NSRC unit refers to the official aggrupation, organization and 
operational unit of the NSRC organized according to their sector, or competencies; 
q) Technical-vocational education and training (TVET) program or course refers to 
the education processes designed for the post-secondary and lower tertiary levels and are 
officially recognized as non-degree programs aimed at preparing technicians, para-professionals 
and other categories of middle-level workers by providing them with a broa range of general 
education, theoretical, scientific and technological training, and related job skills training; 
r) Technical-vocational institution (TVI) refers to a TESDA-registered or accredited 
learning institution offering postsecondary TVET; 
s) Tertiary education refers to the stage of education following the secondary cycle 
which subsumes post-secondary non-degree diploma, TVET, and higher education programs, 
including graduate education; 
t) Tertiary education institution (TEI) refers to a learning institution that provides 
post-K-12 education or training and covers both HEIs and TVIs; and 
u) Undergraduate degree program refers to any postsecondary program, also known 
as baccalaureate, leading to a degree as may be authorized and recognized by the CHED. 
 
ARTICLE IV 
THE NATIONAL CITIZENS SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM 
SEC. 4. Establishment of the National Citizens Service Training Program (NCST) 
Program. –  There is hereby established a NCST Program, which shall be implemented by the 
CHED in all HEIs and by the TESDA in all TVIs, both in consultation with the Department of 
National Defense (DND). 
 


 
SEC. 5. Coverage of the NCST Program. - TThe NCST shall be mandatory for all 
students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs in all public and private HEIs and at least 
two-year 
TVET 
programs 
in 
all 
TVIs 
in 
the 
Philippines. 
 
 
The NCST shall be administered to cover undergraduate and postsecondary TVET 
students for at least four (4) semesters or two hundred forty (240) hours over two (2) school 
years, unless otherwise allowed by the CHED or TESDA in accordance with the rules 
recommended by the NCST Technical Panel. 
SEC. 6. NCST Program Technical Panel. — The NCST Program design, curriculum, 
modes and method of delivery shall be formulated, periodically reviewed and updated by 
a Technical Panel to be composed of representatives from the CHED, TESDA, DND, 
NDRRMC through the OCD, the Department of the Interior and Local Government 
(DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Social Welfare and 
Development (DSWD), National Youth Commission (NYC), Philippine National 
Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), Philippine Red Cross, one 
representative each from the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges 
(PASUC), Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA), and 
the Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU), representative from the union 
of teachers and representative from the students, and two (2) private sector representatives 
who shall be recognized experts or practitioners in the fields of citizen service training, 
disaster preparedness, reservist training, or related fields. The student representative and 
one (1) of the private sector representatives shall be appointed by the CHED Chairperson 
and one (1) private sector representative shall be appointed by the TESDA Director 
General. The NCST Program Technical Panel shall be under the CHED. The annual funds 
of the Technical Panel shall be included in the annual appropriations of the CHED. 
 
  
The NCST Technical Panel shall formulate and recommend to the CHED the 
policies, standards, and guidelines to make the four (4) year ROTC program an appropriate 
baccalaureate degree program. 
SEC. 7. The Curriculum of the NCST Program. — The NCST Program design and 
curriculum shall provide the students with practical and applicable knowledge and skills 
that are necessary, essential, and ideal for survival, and for attaining resilience, and to 
ensure the immediate availability of these skills in times of local and national emergencies 
and disasters, both natural and man-made. It shall instill in students the values of civic 
mindedness, volunteerism, and genuine service to others. It shall develop tertiary 
education students to be community crisis managers and leaders in times of emergencies 
and 
disasters. 
 
  
The curriculum of the NCST Program shall ensure that students who finish the 


 
NCST Program shall have undergone the appropriate citizen competency training which 
shall include civic duty inculcation, literacy training services, survival and safety 
techniques including first-aid administration, and community or mass emergency and 
disaster response and management. 
Except for justifiable causes and only upon the issuance of a Certificate of 
Exception by the CHED or TESDA, the NCST Program must be completed, as far as 
practicable, within the first two (2) years of all undergraduate degree programs and a two 
(2)-year TVET program. 
The NCST shall be a requisite for graduation of covered tertiary education 
students. 
SEC. 8. Special NCST Program for Students under Special Circumstances. — There 
shall be no exemptions from the NCST Program. However, the CHED or TESDA, based on rules 
recommended by the NCST Technical Panel, shall prescribe alternative NCST Programs to 
address students with special needs and persons with disabilities. 
 
Filipino students enrolled in TVET Programs conducted for less than two (2) years  shall 
be provided special seminars, as the TESDA and the appropriate government agency 10 may 
prescribe. 
 
SEC. 9. Special Program for Foreign Nationals. – Foreign nationals enrolled in 
undergraduate degree programs or TVET courses where the NCST is required shall also undergo 
a Special NCST Program prescribed by the CHED or TESDA that would deepen their 
understanding and appreciation of the Philippines, its people, society, culture and government, 
and harness their potential as bridges to improve the relationship of their respective countries 
with the Philippines.  
 
 
SEC. 10. Venue of Training. – The NCST Program shall be administered by HEIs or 
TVIs within their campuses or facilities. Should it be determined that it is impracticable to do so, 
HEIs and TVIs should immediately make the same known to the CHED Regional Office or 
TESDA Regional Office, and recommend the designation of safe and appropriate venues for the 
NCST. As far as practicable, the venue shall be proximate to the campuses or facilities of the 
public and private HEI or TVI. Citizens Military Training Centers established in accordance with 
Republic Act No. 7077 may be utilized as training venues for purposes of this Act. 
SEC. 11. Prohibition on the Charging of Fees for Venues. – All local and national 
government agencies and instrumentalities that are managing sites and venues designated by 


 
CHED or TESDA for the conduct of NCST activities shall not charge any fees, except for 
reasonable fines and penalties for violations of the rules and regulations of the areas. 
 
 
SEC. 12. Delivery of Courses by Authorized Organizations or Partner Government 
Agencies and Entities. – The CHED and TESDA, subject to rules as may be recommended by 
the NCST Technical Panel, may allow lawfully established non-partisan organizations and 
government agencies to partner with HEIs and TVIs in delivering the non-military NCST courses 
to students. 
Any private organization which seeks to be recognized by the CHED or TESDA shall 
apply with the CHED or TESDA for such recognition and present evidence to establish its (1) 
track record for noteworthy values-forming programs, projects and activities with the youth and 
(2) capacity and competence to deliver the knowledge or skill required for the course to be 
delivered. Only legitimate juridical entities created by law or registered with the SEC or the CDA 
may apply for registration. 
Applying organizations must also submit appropriate security clearances from the PNP 
and National Bureau of Investigation. Private HEIs are allowed to implement such courses in-
house without the need for partnerships with organizations. They may also partner with other 
HEIs 
and 
establish 
consortia 
for 
the 
delivery 
of 
training 
programs. 
 
 
SEC. 13. NCST Graduates as National Service Reservists and AFP Reservists. – Upon 
completion of the NCST, citizen-cadets shall be deemed NCST graduates and shall be 
incorporated 
in 
the 
NSRC 
and 
the 
AFP 
Reserve 
Force. 
 
 
The HEI or TVI shall, in accordance with rules recommended by the NCST Technical 
Panel and approved by CHED and TESDA, issue the National Service Reservist Serial Numbers 
to NCST graduates. 
The HEIs or TVIs shall submit the names, serial numbers, permanent and current 
addresses, electronic mail addresses, and mobile numbers of NCST graduates to the OCD for 
inclusion in the official master list of the NSRC. The OCD may submit a copy of the same list to 
the appropriate government agency, as required. 
The serial number of the NCST graduates shall be reflected in their official transcript of 
records to be released by the TEIs. 
SEC. 14. Completion of the Compulsory Military Training Under Republic Act No. 
7077. – All students who have completed the NCST Program shall be considered to have 
complied with the mandatory military registration and training under Section 14 of Republic Act 
No. 7077. 


 
 
ARTICLE V 
THE OPTIONAL RESERVE OFFICERS’ TRAINING CORPS 
SEC. 15. Modified NCST Program. – A modified NCST Program shall be designe by 
the NCST Technical Panel and approved by the CHED and DND which shall incorporate  five-
(5) month cadet officer’s leadership course. The optional ROTC shall be administere and 
implemented by the CHED and AFP pursuant to the rules and regulations prescribed b the CHED 
and the DND. 
SEC. 16. Curriculum of the ROTC Program. – The curriculum of the optional ROT 
Program shall be designed by the DND and CHED and administered by the AFP. It shall be 
primarily designed to train volunteer tertiary education students to be officers of the Regula and 
Reserve Force of the AFP. The curriculum shall be designed in such a way that graduates of the 
four (4) year ROTC Program shall be capable of immediate deployment as commissioned 
officers of the AFP immediately after graduation from the ROTC even as they continue with 
their baccalaureate degree program. The ROTC program of instruction shall include advanced 
military subjects and courses, practical exercises and field exercises necessary and appropriate 
for an entry level officer commission in the AFP. 
The DND, AFP, and CHED shall design a separate four (4) year ROTC baccalaureate 
degree program subject to the policies, standards, and guidelines recommended by the NCST 
Technical Panel and approved by the CHED. 
SEC. 17. ROTC cadets as NCST instructors and cadet officers. – The ROTC cadets 
shall serve as cadet officers and instructors for NCST trainees. This shall be considered as part 
of the leadership training module of the optional ROTC Program. 
SEC. 18. Acceptance into the ROTC Program. – Students who volunteer for the ROTC 
program in HEIs shall be governed by Section 40 of Republic Act No. 7077. The provisions of 
Sections 42 and 43 of Republic Act No. 7077 in terms of training, uniforms and supplies, and the 
scholarship incentive shall remain effective and applicable for those accepted in the ROTC 
Program. 
SEC. 19. Organization, operation, and maintenance of ROTC Units. – The 
organization, operation, and maintenance for the establishment of ROTC Units shall be in 
accordance with Sections 41 and 42 of Republic Act No. 7077 and shall remain effective and 
operative unless inconsistent with this Act. The Secretary of National Defense shall, in 
consultation with the CHED, prescribe the organization and operational manual of ROTC units 
in public and private HEIs, subject to the evaluation and approval of the Department of Budget 
and 
Management. 


 
 
 
The DND shall create or designate an office with a focal person dedicated to the 
supervision and administration of the optional ROTC program. 
 
 
SEC. 20. Incentives to students undergoing the ROTC Program. – ROTC cadets are 
entitled to the following benefits: 
(1) Subject to other requirements prescribed by rules and regulations of the DND and 
other concerned government agencies, graduates of the ROTC shall, upon completion of the 
ROTC program, be eligible for commissionship as officers in the Reserve Force of the AFP; 
(2) Free hospitalization, medicines, and medical care in any government hospital in case 
of accident or injury during their training; and 
(3) Automatic grant of first level civil service eligibility for ROTC graduates. 
 
SEC. 21. Incentives to HEIs implementing the ROTC Program. – The Unified Student 
Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UNIFAST) is hereby mandated to come up 
with a system of incentives and financial assistance for both public and private HEIs 
implementing the ROTC Program. 
 
ARTICLE VI 
ORGANIZATION, MANAGEMENT, AND MOBILIZATION OF THE NATIONAL 
SERVICE RESERVE CORPS 
SEC. 22. Creation of the National Service Reserve Corps. – There is hereby created a 
National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC), hereinafter referred to as National Service Reservists 
(NSRs), to be placed under the control and supervision of the NDRRMC through the OCD 
pursuant to Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction 
Management Act of 2010”. It shall be civilian in nature and shall be a source for volunteers and 
conscripts in times of national or local necessity, calamities, emergencies, disasters, or armed 
conflict to perform non-combat and non-military duties and services as the President or the 
appropriate local sanggunian may deem necessary. 
SEC. 23. Program and Mobilization. – The NDRRMC shall, through the OCD and in 
consultation with the PNVSCA, local government units (LGUs), and other agencies with public 
service and volunteerism mandates, undertake programs and activities to provide and promote 
avenues and platforms for NSRs to volunteer their services even under normal or non-emergency 
conditions and circumstances. 


 
LGUs shall establish programs that would continuously enhance and imbibe the spirit of 
volunteerism among NSRs and strengthen NSRC Units within their respective territorial 
jurisdictions through local mobilizations, sustained participation in local events and activities, 
annual local awards and recognition systems for outstanding local citizen service programs and 
local stakeholders and other analogous programs. 
SEC. 24. Mandatory Registration and Enlistment in the NSRC. – All graduates of the 
NCST shall be enlisted as NSRs in the NSRC. The NDRRMC shall, through the OCD, provide 
for the rules and regulations governing community, school, sector or skill-based registration of 
all NCST graduates. 
SEC. 25. School-based and Community-based National Reserve Corps Units. – The 
NDRRMC shall, through the OCD, have the authority to organize the NSRs in school and 
community-based units. College students, including medical degree students in HEIs shall 
register with the School-based NSRC Unit of their respective HEIs. The NSRs enrolled in 
graduate programs may opt to register with the School-based NSRC Unit of their HEIs or register 
with the Community-based NSRC Unit of the barangays where they reside or where their places 
of work are. All other NSRs shall register with the Community-based NSRC Units of the 
barangays where they reside or where their places of work are, subject to rules as the NDRRMC 
may prescribe. 
The NDRRMC may, through the OCD, require HEIs offering baccalaureate degree 
programs and barangay governments to provide appropriate office space, access to facilities and 
personnel to assist the NDRRMC and the OCD in managing and administering School-based and 
Community-based NSRC Units. 
The NDRRMC may, through the OCD and in consultation with the DILG and the CHED, 
promulgate the rules and regulations governing the organization, establishment and management 
of community and school-based NSRC Units. Such rules and regulations shall provide for 
nationwide 
and 
localized 
mobilization 
of 
all 
NSRs. 
 
 
SEC. 26. Sector and Skill-Based National Reserve Corps Units. – The NDRRMC shall, 
through the OCD, have the authority to organize and mobilize NSRs based on their sector, skills, 
or competencies. As far as practicable, NSRs shall be mobilized and deployed based on their 
possessed competencies and skills. 
SEC. 27. Continuous Training of NSRs. – The NDRRMC shall, through the OCD, 
develop systems and promulgate the necessary rules to ensure that NSRs are regularly provided 
readiness enhancement trainings to maintain their state of readiness. Attendance in NSRC 
Readiness Enhancement Trainings shall be deemed as a form of NSRC deployment. A 
recognition and badge system for NSRs for the acquisition and enhancement of citizen service- 


 
relevant skills and competencies, as may be recommended by the NCST Technical Panel, shall 
be adopted and implemented by the OCD. 
SEC. 28. Annual NSRC Mobilization. – The OCD shall, in consultation with the DILG, 
DSWD, DND and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices, ensure that all 
Community-based and School-based NSRC Units conduct at least one (1) mobilization exercise 
every year to ensure the readiness of NSRC Units and NSRs. 
SEC. 29. Prohibition against the mobilization of NCST Citizen-Cadets. – Only NSRs 
shall be mandatorily deployed or conscripted in times of national or local necessity, calamities, 
emergencies, disasters, or armed conflict to perform non-combat and non-military duties and 
services as the President or the appropriate local sanggunian may so declare. No student 
undergoing NCST shall be required to render service as an NSR. 
SEC. 30. Benefits and privileges of NSRs. – Deployed NSRs shall be entitled to the 
following benefits: 
a) Free hospitalization, medicines, and medical care in any government hospital in case 
of accident or injury during deployment; 
b) For those that have a cumulative deployment period of one hundred eighty (180) days, 
a grant of eligibility for local disaster risk reduction and management item positions, subject to 
rules to be issued jointly by the DILG and Civil Service Commission; and 
c) Free food, accommodations, and such other amenities necessary or essential to the 
performance of their mandated tasks as deployed NSRs. 
SEC. 31. Effect of NSRC or AFP Citizen Armed Force deployment on employees and 
students. – Deployment of employees in accordance with the provisions of this Act shall not be 
a ground for dismissal or diminution of any benefit enjoyed by such employees prior to their 
deployment. 
 
 
Deployment of students in accordance with the provisions of this Act shall not prejudice 
the academic standing, status, scholarship, privilege, or grant enjoyed by the students prior to and 
during deployment. 
SEC. 32. Awards and Recognition System for National Service Reservists. – The NCST 
Monitoring and Oversight Committee shall establish a national-level system of awards and 
recognition for outstanding NSRs and Citizen-Cadets and Exemplary Volunteer and Service 
Programs under this Act. 


 
All LGUs shall adopt and implement annual local awards and recognition system for 
outstanding citizen service programs, reservists, cadet-citizens, cadets and other stakeholders 
within their respective areas of jurisdiction. 
 
ARTICLE VII 
ORGANIZATION AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE AFP CITIZEN ARMED FORCE 
SEC. 33. Organization and Deployment of AFP Reservists. – The DND shall provide 
for the rules and regulations governing the organization and deployment of AFP Reservists 
enlisted pursuant to this Act. 
SEC. 34. School-based Ready Reserve Units (SBRRUs). – School-Based Ready Reserve 
Units (SBRRUs) may be organized by the DND, through the AFP, in public and private HEI 
campuses offering baccalaureate or undergraduate degree programs. The DND  shall, through 
the AFP, promulgate the rules and regulations for the establishment, management, and operation 
of SBRRUs. HEIs shall provide office space, access to facilities and personnel to assist the DND 
and AFP in managing SBRRUs. 
 
 
Private HEIs shall have the authority to select from the list of eligible DND and AFP 
Officers, those to be subject for deployment in their institutions. Moreover, the HEIs’ personnel 
and discipline policies for administrators and staff shall as far as practicable apply to uniformed 
personnel deployed to the HEIs. Furthermore, that HEIs shall have the power after due process 
to request for the immediate removal of any officer assigned to it who is found to have committed 
any form of abuses or have engaged in corruption activities and similar offenses in the 
implementation of the program. 
 
 
ARTICLE VIII 
MONITORING, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PREVENTING ABUSES 
 
 
SEC. 35. NCST Monitoring and Oversight Committee. – There is hereby established a 
NCST Monitoring and Oversight Committee which is mandated to ensure that the provisions and 
intent of this Act are properly implemented and adhered to, and that there shall be no abuse of 
any kind in both the conduct of NSTC trainings and deployment of NSRs and AFP Reservists. 


 
SEC. 36. Composition of the NCST Monitoring and Oversight Committee. – The NCST 
Monitoring and Oversight Committee shall be composed of the following or their duly designated 
representatives: 
a) CHED Chairperson, as Chairperson; 
b) DND Secretary, as Vice Chairperson; 
c) TESDA Director General; 
d) DILG Secretary; 
e) DSWD Secretary; 
f) National Security Adviser; 
g) NYC Chairperson; 
h) National organization of state universities and colleges; 
i) National organization of local universities and colleges; 
j) National organization of private higher education institutions; and 
k) Two (2) representatives of relevant national organizations to be appointed by the 
CHED Chairperson and the TESDA Director General, respectively. 
 
 
SEC. 37. Powers and Functions of the NCST Monitoring and Oversight Committee. – 
The NCST Monitoring and Oversight Committee shall have the following powers and functions: 
a) Review, monitor, and provide strategic guidance on the implementation of this Act; 
b) Receive and cause the immediate and expedient investigation of all complaints or 
reports of forms of abuses, corruption, hazing, torture, data privacy rights violation, and all forms 
of violation of human rights in any of the programs under the NCST and mobilization system; 
c) Conduct announced and unannounced inspections of citizen service classes and 
activities, NCST and ROTC sessions and facilities, NSRC Units, SBRRUs and other Reserve 
Units under the AFP Citizen Armed Force; 
d) Immediately inform and compel concerned agencies, organizations or personnel 
engaged or involved in the implementation of this Act to undertake corrective actions or measures 
to address any abuse, inefficiency or lapses in the implementation of this Act; 


 
e) Receive annual reports from the DND, OCD, and AFP on the proper implementation 
of the NCST, ROTC, NSRC, and AFP Citizen Armed Force; 
f) Establish a national-level recognition system for outstanding NSRC and AFP 
Reservists, Citizen-cadets and Cadets and Exemplary Volunteer and Service Programs; and 
g) Deputize or delegate to agencies, organizations or individuals any of its mandated 
powers and functions under this Act. 
SEC. 38. NCST Monitoring and Oversight in HEIs. – CHED shall provide guidelines 
for the establishment offices within the HEIs to receive and hear complaints of abuses; assist 
student-trainees on their needs; and promote the welfare of student-trainees under the Program. 
 
ARTICLE IX 
PENAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 39. Maximum Penalty. – Any act of abuse, corruption, hazing, torture, data privacy 
rights violation, or violation of human rights committed in direct or indirect relation to the 
implementation of this Act, which are punished criminally or administratively by existing laws, 
rules or regulations, shall be prosecuted in accordance with such laws, rules or regulations: 
Provided, That the penalty to be imposed shall be the maximum penalty. The accessory penalty 
of permanent or temporary absolute disqualification from government service may also be 
imposed on government officers and employees found to have committed the acts prohibited 
under this Section. 
SEC. 40.  – Criminal or administrative prosecution shall not be a bar to any civil action 
for damages or any appropriate relief a victim of any act of abuse, corruption, hazing, torture, 
data privacy rights violation, or violation of human rights committed in direct or indirect relation 
to the implementation of this Act may file. 
 
 
 
ARTICLE X 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
SEC. 41. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this  
Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the offices and agencies 


 
concerned. Thereafter, the funding of which shall be included in the annual Genera 
Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 42. School Fees. – Covered HEIs and TVIs may collect a reasonable NCST training 
fee of not more than fifty percent (50%) of the tuition fee per academic unit or subject. 
Such funds shall be used only for the implementation of the NCST. The CHED, TESDA 
and DND shall determine the reasonable distribution of the fees among the HEI, TVI and DND 
to cover the cost of training and related expenses. 
Public HEIs and TVIs covered by Republic Act No. 10931, otherwise known as the 
Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, shall not collect any fee for the NCST or 
ROTC. The training costs shall be included in the annual appropriations of such HEIs or TVIs. 
In cases of students not eligible to avail of the benefits under Republic Act No. 10931, 
public colleges, universities, and similar learning institutions may collect a training fee of not 
more than fifty percent (50%) of the tuition fee per academic unit. 
The HEIs and TVIs not covered by Republic Act No. 10931 may collect a training fee of 
not more than fifty percent (50%) of the tuition fee per academic unit. Such funds shall be used 
only for the implementation of the NCST and ROTC programs and the maintenance of the 
School-based NSRC Units and School-based Ready Reserve Units, if any. 
SEC 43. Annual Reports. – The OCD shall regularly publish an annual report containing 
information on the deployment and employment of NSRs, the accomplishments of the NSRC, an 
assessment of readiness for mobilization of NSRs, and the incidence and details of each 
mobilization for each year. Such report shall be submitted to the President, the Senate President, 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Secretary of National Defense, the Secretary of 
Education, the CHED Chairperson, and the TESDA Director General. 
SEC. 44. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the CHED, TESDA and DND shall, in consultation with the DILG, 
DSWD, NYC, PASUC, COCOPEA, and ALCU, formulate and jointly promulgate rules and 
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
 
 
ARTICLE XI 
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS 


 
SEC. 45. Transition Period of Implementation. – To ensure efficient transition and to 
enable all public and private schools to adopt the necessary structural changes within their units 
in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the NCST and ROTC under this Act shall be 
administered only after the promulgation of the implementing rules and regulations: Provided, 
That the implementation of the programs shall commence within a non-extendable period 
of twenty-four (24) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 46. Current Enrollment under Republic Act No. 9163. – In all cases and until such 
time as the rules and regulations of this Act are published and have taken effect, students who 
are currently enrolled under the curriculum implemented by virtue of Republic Act No. 9163, 
otherwise known as the “National Service Training Program Act of 2001”, shall be allowed to 
finish the curriculum and be deemed to have satisfied the requirement for graduation after 
completion thereof. 
SEC. 47. Priority employment of NSRs as NSTP Personnel under Republic Act No. 
9163. – Upon the effectivity of this Act, lecturers, instructors, and other personnel implementing 
the NSTP program shall be prioritized for hiring into the new program established under this Act 
to assist in the management of the NCST in HEIs and TVIs. They may also be granted authority, 
subject to rules to be issued by the CHED and TESDA, to be NCST Program lecturers, instructors 
and implementers. 
 
ARTICLE XII 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 48. Repealing Clause. – Republic Act No. 9163, otherwise known as the “National 
Service Training Program Act of 2001”, is hereby repealed. The relevant provisions of Republic 
Act No. 7077, otherwise known as the “Citizen Armed Force or Armed Forces of the Philippines 
Reservist Act”, which are inconsistent with the relevant provisions of this Act are hereby 
amended. All other laws, orders, rules, regulations and other issuances, or parts thereof, which 
are inconsistent with the relevant provisions of this Act are likewise amended or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 49. Separability Clause. – Any provision of this Act that is declared unconstitutional 
or invalid shall not affect the validity of the other provisions hereof. 
SEC. 50. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,