Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No. 8651

Introduced by Representative Micaela S. Violago

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s renewed appeal to make the
Reserved Officers’ Training Corp. (ROTC) program mandatory for senior high school
students, this bill seeks to revive the ROTC as a requisite for graduation repealing for
the purpose R.A. 9163 otherwise known as the “National Service Training Program
(NSTP) Act of 2001”

The ROTC program gives life to the avowed State policy as expressed in
Section 13, Article II of the Constitution that “the State shall inculcate in the youth
patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civil affairs.”
Without the ROTC course becoming a mandatory requirement for students in grades
11 and 12, the declared State principle enunciated in Section 4, Article Il of the
Constitution that “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, “would be put to naught and rendered
meaningless.

Moreover, restoring the mandatory military training for senior high school
students in public and private schools nationwide would instill discipline among the
youth, develop leadership and establish a standby force for mobilization during
national emergencies, calamities and other instances where they could be called upon
and mobilized to assist in matters of external and territorial defense, internal security
and peace and order since, a mandatory ROTC program will provide the Armed Forces of
the Philippines with the support of well-trained reservists and potential commissioned officers.

‘Support and approval for this proposed legislation are hereby earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session
8651

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Micaela S. Violago

AN ACT REVIVING THE RESERVED OFFICER TRAINING CORP (ROTC) IN ALL
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS AS A MANDATORY REQUISITE FOR GRADUATION REPEALING
FOR THE PURPOSE RA 9163 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL
SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (NSTP) ACT OF 2001 AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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 Officer
Training Corps (ROTC) Act of 2018".

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy — It is the policy of the State to serve and
protect its citizens. 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.

Recognizing the youth's vital role in nation-building, the State shall promote
civic consciousness among the youth and shall develop their physical, moral, spiritual,
intellectual and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism,
nationalization, and advance their involvement in public and civic affairs.

In pursuit of these goals, the youth, the most valuable resource of the nation,
shall be motivated, trained, organized and mobilized in basic military and civic training
in the service of the nation.

SECTION 3. Coverage - The conduct of military training under the ROTC shall
apply to all male students in grades 11 and 12 in all senior high schools in public and
private educational institutions. Female students shall undergo civic training under the
ROTC on basic rescue operations and the delivery of health services. Students shall
be required to complete the ROTC for an academic period of two (2) years.

SECTION 4. Establishment of the ROTC - There is hereby established a
mandatory military and civic training for all senior high school students in public and


private educational institutions. The ROTC shall form part of the curriculum of all
senior high schools, and shall be a pre-requisite for graduation.

SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations — Within six (6) months
from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall, in coordination with
the Department of National Defense, issue the necessary rules and regulations to
carry out the objectives of this Act.

SECTION 6. Persons Disqualified or Exempted - The following students are
disqualified or exempted from the coverage:

a. Students who are physically or psychologically unfit, as certified by the
medical personnel of the university or institution concerned;

b. Those convicted by final judgement of criminal offenses involving moral
turpitude;

c. Students of universities, colleges and other similar learning institutions who
have undergone or are still undergoing ROTC or similar military training as
recognized by the military authorities as among those undergo training to
qualify as reservists; and

d. Those persons who are members of affiliated units in the Armed Forces of
the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

SECTION 7. Transitory Provision - This Act shall apply in the year following
its approval. Any student enrolled and undertaking any component of the National
Service Training Program (NSTP) shall be allowed to continue and complete the
Program,

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause — For purposes of this Act, pertinent provisions
of Republic Act No. 9163, otherwise known as the “National Service Training Program
Act of 2001” is hereby deemed amended. All other laws, executive orders, presidential
decrees, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with any provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,