r..
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
F/rst Regular Session
ot tij? f’Ttiirp
*22 JUL-7 P6 *02
SENATE
s.B. No. 236
RliCElVLD Bit:
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ROBINHOOD PADILLA
AN ACT
REINSTATING THE MANDATORY RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS 
(ROTC) PROGRAM IN ALL UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OR DIPLOMA 
PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TERTIARY-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In its Declaration of Principles and State Policies, the 1987 Constitution 
mandated the Government to serve and protect the people. Corollary to this, 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.
The Constitution likewise recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation­
building and seeks to protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social 
well-being. The State has the duty to inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, 
and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs. In fact, no less than Vice 
President Sara Duterte said," What we need right now is a new generation [ofyouths], 
who are disciplined and have iove for the country, Filipino youths who will help the 
government in forging and fortifying peace and progress in our country."
By virtue of these policies. Republic Act No. 7077 otherwise known as the 
" Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservists Act mandated military training for 
students enrolled in colleges, universities and similar institutions of learning and 
decreed the establishment of Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) units for the 
purpose of producing enlisted and officer reservists. Unfortunately, the subsequent 
passing of the Republic Act No. 9163 otherwise known as the "National Service


Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001" made ROTC optional and voluntary. As a result, 
enrollment of students in said ROTC program steadily declined.
This bill seeks to reinstate the ROTC program as a mandatory requirement in 
the curriculum of all undergraduate degree or diploma programs in public and private 
tertiary-level education institutions in the country. The restoration of the ROTC 
program will arm our youth with the competence and readiness required in serving 
our country to ensure the security of the State and our people.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
OOD PADILLA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
S.B. No.
SENATE
236
of til? g'l'cvftavp
*22 JUL -7 P6 -02
Rl’CEIVtD BY:
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ROBINHOOD PADILLA
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AN ACT
REINSTATING THE MANDATORY RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS 
(ROTC) PROGRAM IN ALL UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OR DIPLOMA 
PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TERTIARY-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS
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 theMandatory Reserve 
Officers' Training Corps Act'.
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to serve and 
protect the people and to inculcate In the youth patriotism and nationalism, and 
encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs. It is mandated by 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.
Section 3. Coverage. The provisions of this Act shall be applicable to all 
students enrolled in any undergraduate degree or diploma programs in public and 
private tertiary-level educational institutions in the country.
Section 4. Duty to Enlist as Reserve of the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines (AFP). All Filipino students enrolled in any undergraduate degree or 
diploma programs In public and private tertiary-level educational institutions shall 
complete Basic Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program for purposes of 
enlistment in the AFP as prescribed in this Act.
Section 5. ROTC Program. A mandatory ROTC Program Is hereby reinstated 
as a curriculum instruction for students to be enlisted as reserve or officers of the AFP 
upon completion of the program. It shall be mandatory for all students to enlist as a 
reserve of the AFP by completing a Basic ROTC Program which shall not exceed two


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(2) academic years. Upon completion of the basic program, the enlisted reserve may, 
at his or her discretion, enlist as reserve officer upon completion of an Advance ROTC 
Program which shall not exceed two (2) academic years.
Section 6. Students Exempted from Duty to Enlist The following 
students are exempted from the coverage of the ROTC Program:
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Those who are physically or mentally unfit to render military service as certified 
by a military medical officer;
Persons with disability;
Those convicted by final judgment of criminal offenses involving moral 
turpitude;
Those whose religious beliefs proscribe any aspect of military or national service 
such as, but not limited to, using firearms and other deadly weapons, training 
in warfare tactics and combat operations, or rendering service in military and 
other similar institutions; and
Those who have undergone similar military training from a previous 
undergraduate degree or diploma program.
The students with any of the circumstances enumerated above, with the 
exception of item (5), shall undergo a Special National Service Training (SNST) 
Program as provided in Section 11 of this Act.
Section 7. Basic ROTC Program, The Basic ROTC Program shall have the 
following components:
1. Training on External and Territorial Defense;
2. Training on Internal Security, Peace and Order, and Public Safety;
3. Training on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management; and
4. Training on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.
Section 8. Advanced ROTC Program, An Advanced ROTC Program shall 
include leadership and management training to effectively administer the Basic ROTC 
Program. Students enrolled in the Advanced ROTC Program shall comprise the Officer 
Corps of their respective ROTC Units and shall assist the Department of National 
Defense (DND) in the management and conduct of the ROTC Program within their 
respective educational institutions.
The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of this Act may provide additional 
curriculum and instructions in the Basic and Advance ROTC programs.
Section 9. Establishment of ROTC Units, An ROTC Unit shall be established 
and maintained in all public and private tertiary level educational institutions with the 
primary duty of implementing the Basic and Advanced ROTC Program, and the Special 
National Service Training Program as provided for in this Act: Provided, That the DND 
shall prescribe the minimum organization and staffing requirements of ROTC Units in 
accordance with Sections 41 and 42 of Republic Act No. 7077, or the Citizen Armed 
Force or Armed Forces of the Phiiippines Reservist Act"


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Section 10. Incentive for Advanced ROTC Program, A student accepted 
in the Advanced ROTC Program is entitied to the benefits provided in Sections 42 and 
43 of Repubiic Act No. 7077 in terms of training, uniforms and supplies, and 
scholarship incentive.
Section 11. SNST Program, The SNST Program is hereby established as 
substitute program for students who are exempted from mandatory Basic ROTC 
Program which shall Include the following components:
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Literacy Training Service Program;
2. Civic Welfare Training Service Program;
3. Emergency Life Support Training Service Program;
4. Search and Rescue Training Program; and
5. Community Service for Drug Rehabilitation.
The IRR of this Act may provide additional curriculum and instructions of the 
SNST program.
Section 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations The DND, in 
coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), along with other 
government agencies concerned, and in consultation with tertiary-level educational 
associations, shall issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations within thirty 
(30) days upon the effectivity of this Act.
Section 13. Repealing Clause, All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof Inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Section 14. Separability Clause, If, for any reason, any provision of this Act 
or any part thereof shall be held unconstitutional and invalid, the other parts or 
provisions of this Act, which are not affected thereby, shall remain in full force and 
effect.
Section 15. Effectivity Clause, This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers 
of general circulation.
Approved,