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Republic of the Philippines 
BOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
BOUSE BILL NO. ----
Introduced by Representative GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION, DEVELOPMENT, 
TRAINING, ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE 
BASIC RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) IN 
GRADES 11 AND 12 IN ALL 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. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The "Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)", a program institutionalized 
under Sections 38 and 39 of Republic Act No. 7077 or the "Citizen Armed Forces 
Reservist Act", is designed to provide military training to tertiary level students 
in order to motivate, train, organize and mobilize them for national defense 
preparedness. Under Republic Act No. 9163 or the "National Service Training 
Program (NSTP) Act of 200 l ", the ROTC is one of the program components and 
as such enrollment to the ROTC program is optional or voluntary. 
With the institutionalization of the Senior High School curriculum under 
Republic Act No. 10533 or the "Enhanced Basic education Act of 2013" and with 
the increasing concern to address various human and national security threats 
(war, conflict, natural and man-made disasters and emergencies), there is a 
need to strengthen the nation's capacity to respond to these threats and promote 
deeper sense of nationalism, patriotism and concern to nation building by all 
people, most especially the youth who hold the nation's future. 
July 28, 2022
12:58 am
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Hence, this measure is proposed to establish a two-year mandatory Basic 
ROTC Program for Grades 11 and 12 in all public and private educational 
institutions as requisite for graduation from Senior High School. On the other 
hand, enrollment in the ROTC Course in the tertiary level under the NSTP shall 
remain optional and voluntary. 
The proposed 
Basic ROTC Program prescribes the inclusion of the 
following Program of Instructions: 
(1) Enhances the students consciousness in the ethics of service, 
patriotism and nationalism, respect for human rights, appreciation 
of the role of national heroes in the historical development of the 
country, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop personal 
discipline and leadership and to encourage creative thinking for 
scientific and technological development; 
(2) Basic military training for students to motivate, train, organize and 
utilize for national defense preparedness or civil-military operations; 
and 
(3) Civil training for students for the development and improvement of 
health, education, ecology and environmental protection, disaster 
risk reduction and management, human and civil rights awareness 
and law enforcement. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage into law of this propose measure is 
earnestly sought. 
GLORIA ~GAL ARROYO 
2nd District, Pampanga 
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. __ 
_ 
Introduced by Representative GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE IN'STITUTION'ALIZATION', DEVELOPMENT, 
TRAIN'IN'G, ORGANIZATION' AND ADMINISTRATION' OF THE 
BASIC RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) IN 
GRADES 11 AND 12 IN ALL 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. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic 
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of the Philippines in the Congress assembled: 
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SECTION. 1. S1wrt Title. This Act shall be known as the "Reserve Officers' 
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Training Corps (ROTC) Act". 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the prime duty of the State to serve and 
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protect the people at all times. In fulfillment thereof, the government may call 
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upon the people to defend the State that all citizens may be required, under 
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conditions provided by law, to render personal, military or civil service. In the 
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same manner, the State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building, 
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and shall promote civic consciousness among the youth and shall develop their 
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physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being. It shall inculcate in 
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the youth patriotism, nationalism, and encourage involvement in public and 
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civic affairs. 
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To realize this, the State shall enhance the capacity of the nation to 
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produce the needed manpower and to expand its human resources in times of 
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war, calamities and disasters, and in support to the Government's law 
enforcement strategy against crimes, by creating a pool of trained reservists. 
SEC. 3. Establishment of Basic ROTC Program in all Public and Private 
Educational Institutions for Grades 11 and 12 -
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(a) There is hereby established a mandatory two-year Basic ROTC 
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Program for students enrolled in Grades 11 and 12 which shall form 
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part of the basic curricula for the Senior High School Education in all 
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public and private educational institutions in pursuance to the 
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provisions of the National Defense Act and the 1987 Constitution with 
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the objective of producing well-trained and prepared reservists for 
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military and civic service. 
The ROTC Program is aimed at instilling 
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patriotism, love of country, moral and spiritual virtues, respect for 
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human rights and adherence to the Constitution. In no way shall the 
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ROTC Program be used for political aims, to teach or instill a particular 
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ideology and as a mechanism for hazing and abuse. 
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(b) The ROTC Program shall include the following Program of Instruction 
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(POI): 
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(4) Enhancing the students consciousness in the ethics of service, 
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patriotism and nationalism, respect for human rights, appreciation 
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of the role of national heroes in the historical development of the 
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country, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop personal 
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discipline and leadership and to encourage creative thinking for 
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scientific and technological development. 
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(5) Basic military training for students in order to motivate, train, 
organize and utilize for national defense preparedness or civil-
military operations: Provided, That no student below the age of 
eighteen (18) years shall take a direct part in hostilities. 
(6) Civil training for students in order to be active participants and 
volunteers for the development and improvement of health, 
education, ecology and environmental protection, disaster risk 
reduction and management, human and civil rights awareness and 
law enforcement. 
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(c) Any student who fails to undergo the mandatory Basic ROTC Program 
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in Grades 11 and 12 in accordance with this Act shall not be qualified 
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for graduation from Senior High School. In addition thereto, the non-
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taking of the Basic ROTC Program by any student shall be a ground 
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for Compulsory Military Training pursuant to Section 14 of Republic 
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Act No. 7077, or the "Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist 
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Act". Any educational institution that fails to institute and implement 
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the Basic ROTC program in pursuance of this Act shall be subject to 
disciplinruy and administrative sanctions as the Department of 
Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and 
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) may 
impose. 
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(d) Guided by the provision of Section 4(b) hereof, the Department of 
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national Defense (DND), DepEd, CHED and TESDA, in consultation 
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with other relevant government agencies and private stakeholders as 
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the secretary of National Defense may determine, shall design and 
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formulate the Program of Instruction (POI) on the Basic ROTC Program 
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in Grades 11 and 12, within sixty (60) days from the approval of this 
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Act and shall jointly issue the implementing rules and regulations for 
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the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 5. Students Exempted from this Act. The following may be exempted 
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from the coverage of this Act: 
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(a) Those who are physically or psychologically unfit, as certified by the 
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Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Surgeon General or his 
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authorized medical officer, in pursuance of the recommendation of the 
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educational institutions where the concerned student is enrolled. 
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(b) Those who have undergone or are undergoing similar military training; 
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(c) Those who were chosen by their school to serve as the school's varsity 
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players in sports competitions; and 
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(d) Those who may be exempted from training for valid reasons as 
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approved by the DND, upon the recommendation by any educational 
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institution where the concerned student is enrolled. 
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SEC. 6. Acceptance to Advance ROTC Course. The ROTC Program in the 
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tertiary education under Republic Act No. 9163 or the "National Service Training 
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Program Act of 2001" shall remain optional and voluntary and shall hereby be 
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referred to as the Advance ROTC Course. Students who volunteer for advance 
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ROTC Course in universities, colleges, vocational schools and other tertiary 
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institutions shall be governed by Section 40 of R.A 7077. The provisions of 
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Sections 42 and 43 ofR.A. 7077 in terms of training, uniforms and supplies, and 
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the scholarship incentive shall remain effective and applicable for those accepted 
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in the Advance ROTC course. 
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SEC.7. Organization, Operation and Maintenance of ROTC Units. 
The 
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organization, operation and maintenance for the establishment of ROTC shall be 
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in accordance with Sections 41 and 42 of R.A. 7077 which shall remain effective 
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and operative unless inconsistent with this Act. 
The Secretary of National 
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Defense, in consultation with the DepEd, CHED and TESDA, shall prescribe the 
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organization and operational manual of ROTC units in public and private 
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educational institutions for Grades 11 and 12; provided, that such educational 
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institutions shall be required to provide an adequate office for the ROTC 
administrative staff assigned thereat. 
The AFP shall create an office dedicated to the supervision and 
administration of the ROTC program within the Reserve Commands of the AFP 
in accordance with the DepED, CHED and TESDA. 
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SEC. 8. Incentives for undergoing ROTC Program -
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(a) Subject to other requirements prescribed by rules and regulations, 
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graduates 
of 
Basic 
ROTC 
Program 
shall 
be 
eligible 
for 
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commissionship/lateral entry and enlistment in the AFP, Philippine 
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National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Jail and 
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Management and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Fire Protection 
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(BFP) unless a waiver is issued by the Department Secretaries of the 
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aforementioned military and civilian armed forces. 
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(b) Students undergoing Basic ROTC Program and those accepted in the 
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Advance ROTC Course shall be provided with free hospitalization in any 
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government hospital in case of accident or injury during the training. 
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Mandatory insurance for students undergoing Basic ROTC Program 
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and Advance ROTC Course shall be provided by the school where the 
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students are enrolled. 
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(c) Students undergoing Basic ROTC Program or Advance ROTC Course 
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shall be given access and privileges with any AFP Commissary and PX 
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Stores nationwide. The Chief of Staff, AFP shall issue the necessary 
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regulations for the implementation of this privilege. 
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SEC. 9. The ROTC Grievance Board - There shall be created a Reserve 
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Officer's Training Corps (ROTC) Grievance Board composed of one (1) 
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representative from the DND, and two (2) representatives from DepEd with the 
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more senior representative from DepEd as Chairperson. These representatives 
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shall be appointed for their known integrity, probity 
and independence. 
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Representatives from CHED and TESDA may be invited to participate in 
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grievance proceedings as may be deemed necessary by the Board. 
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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, involving 
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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 
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being used to instill a particular ideology; and 
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(c) Recommend policies and reforms to ensure adherence of the ROTC 
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Program to the Constitution and all laws penalizing abuse in any form. 
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All decisions of the ROTC Grievance Board shall be appealable to the Office 
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of the President. 
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SEC. 10. Liability of the Educational Institutions. 
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The instructor or 
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faculty-in-charge of the Basic ROTC Program shall be responsible for monitoring 
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the activities involved in the ROTC. The instructor or the faculty-in-charge must 
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be a duly recognized active member, in good standing, of the faculty at the school 
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in which the ROTC Program or Course is being implemented. 
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The school or the university and its administrators shall exercise special 
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parental authority and supervise the implementation of the Basic ROTC 
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Program. 
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In case of violation of any of the provisions of this Act and other related 
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laws, the instructor or faculty-in-charge and the school or university and its 
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officials shall be responsible and liable for any damage or injury caused to a 
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student. 
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SEC. 11. Funding. -
The funding requirement to implement the 
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establishment, maintenance and operations of the Basic ROTC Program shall be 
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included in the budget of the implementing agencies/ departments in the annual 
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General Appropriations Act (GAA). 
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SEC. 12. Separability Clause. If, for any reason, any part or provision of 
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this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions 
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not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - Pertinent provisions of the Republic Act No. 
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7077, or the "Citizens Armed Force or Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist 
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Act" and all other laws, acts, presidential decrees or issuances, executive orders, 
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rules or regulations contrary to or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act 
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are hereby repealed, or amended accordingly. 
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Sec. 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen ( 15) days 
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after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
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general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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