Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._2759 _

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Introduced by Representative Joseph Gilbert F. Violago

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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

ze 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 2019".

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 || 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 ofall 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 2002
* js hereby deemed amended, All other laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, rules and
regulations or pans 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,


Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
* TIME 1:12pm
NINETEENTH CONGRESS Se By Li
First Regular Session <i

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No inver?

House Bill No. 2759 _

Introduced by Representative Joseph Gilbert F, 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 I 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 2 standby force for mobilization during national emergencies,
calamities and other instances where they could be called upon and mobilized to assist in
matters of extemal 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.

This bill was consolidated with House Bill No. 8961 in the 17° Congress and
subsequently approved by the House of Representatives on Third Reading on May 20, 2019.

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

JOSEPHGILBERT F, VIOLAGO
2° District, Nueva Ecija