The National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001 (R.A. 9163) was enacted in response to public clamor for reforms in the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Program. This act affirms that the prime duty of the government shall be to serve and protect its citizens. In turn, it shall be the responsibility of all its citizens to defend the security of the State; thus, the government may require each citizen to render personal, military or civil service. In the pursuit of these goals, the youth shall be motivated, trained, organized, and mobilized in military training, literacy, civic welfare, and other similar endeavors in service to the nation.
The NSTP is a program aimed at enhancing civic consciousness and defense preparedness in the youth by developing the ethics of service and patriotism while undergoing training in any of its program components.
Its various components are specially designed to enhance the youth’s active contribution to the general welfare of the nation. All male and female students enrolled in any baccalaureate or in at least two (2)-year technical/vocational or associate courses are required to complete the equivalent of two (2) semesters of an NSTP Common Module for the period of at least 25-hours and any one of the NSTP components listed below as a requisite for graduation:
1) Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)
2) Literacy Training Service (LTS)
3) Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS)
Under the NSTP law, state universities are required to offer ROTC and at least one other NSTP component. Furthermore, for NSTP courses, schools may collect not more than 50% of the current basic tuition.
Reference: Republic Act. No 9163 (NSTP Act 2001)