Module 1 – Citizenship Training
Lesson 1 - Historical and Legal Bases of NSTP
Learning Objectives
At the end of the topic, students are expected to:
a) recognize how NSTP started
b) identify pertinent laws in relation to the creation of NSTP
Learning Content
Meaning of Service
• it is doing something for the benefit of others.
• the action of helping or doing work for someone.
• it can be VOLUNTARY.
The Traditional Filipino Service
BAYANIHAN - This tradition among Filipinos shows community participation, democracy and
cooperation. It may be for the benefit of an individual member of the community or the
community as a whole.
Spanish Colonial Administration
Polos y servicios – During the Spanish period, these policy or practice were used to compel the
Filipinos to work in public works. The polistas constructed churches, casas reales, roads, and built
or repaired ships. Able-bodied men 16-60 years of age were obliged to render services as polistas.
The Constitutional Mandate
The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people. The Government
may call upon the people to defend the State and, in fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be
required, under conditions provided by law, to render personal military or civil service. (1987
Constitution, Article 2, Section 4)
The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote
and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate in
the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.
(1987 Constitution, Article 2, Section 13)
Module 1 – Citizenship Training
Through the above legal provisions, national service comes into existence specifically NSTP
The National Service Training Program (NSTP), is a civic education and defense
preparedness program students instituted by the Government of the Philippines on 5 January 2000
by virtue of Republic Act9163, otherwise known as the "National Service Training Program
(NSTP) Act of 2001."
Under the NSTP Program, both male and female college students of any baccalaureate
degree course or technical vocational coursein public or private educational institutions are obliged
to undergo one of three program components for an academic period of two semesters. The
students, however, are free to choose which particular program component to take. The three
NSTP Program components are:[1]
• Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS)
This program component is designed to provide students with activities contributory to the
general welfare and betterment of life of the members of the community especially those
developed to improve social welfare services.
• Literacy
Training Service(LTS)
This program component is designed to train students in teaching literacy and numeracy
skills to schoolchildren and out-of-school youths. The hope is to continue learning on a
peer - to - peer interaction.
•
Reserve Officers' Training Corps(ROTC)
This program component is designed to provide military education and trainingfor students
to mobilize them for national defense preparedness. This is also a glimpse for young people
to see how military life is and encourage them into service.
Graduates of the ROTC program component are organized into the Citizen Armed Force,
while graduates of the LTS and CWTS program components are organized into the National
Service Reserve Corps(NSRC) administered by the Department of National Defense, the
Commission on Higher Education and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
There have been several legal precedents to the National Service Training Program (NSTP)
Act of 2001. These include:
• Commonwealth Act No. 1
Commonwealth Act No. 1, otherwise known as the "National Defense Act of 1935", was enacted
by the National Assembly of the Philippineson 21 December 1935. It provided for
obligatorymilitary servicefor all male citizens of ages between 18 and 30.[2]
• Presidential Decree No. 1706
Presidential Decree No. 1706, otherwise known as the "National Service Law", was signed into
law on 8 August 1980. It made national service obligatory for all Filipino citizens and specified
Module 1 – Citizenship Training
three categories of national service: civic welfare service, law enforcement service and military
service.[3]
• Republic Act 7077
Republic Act 7077, otherwise known as the "Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist
Act", was enacted by the 8thCongress of the Philippineson 27 June 1991. The Reservist Act
provided for organization, training and utilization of reservists, referred to in the Act as "Citizen
Soldiers". The primary pool of manpower for the reservist organization are graduates of the
Reserve Officers' Training Corpsbasic and advance courses.[4]
Learning Activity
Directions: Look for the article in the internet about the case of the ROTC in University of Sto.
Tomas (UST). Look also on the story of Mark Chua, a student of the same university. Make an
article or write up that relate the story on the establishment or creation of NSTP as academic
requirement for all tertiary or college students.
Learning Assessment
Directions:Among the three components of NSTP, which do you think is BEST to take by the
first year students in order to help the country in the present crisis. Support your answer by
identifying and discussing some practical solutions.
Learning References
1. Labuguen, Florida C.; et al. (2012). Understanding the National Service Training
Program. Mutya Publishing House. p. 11. ISBN 978-971-821-289-9.
2. National Assembly of the Philippines. "CA No. 1". Retrieved 28 June 2013.
3. Ferdinand E. Marcos. "PD No. 1706". Retrieved 28 June 2013.
4. 8th Congress of the Republic to the Philippines. "RA 7077". Retrieved 28 June 2013.