Lesson 1 - Historical and Legal Bases of NSTP

• What is the main focus of Module 1 in Citizenship Training?

  Historical and Legal Bases of NSTP
• What are the learning objectives of this lesson?

  To recognize how NSTP started and identify pertinent laws related to NSTP
• What does "service" mean in the context of NSTP?

  • Doing something for the benefit of others
  • Helping or doing work for someone
  • Can be voluntary
• What is the Filipino tradition that emphasizes community participation and cooperation?

  Bayanihan
• What was the purpose of "Polos y servicios" during the Spanish colonial period?

  To compel Filipinos to work on public works projects
• Who were obliged to render services as polistas during the Spanish period?

  Able-bodied men aged 16-60
• What is the prime duty of the Government according to the 1987 Constitution, Article 2, Section 4?

  To serve and protect the people
• What does the 1987 Constitution, Article 2, Section 13 state about the youth?

  The State recognizes their vital role in nation-building and promotes their well-being
• What is the National Service Training Program (NSTP)?

  • A civic education and defense preparedness program
  • Instituted by the Government of the Philippines on 5 January 2000
  • Established by Republic Act 9163
• Who is required to undergo the NSTP program?


  Both male and female college students of any baccalaureate or technical vocational course
• How long is the NSTP program for students?

  Two semesters
• What are the three components of the NSTP program?

  1. Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS)
  2. Literacy Training Service (LTS)
  3. Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)
• What is the purpose of the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS)?

  To provide activities that contribute to the general welfare of the community
• What does the Literacy Training Service (LTS) aim to achieve?

  To train students in teaching literacy and numeracy skills
• What is the goal of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)?

  To provide military education and training for national defense preparedness
• What is the Citizen Armed Force organized from?

  Graduates of the ROTC program component
• What is the National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC) composed of?

  Graduates of the LTS and CWTS program components
• What are the legal precedents to the NSTP Act of 2001?


  1. Commonwealth Act No. 1 - National Defense Act of 1935
  2. Presidential Decree No. 1706 - National Service Law
  3. Republic Act 7077 - Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act
• What did Commonwealth Act No. 1 establish?

  Obligatory military service for male citizens aged 18 to 30
• What did Presidential Decree No. 1706 specify?

  It made national service obligatory for all Filipino citizens
• What is the focus of Republic Act 7077?

  Organization, training, and utilization of reservists
• What is the primary pool of manpower for the reservist organization according to Republic Act 7077?

  Graduates of the ROTC basic and advance courses
• What should students do for the learning activity regarding the ROTC case at UST?

  • Look for an article about the ROTC case at UST
  • Research the story of Mark Chua
  • Write an article relating the story to the establishment of NSTP
• What is the task for the learning assessment regarding NSTP components?

  • Choose the best NSTP component for first-year students
  • Discuss practical solutions to help the country in the present crisis
• • 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. 
• 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) 
• 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 course in 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.
• NSTP Program components are:

  -Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS)

  -Literacy Training Service (LTS)

  -Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)
• 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. 
•  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 Philippines On 21 December 1935. It provided for obligatory military service for all male citizens of ages between 18 and 30.
• 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 three categories of national service: civic welfare service, law enforcement service and military service. 

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• Republic Act 7077 

  Republic Act 7077, otherwise known as the "Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist  Act", was enacted by the 8th Congress of the Philippines on 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 Corps basic and advance courses.