Republic Act No. 9163, known as the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001, establishes a program for tertiary level students in the Philippines aimed at enhancing civic consciousness and defense preparedness among the youth by developing ethics of service and patriotism
. Key features of RA 9163 include:
- NSTP is mandatory for all male and female students enrolled in any baccalaureate degree or at least two-year technical-vocational courses in public and private higher education institutions
- The program consists of three components from which students can choose:
- Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) – military education and training, now optional and voluntary under this Act.
- Literacy Training Service (LTS) – trains students to teach literacy and numeracy to schoolchildren and out-of-school youth.
- Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) – involves activities contributing to community welfare and social betterment
- The NSTP aims to promote patriotism, nationalism, moral virtues, respect for civilian rights, and adherence to the Constitution among the youth
- Graduates of ROTC become part of the Citizen Armed Force, while graduates of LTS and CWTS are organized into the National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC)
- The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Department of National Defense (DND) oversee the implementation and may develop other program components as necessary
In summary, RA 9163 institutionalizes the NSTP as a civic and defense training program for Filipino college students, promoting active youth participation in nation-building through military, literacy, or civic welfare training
