• Ole altie TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES P1:03 ) JUL 29 First Regular Session SENATE RECENED A S.B. No. - Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CITIZEN SERVICE PROGRAM, AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9163 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (NSTP) ACT OF 2001" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Article II, Section 4 of Constitution provides that "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 the fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by law to render personal, military or civil service. "Corollary to every citizen's duty to defend the state is the responsibility of the government to equip its citizens with the necessary capability and training to effectively respond to the said sacred duty. The spirit of "bayanihan" or community service is also deeply embodied in both Filipino culture and history. This bill seeks to instill the civic pride in every student by the system of training of the National Service Training Program (NSTP) under R.A No. 9163 and the known Reserved Officers' Training Course (ROTC) under R.A no. 7077, rendering them more relevant, effective, and responsive to the challenges of modern times. Thus, there shall be a Citizen Service Program to be implemented throughout the Elementary, Secondary, including K-11 and K-12 grades, focusing on community service, disaster preparedness, and environmental protection. The program shall be formulated and administered by the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of National Defense (DND), the League of Provinces in the Philippines (LPP), the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) and the accredited association of private schools, shall formulate the training program. At the tertiary level, this bill recalls the ancient Filipino distinction between the "timawa" or citizen service and the "maharlika" or military class. It should be
emphasized that enlisting in the Reserves Officers' Training Course shall be limited to tertiary students in accordance with the UN Resolution 1261 and other declarations regarding the rights of a child and children in armed conflict. Further, joining the ROTO shall remain optional but newly incentivized, giving enrollees stipends, health and other insurance, and access to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) facilities. Further, the Citizen Service Program can be an asset in recovery efforts after a disaster or terrorist attack which can prepare the community to build its capacity for first responders. For the forgoing reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. Tree h. Marca IMEER. MARCOS T
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES THE LEO FRE REEVES First Regular Session 25 JUL 29 P1:03 SENATE S.B. No. 749 RECENEU Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CITIZEN SERVICE PROGRAM, AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9163 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (NSTP) ACT OF 2001" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be 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 "Citizen Service
Program Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
require citizen service program to its citizen, particularly the youth, to enable them to render personal, military or civil service. It is also the policy of the State to inculcate nationalism in the citizenry, particularly the youth, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.
SEC. 3. Citizen Service Program. - There shall be established a mandatory
citizen service program for all students, enrolled in elementary and secondary, including those in K-11 and K-12, in both public and private schools, Said program shall focus on community service, disaster preparedness, and environmental protection. The Department of Education (DepEd), in consultation with the Department of National Defense (DND), the League of Provinces in the Philippines (LPP), the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) and the accredited associations of private schools, shall formulate and administer the program.
SEC. 4. Dual Streams at the Tertiary Level. - In the tertiary level, the students
may choose the dual streams of the following: (a) Citizen service and public safety; or
(b) the Reserved Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) under R.A. No. 7077
SEC. 5. Incentives. - For ROTC enrollees, the DND shall formulate and adopt a
new package of assistance and incentives, such assistance shall include but not be limited to the following: a) Free hospitalization in all government hospitals for injuries sustained or sickness acquired by reason of such training in the ROTC; b) Access to any Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) commissary, subject to the regulations to be issued by the Chief of Staff of the AFP; c) Philippine Health Insurance for all ROTC enrollees to cover the period of enrollment; d) Life insurance; and e) Stipend for ROTC cadet officers.
SEC. 6. Appropriations. - The amount needed for the implementation of this
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If any reason any part or provision of this Act
shall be deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected and remain in force and effect.
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
presidential proclamations, letters of instruction, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,