10 April 2006 1 REVISED IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (NSTP) Pursuant to Section 12 of Republic Act No. 9163 otherwise known as the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Department of National Defense (DND), in consultation with concerned government agencies, the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and recognized student organizations, hereby jointly issue, adapt and promulgate the following implementing rules and regulations in implement the provisions of the Act. Rule I GUIDING PRINCIPLES Section 1. Guiding Principle. While it is the prime duty of the government to serve and protect its citizens, in turn it shall be the responsibility of all citizens to defend the security and promote the general welfare of the State, and in fulfillment thereof, the government may require each citizen to render personal military or civil service. Section 2. Role of the Youth a. In recognition of the vital role of the youth in nation building, the State shall promote civic consciousness among them and shall develop their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being. It shall inculcate the ideals of patriotism, nationalism, and advance their involvement in public and civic affairs. b. As the most valuable resource of the nation, they shall be motivated, trained, organized and involved in military, literacy, civic welfare programs and other similar endeavors in the service of the nation. Rule II DEFINITION OF TERMS Section 3. As used in this Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), the following terms shall mean: a. “National Service Training Program” (NSTP) – refers to the 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 the three (3) Program components, specifically designed to enhance the youth’s active contribution to the general welfare;