House of Representatives logo and plenary. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The House Bill (HB) No. 6687, requiring tertiary-level students to undergo a National Citizens Service Training Program (NCSTP) in place of the National Service Training Program (NSTP), has been approved on the third and final reading at the House of Representatives.
The bill, which makes the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) optional, got 276 affirmative votes from House members present, while four voted against it and one abstained.
The House approved the measure on the third reading just hours after it passed the same measure on the second reading, made possible by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s certification of the bill as urgent.
Similar to House Bill No. 6608, which contained the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund, the earliest that the bills could have been approved without Marcos’ certification is January 25. House rules state that bills approved on second reading can only be deliberated for third reading after three session days.
Congress will go on a recess for the holidays starting December 17, up to January 22.
READ: Maharlika fund bill passage by Thursday possible if certified as urgent – lawmaker
HB No. 6687 is the consolidated version of the bills seeking a mandatory ROTC and House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s NCSTP proposal.
The said bill was the product of the joint hearing of the House Committee on higher and technical education and the Committee on basic education last December 6, where it was agreed upon that Romualdez’ HB No. 6486 would be the lead bill in consolidating all other bills.
As stated, ROTC or military training, which results in graduates becoming a reservist, is not mandatory, while the NCSTP would be required.
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