The legal basis of the National Service Training Program (NSTP) is the Republic Act No. 9163, also known as the "National Service Training Program Act of 2001". This act was signed by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and provides for the establishment of the program. The law made ROTC optional and made it as one of its components. The NSTP is a 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 its program components. All male and female students enrolled in any baccalaureate or in at least two (2)-year technical/vocational or associate courses are required to complete the equivalent of two (2) semesters of an NSTP Common Module for the period of at least 25-hours and any one of the NSTP components listed below as a requisite for graduation. The NSTP components are:
- Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)
- Literacy Training Service (LTS)
- Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS)
House Bill No. 3593 entitled "AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (NSTP) FOR ALL HIGHER AND TECHNICAL/VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS" is also considered as a legal basis of the NSTP program.
