DND, TESDA, CHED vow to enhance NSTP law's IRR for college students

Three government agencies will work together to enhance the implementing rules and regulations of the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001, the Department of National Defense said Thursday.

It said, the DND, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) convened on December 4 in Camp Aguinaldo to create a technical working group (TWG) that will study how to improve the implementation of the NSTP Act among college students.

Present during the signing of the resolution were DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, TESDA director general Isidro Lapeña, and CHED chairperson Prospero De Vera.

“The DND, TESDA and CHED that are mandated to implement the three different components of the National Service Training Program, namely: the ROTC Program, the Civic Welfare Training Service, and the Literacy Training Service, convened for the first-time, for a two-fold purpose," Lorenzana said.

"First, to fulfill our respective mandates pursuant to the NSTP law; and second, to realize a higher objective that is enshrined in the 1987 Constitution,” he added.

Lorenzana also said the enhancement of the NSTP's IRR aims to make the law fit into present developments in the national security environment.

According to the DND, the creation of the TWG aims to bolster the NSTP in promoting the role of the youth in nation-building, instilling in them patriotism and nationalism, as well as encouraging their involvement in public and civic affairs. —LBG, GMA News