House approves on third reading bill making NCSTP mandatory

“Congress recognizes the clamor for an increase in the minimum wage to help our fellow Filipinos cope with the rising cost of goods,” Rep. Fidel Nograles, chair of the House committee on labor and employment, said.

Boy Santos, file

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 7:11 p.m.) — The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading the National Citizens Service Training Program (NCSTP) Act, which critics have called a rebranding of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program.

In a 276-4-1 vote, lawmakers voted to pass the NCSTP Act. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier certified the bill as urgent, along with the bill creating the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund.

This means that undergraduate students in both public and private higher educational institutions, technical-vocational education and training programs, and those taking TESDA courses will undergo a two-year NCSTP program. 

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/15/2231035/bill-making-ncstp-mandatory-certified-urgent-marcos