PROVIDING FOR COMPULSORY NATIONAL SERVICE FOR FILIPINO CITIZENS AND AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF COMMONWEALTH ACT NUMBER ONE, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT" FOR THE PURPOSE

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 1706
• Sections: 8

Preamble

WHEREAS, Section 2, Article II of the Constitution provides

that: "The defense of the state is a prime duty of the" government and the

people, and in the fulfillment of this duty all citizens may be required by law

to render personal military or civil service";

WHEREAS, Section 1, Article V of the same Constitution

provides, among others, that it is the duty of the citizen to contribute to his

country's development and welfare and to cooperate with the duly constituted

authorities in the attainment and preservation of a just and orderly

society;

WHEREAS, Commonwealth Act Number One, as amended, makes it

obligatory for all citizens to render military service;

WHEREAS, to serve the urgent needs of a developing country

such as the Philippines, at present and in the foreseeable future, it is equally

vital to enhance respect for the law and lawfully constituted authorities and

provide for, promote and develop civic consciousness and participation as it is

to insure national defense preparedness;

WHEREAS, the citizens of our country, particularly its

youth, as the most valuable resource of our nation, need to be motivated,

trained, developed, organized, mobilized and utilized in regard to their

responsibilities as citizens particularly their commitment to civic welfare,

their respect for the law and. lawfully constituted authorities and the

fulfillment of their military or civil obligations;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the

Constitution, do hereby order and decree that:

Section 1

SECTION 1. — This decree shall be known as "The National

Service Law".

Section 2

SEC. 2. — National service shall be obligatory for all

citizens of the Philippines. As used in this decree, "National service" shall

consist of three main programs namely: civic welfare service; law enforcement

service; and military service.

Section 3

SEC. 3. — Each citizen shall render national service in any

of the three main programs stated in section 2 of this decree or a combination

thereof: PROVIDED, That such service shall be credited in his favor for

the purpose of fulfilling educational requirements established by law.

Section 4

SEC. 4. — The terms "military service" and "military

training" referred to in Commonwealth Act Number One, as amended, shall mean

"national service" and "training for national service", respectively, as herein

defined.

Section 5

SEC. 5. The Minister of National Defense, in coordination

with the Ministers of Human Settlements, Education and Culture, and Local

Government and Community Development, shall issue rules and regulations to

implement this Decree, .subject to the approval of the President.

Section 6

SEC. 6. All provisions of Commonwealth Act Number One, as

amended, laws, orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, which are

inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed, amended or modified

accordingly.

Section 7

SEC. 7. This Decree takes effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 8th day of August, in the year of Our Lord,

nineteen hundred and eighty.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President of the

Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) JUAN C. TUVERA

Senior Presidential

Assistant