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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES iy
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FCEIVEN @
Quezon City, Metro Manila ReGeyeD 5
DATE: 201
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS Regi

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First Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. CESAR V. SARMIENTO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The German-Filipino relations have never been better. Since 1961, when
Germany decided to make the Philippines as one of its development partners in
Asia, it is now the fourth largest bilateral donor after Japan, the United States and
Australia.

Around 876 million euros have already been given as total assistance
made by Germany. In addition, the Philippines receives substantial assistance
from the World Bank, European Union and the Asian Development Bank, where
Germany is the biggest European donor.

German industries have also started to make its mark in the Philippine
economy providing investment and employment. To name a few, Lufthansa
Technik, Continental, Bosch, Porsche/Audi, Siemens and Schenker, have all set-
up business offices and/or plants in the Philippines to infuse the much needed
foreign investments.

‘As a result of the growing German participation in the Philippine economy,
a total of around twenty thousand (20,000) German nationals are permanent
residents in the Philippines where majority have opted to reside in Metro Manila.
In order to meet the demands of the German expatriates, the Deutsche Schule
(German School) was set up in 1980 and was recognized by the Department of
Education. The school’s population immediately grew necessitating the transfer
to a bigger campus twice: to University of Life and later to Better Living in
Paranaque City along with the French School Manila

In 2006, the Deutsche Schule changed its name to Deutsche International
Schule Mania, Inc. to comply with Philippine laws and regulations. In 2008, it
further changed its name to German European School Manila, Inc. (GESM, for
brevity) in preparation of its intent be recognized as an international school.


Presently, GESM has a total of 198 students of different nationalities
namely: Germans (69), Filipino-German (41), Filipinos (26), Americans (7),
‘American-Germans (4), Swiss-Filipinos (4), Swiss (5), Dutch and Dutch-Filipino
(8), Austrians (4), British (7) among others.

Clearly, the patronage of the European community in the Philippines of the
GESM patently shows the need for the same to be established as an
international school to enable itself to provide the unique German/European
mode and procedure of education that endeared the school to its captive clients.

For this purpose, the bill aims to recognize the German European
International School of Manila, Inc., the status as an international school and
granting certain prerogatives conducive to its growth like the Southville
International School and the Cebu International School.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ae eS
HON. CESAR V. SARMIENTO



REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 663

Introduced by REP. CESAR V. SARMIENTO.

AN ACT RECOGNIZING THE GERMAN EUROPEAN SCHOOL MANILA,
INCORPORATED AS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION OF INTERNATIONAL
CHARACTER, GRANTING CERTAIN PREROGATIVES CONDUCIVE TO ITS.
GROWTH AS SUCH, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in
Congress assembled:

Section 1. German European Schoo! Manila, Inc., herein referred to as
the German School, is hereby declared an educational institution of international
character authorized to operate recognized German educational programs that
primarily and principally adhere to, specifically, German educational programs
and for course curriculum and/or generally, to universally accepted and
recognized educational policies.

Sec. 2. The members of the German School, shall be comprised of
parents or guardians, of the children who have enrolled and attended the School
for at least one (1) school year: Provided, That the majority of whom shall be
German and/or Filipino citizens and the minority of whom shall be of foreign
nationality; Provided, further, that the school year shall be determined in
accordance with the German School's own calendar of studies and work

schedule: Provided, finally, That the German School shall be governed by a


Board of Trustees, herein referred to as the Board, elected at large from among
the corporation's German and/or Filipino members of good standing.

Sec. 3. To enable the German School to continue carrying out its
educational program, improve its standard of instruction and meet the special
needs of the foreign temporary resident community for quality education, it shall:

(a) Be able to accept provisions and donations of every kind to carry out the
purposes of the German School and be entitled to use properties, real or
personal, so donated and to construct and own buildings thereon
exclusively for educational purposes : Provided, That for any reason, the
German School, ceases to occupy and/or use real properties it may
acquire by virtue of this Act, the properties and all improvements thereon
of permanent nature shall accrue to the Government of the Republic of
the Philippines;

(b) whenever necessary to carry out its objectives, have the right to obtain
leases on real properties, acquire personal properties, tangible or
intangible, or any interests in such properties other real, by purchase,
lease, barter, donation, gift or otherwise, and dispose of, mortgage or
encumber them for the benefit of the school concerned;

(c) accept applicants for admission, regardless of nationality, in accordance
with its own eligibility standards, and rules for admission and grade
placement: Provided, That no single alien nationality shall consist more
than thirty percent (30%) of the entire student population in a given

school year, as stated in the records of the School: Provided, further that


the Board of the German School may allow the enrolment of as many
German and/or Filipino citizens in a given school year that the total
number of German and/or Filipino pupils/students may exceed the thirty
(30%) percent limit as stated above;

(d) be managed and administered by a superintendent, who shall be a
German citizen and shall possess the qualifications prescribed by the
Board;

(€) determine its own curriculum and teach the German language and
whatever language or languages it may deem proper and determine; the
amount of fees and assessments which may be reasonably imposed
upon its pupils and/or students, to maintain or conform to the German
School's standard of education;

() maintain standards of education compatible with those obtaining in
similar schools in Germany, the Philippines and other International
educational institutions of generally recognized standing;

(g)_ employ its own teaching and management personnel selected by the
Board either locally or abroad, from Germany and/or the Philippines or
other nationalities, such foreign personnel being exempt from laws that
imposes nationality restrictions on control and administration of
educational institutions, except laws that have been or will be enacted
for the protection of employees: Provided, That such exemption shall not
extend to their liability for income taxes, unless otherwise provided by a

bilateral agreement;


(h) promote international friendship, goodwill and understanding among the
members of the foreign community and the citizens of the Philippines;
and

(i) not teach anything derogatory to the prestige and well-being of the
Philippines and its people, nor those which will subvert its institutions
and government.

Sec. 4. The Secretary of Education, in consultations with the German
Embassy and the members of the Board of the German School shall issue such
tules as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 5. If any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of this Act is
subsequently declared unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining provisions
hereof shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,