SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez,

3660

House Bill No.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Mr, Paul Gerhard Schafer was born in Germany on September 10, 1950. He studied
in Germany and worked there from 1966 as a working student until 1989 when he was the
Section Head for Language Course Organization (German as a Foreign Language for
Participants of Government- and Industry-Sponsored Scholarship Programs for
professionals from foreign, mostly developing countries in Germany) Carl Duisberg Centren
(CDC), Cologne, Germany.

From then on, Mr. Schafer became the Resident Representative of the Hanns Seidel
Foundation/Germany (HSF) in Manila, Philippines. He was the Resident Representative until
his retirement in 2016. It is quite evident that Mr. Schafer fell in love with the Philippines and
with Filipinos.

Hanns Seidel Foundation in the Philippines has devoted itself in promoting seff-help
and self-responsibility to help ensure the sustainability of the programs that have received its
support. With Mr. Schafer at the helm, HSF focused its efforts on improving the quality of life
of the members of the disadvantaged sector in the Philippines. Through the strong
partnership it had earlier forged with the Center for Research and Communication (CRC,
now known as the University of Asia and the Pacific, UA&P), HSF helped contribute towards
the socio-economic development of the country through support in the conduct of seminars
and training activities for professionals and skilled workers, strengthening democratic
structures, and in enhancing partnerships between the government and the private sector. In
line with its development goals, HSF involved itself in the promotion and implementation of
the dual training system for technical and vocational courses. This led to the further
expansion and solidification of its network of local partners that grew to include the Dualtech
Training Center, Pablo Borbon Memorial Institute of Technology (now integrated into the
Batangas State University), Punlaan School, Pamantasan ng Makati, and Concordia
College, among others.

Mr. Schafer has also led the implementation of various programs of the HSF
including the Dual Vocational Training and the Philippine Countryside Programs.

The Dualtech Center is one significant testament to the successful introduction of the
German Dual Training System (DTS) in the Philippines by HSF. It started as a social
development project aimed to alleviate poverty through vocational education and training
programs and as a response to the growing problem of the lack of skilled manpower needed
by the industries. Through its training programs, the Dualtech Center has transformed the
unskilled/unemployed and underpaid out-of-school youth into highly-skilled workers earning
above-the-minimum wage, thus, alleviating their families from the grip of poverty. From 1982
to date, the Dualtech Center produced over 20,000 graduates for its short-term courses and
over 10,000 graduates for its two-year course

Another program implemented was the Philippine Countryside Program (PCP) in
cooperation with its local partners - Institute for People Power and Development (IPPD)-


Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Foundation (BSAF, renamed Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation,
NCAF, effective 08 February 2010), Negros Oriental Development Center (NODC) and
National Cooperative Movement (NCM). The program's ultimate goal was to develop viable
and sustainable cooperative business networks and leadership espousing democratic
principles and participatory processes towards social transformation. It was undertaken
through the provision of training and education focused on leadership and advanced
management courses. The program promoted the integration and consolidation of
cooperatives along the economic value chain. It also developed and distributed training
modules to training participants. The program was turned over in 2005 and 2007 to NODC
and NCAF through the Philippine Federation of Credit Cooperatives (PFCCO), respectively

Further, in September 2002, with special funds provided by the German government,
an expansion program titled "institutional Capacity-Bullding and Livelihood Assistance for
Peace and Development" was initiated in Western Mindanao in cooperation with NCAF
local partners and other foreign donor agencies, This project, which was completed in
November 2004, provided assistance in formerly war-torn communities of Basilan, Sulu
Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga Sibugay through a comprehensive and integrated program
covering psycho-social interventions, technical and management training/seminars, and
income-generating projects (seaweed farming and bakeshop). The main program-
beneficiaries were former combatants of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), their
families and their immediate community. A total of 693 participants were trained and 203
individuals benefited from the livelihood projects including women.

th 2008 with the objective of institutionalizing the program, a 2-year tripartite program
cooperation was forged with the Philippine Federation of Credit Cooperatives (PFCCO), an
aggrupation of credit cooperatives which are considered the dominant and more successful
cooperatives in the country with a nationwide network, The program has trained a faculty-on-
field comprising of 33 members (ie. Board Members, League Managers and heads of
Education Committee) who graduated from the program, which complemented the
Professionalization Program of PFCCO. Baseline and end-jine studies were conducted
before and after the training to measure the effectiveness and impact of the program at the
level of the faculty-on-field. The program was turned over to NCAF and PFCCO in 2007

The HSF, under Mr. Schafer, has stood firm on its commitment to poverty reduction
and to the overall socio-economic development of the country. One proof is its additional
program cooperation in 2008 to provide support to the microfinance sector in the Philippines.
The purpose of the program is to develop the capacity of microfinance institutions (MFls) to
enhance access of marginal sectors to innovative products, markets and services, The
program has 4 components: i) curriculum development and standardization; ii) organization
of a training faculty for microfinance courses; Iii) research and development for new
microfinance loan products and services; and iv) organization/networking of training
institutions/service providers for micro-enterprise development.

These are just some of the main programs being implemented by the HSF and Mr.
Schafer not to mention the various trainings and seminars that they conduct to assist and
improve the capabilities and competence of Filipinos including police officers. They have
also provided programs that support initiatives of the Supreme Court, ASEAN-EU
Cooperation, the ‘International Conference of Asian Political Parties’ (ICAPP) and of the
Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA)

Complementary to the aforementioned key programs, HSF provides support to the
following special programs on international cooperation:
i, Information and study visits to Germany and to European institutions;
ii, International and local conferences, seminars and meeting of experts on
major topics related to foreign policy, security and economic affairs; and


ili, Scholarship Program/study grants for young professionals who have
expressed interest to pursue further studies (up to two years) in Germany
related to the Foundation's project activities in the country,

The HSF (and Mr. Schafer) was also awarded the Congressional Medal of
Achievement by the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines because of
all that they have done for the Filipino people

Mr, Paul Gerhard Schafer is married to a Filipina, Cruzalinda Mondejar Schafer, and
they are blessed with 3 sons

It is quite evident that Mr. Schafer has become more Filipino and has helped more
Filipinos than many Filipino, He has made the Philippines his home since 1989 and because
of his love for our country, he wishes to avail of the privilege of called a Filipino.

‘And while Mr. Schafer is not yet a citizen of the Philippines, his mind, heart, soul and
his actions show that he is a Filipino.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested

Wp

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative I . Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No, 3660

GRANTING PHILIPPINES CITIZENSHIP TO PAUL GERHARD SCHAFER

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
Assembled.

Section 1. Paul Gerhard Schafer is hereby granted Philippine citizenship with all the rights.
privileges, and prerogatives appurtenant thereto

After the taking and registration of the oath of allegiance to the Republic of the
Philippines, Paul Gerhard Schafer shall enter into the full enjoyment Philippine Citizenship

Section 2. This Act shall take effect immediately following its publication in the Official
Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation.

Approved