Lim gives free uniforms to public school students

Mayor Alfredo Lim assured parents of public school students in Manila that the city government will distribute P84 million to the local school principals of elementary and high schools to provide two sets of uniform for the estimated 280,000 students in the city.

Lim said that starting next week the fund will be given to local school officials to buy two pairs of uniform for the students.

He said that he would fulfill the promise he made to the estimated 280,000 students in 71 public elementary schools and 22 public high schools in Manila.

“I have always prioritized education. I might give the money to either City School Superintendent Ma. Luisa Quinones or the school principals and let them decide on how they would distribute the money or uniform to their students,” said Lim.

The idea was brought up during a recent visit to the P. Guevarra Elementary School in San Nicolas in Binondo, wherein it was learned that nine out of 10 parents preferred their children to wear uniforms.

He said that students who wear uniforms are much better than those who wear street clothes because it gives a sense of pride and belonging to the school and establish camaraderie among the students.

Besides, he added, it would be too costly for the parents if they would buy their children civilian clothes.

“The parents appealed to me and told me that they are finding it very difficult to pay for the school uniform of their children because it is added expenditure to them. So, to alleviate their plight, starting this school year, we will give our public school students free uniform of two sets each,” the mayor added.

Lim said that initially he was only supposed to donate one pair of uniform, but opted to give every public school student in the city two pairs of uniform which would cost the city government P84 million.

A couple of days ago, he handed out school supplies such as bags, crayons, pencils and notebooks to the public school students.