City proposes standard school uniform design

CEBU, Philippines — Councilor Jessica Resch has proposed an ordinance that would establish a standard uniform design for all public schools in the city.

Resch said a school uniform should reflect respect for the school as an institution for learning and not a cause for discrimination particularly for students belonging to a lower socio-economic status.

"Promoting physical hygiene and proper school uniform are part of the teaching-learning process in school, thus students' attire and physical appearance should manifest learnings from this process," said Resch.

The purpose of the ordinance is to provide a standard pattern and design of school uniforms to all public elementary pupils.

The proposal was referred to the Committee on Laws, Ordinances, and Styling during the City Council's regular session last February 5.

"This State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being," read a portion of the proposed ordinance.

The proposed ordinance shall be applied to all the pupils in the public elementary schools of the city, from Kindergarten to Grade 6.

The design of the uniform for the boys is a short-sleeves white polo, with a pocket at the right side printed with the logo of the Department of Education (DepEd) paired with short pants.

The Local School Board (LSB) will determine the color of the short pants.

For the girls, white short-sleeves polo with a neck tie printed the DepEd logo, and will be paired with a knee-length skirt.

The LSB shall spearhead the establishment of mode procurement processes, liquidation, and audit that will ensure the efficient and effective implementation of the ordinance in consonance with standing laws of Commission on Audit (COA) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The proposed ordinance is in line with the City Ordinance 2543 also known as "An Ordinance for the Provision of Annual Free School Supplies to all Public Elementary Schools in the City of Cebu and Appropriating of Funds Thereof." Councilors Raymond Alvin Garcia and Raul Alcoseba have authored this ordinance.

A ceremonial signing of the ordinance was held last Nov. 26, 2019 between the mayor and Vice Mayor Michael Rama with some city councilors as witnesses.

Mayor Edgardo Labella said last January that they already have the design for the proposed school uniform, which will be subjected to a public bidding.

Around 190,000 Kindergarten to Grade 6 pupils will each receive a set of school uniform, comprising of three polos and two pairs of pants (boys) and two skirts and three blouses (girls).

The city government will also provide feeding programs, bags, and school shoes to public school elementary pupils.  GAN (FREEMAN)