THE PAMANTASAN ng Lungsod ng Maynila on Friday said that it has adopted an administrative order removing sex-based guidelines on school uniforms.

“This is a simple yet meaningful gesture to demonstrate that PLM is a safe space for academic freedom and gender expression,” PLM President Emmanuel Leyco said.

Administrative Order No. 21-ACA which took effect on November 16, gives students the option “to wear either a plain white polo with the PLM patch or a white blouse with tie as their top, paired with either blue-gray pants or skirt.”

“The rules prescribe closed, black shoes for all students. The uniforms are to be worn from Mondays to Thursdays, while civilian wear may be worn from Fridays to Sundays and on declared free days,” the order said.

The university is the first public school to adopt this gender-neutral uniform policy.

“Students living with medical conditions and are unable to comply with the required uniform, as well as those whose religious beliefs or cultural traditions prevent them from wearing the PLM uniform are exempt from such rules upon coordination with the Office of Student Development and Services,” the school said.

The move was welcomed by members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community in the university.