You Are What You Wear - Jennifer Baumgartner

Fashion is a dynamic and ever-evolving aspect of our society. Despite its continual
evolution, many organizations, especially schools and institutions, maintain a
uniform system for their students and teachers alike. Acknowledging the need to
address the "inflationary pressures" currently affecting the country, Vice
President (VP) and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte announced
that uniforms for public school students under the DepEd would not be required for
the upcoming school years. While this move supports students' freedom of expression
and promotes individuality over conformity, it does not eliminate the repercussions
it carries. As not requiring students to wear school uniforms can be considered
'anti-poor' and may lead to more drawbacks than benefits.

Recently, Vice President Sara officially acknowledged DepEd Order No. 065, Series
of 2010, which states that "the wearing of school uniforms shall not be required in
public schools." This decision by the DepEd secretary was prompted by the
persistent inflationary pressures that the country has experienced in recent
months, even reaching 8.7 percent last year, providing students and parents with
the opportunity to adapt to this economic challenge.

However, an article by Medium.com stated that school uniforms typically cost around
PhP 500, which is 12 percent more cost-effective compared to regular outfits.
Additionally, school uniforms are sometimes provided for free by Local Government
Units (LGUs), making them completely available and budget-friendly to the public.
This adjustment implies only that parents will now need to purchase more clothes
for their children, leading to increased laundry baggages and costs, thus
undermining the primary rationale for this decision in the first place.

Furthermore, not requiring for students to wear uniforms also means that school
instution won't be required to purchase from micro, small, and medium enterprises
(MSMEs)