CHED Open to Policy Allowing Trans and Queer Students to Use Lived Names at Graduation

The Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has said it sees no legal barrier to a policy that would let transgender and queer college graduates use their lived names during commencement ceremonies. Representative Monique Lagdameo confirmed CHED’s willingness to discuss the proposal during September 23 budget deliberations, following a push from Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña after the Polytechnic University of the Philippines announced it would recognize trans graduates’ lived names. Other institutions—University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle, and others—already allow such recognition. While CHED notes official records will still reflect birth‑certificate names, the move could signal broader institutional acceptance. Advocates, including recent graduate Jira Samson, view the openness as a hopeful step, though they warn that implementation remains uncertain and that broader anti‑discrimination legislation, such as pending SOGIESC bills, is still stalled. CHED also pledged to investigate reported incidents of discrimination, such as a security officer’s harassment at Batangas State University.