The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila in English, commonly abbreviated as PLM, or simply Pamantasan), is the largest city government-funded, tuition-free, university in the Philippines. It also holds the distinction of being the first Philippine institution of higher learning to have its official name in Filipino.The Philippines' Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) has considered PLM as a model for public institutions across the Philippines. Furthermore, it has cited several PLM programs and departments as Centers of Excellence. A study using cumulative data from 1999 to 2003 showed that during the said period PLM was among the top five schools in the Philippines in terms of board exam passing rate. In the same study, it was one among three public universities in the top ten category.
PLM criticizes the Times Higher Education Supplement opinion surveys and the now-defunct Asiaweek rankings for its elitist view of higher education and for presenting criteria that do not apply to the unique landscape of each participating universities.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recently cited PLM for having a "culture of excellence," and for its accomplishments in various fields.