Senator Win Gatchalian is calling for stronger involvement of local government units (LGUs) in efforts to eliminate illiteracy across the country.

This call comes in light of the recently released 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), which revealed that only seven in ten Filipinos aged 10 to 64 are functionally literate—defined as having the ability to read, write, compute, and comprehend. Among those aged 5 to 18, the rate stands at just 69.2%.

Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, stressed the importance of ensuring that children develop literacy and numeracy skills by the end of Grade 3. “The ability to read and count are foundational skills that every learner must acquire. Local communities and LGUs play a crucial role in achieving this,” he said, noting that a Senate hearing on the matter is set for the 30th.

To support this goal, Gatchalian is pushing for the passage of the National Literacy Council Act (Senate Bill No. 473), which seeks to mobilize LGUs by designating local school boards as de facto literacy councils in every province, city, and municipality.