Introduction: A call to local leadership
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has intensified his push for local government units (LGUs) to take a central role in addressing functional illiteracy, citing a troubling nationwide count that has doubled in recent years. Functional literacy, which measures a person’s ability to read, write, and perform basic numerical tasks in everyday contexts, remains a stubborn obstacle to economic opportunity and social mobility. By mobilizing LGUs, Gatchalian argues, communities can implement targeted literacy programs, tailor education to local needs, and track progress more accurately.
The scope of the challenge
Recent data indicate that roughly 24.8 million Filipinos are functionally illiterate, a figure that alarms educators, policymakers, and civil society. The issue is not merely about recall of letters but about applying literacy skills in real-life situations—reading job postings, understanding public information, managing finances, and navigating health communications. The problem spans urban and rural areas, cutting across income groups and age cohorts. Gatchalian emphasizes that without local ownership, mass literacy campaigns risk losing momentum once national attention wanes.
Why LGUs matter in literacy reform
LGUs are uniquely positioned to align literacy initiatives with local realities. They oversee schools, libraries, community centers, and health and social welfare services that can all contribute to a literacy ecosystem. Gatchalian argues that when provinces, cities, and municipalities co-create programs, they can:
- identify and address specific reading gaps among children, out-of-school youth, and adults;
- integrate literacy with livelihood training to boost employability;
- deploy community volunteers and teachers to reach hard-to-reach populations;
- monitor progress with local data to refine approaches in real-time.
Proposed actions for local governments
The senator outlined a practical framework for LGUs to adopt, anchored in assessment, targeted programming, and accountability. Key elements include:
- Comprehensive local literacy needs assessments to map skill gaps by barangay and sector.
- Curriculum alignment with national literacy standards while allowing local customization for context.
- Partnerships with libraries, community centers, and NGOs to deliver tutoring, reading clubs, and digital literacy sessions.
- Incentive schemes for learners who complete modules, apprenticeships linked to literacy milestones, and recognition for participating communities.
- Transparent reporting mechanisms to track outcomes and ensure funds reach frontline programs.
Measuring success and ensuring sustainability
Progress metrics will be critical to maintaining political and public buy-in. Gatchalian advocates for clear indicators such as improved reading comprehension scores, increased library usage, higher enrollment in literacy classes, and improved numeracy skills demonstrated through practical tasks. Importantly, he cautions against short-term, one-off campaigns, urging the government to embed functional literacy into long-range development plans. Sustainable success will rely on consistent funding, public accountability, and community involvement at every level of governance.
National collaboration and next steps
While LGUs bear the frontline responsibilities, the national government must provide policy direction, best-practice templates, and funding to scale successful pilots. This collaboration would create a national-to-local pipeline for literacy resources, teacher training, and digital access. Gatchalian also underscored the need for robust data collection and an open system for sharing lessons learned across provinces and cities, enabling any locality to replicate proven approaches.
Conclusion: A practical route to a literate future
Gatchalian’s proposal reflects a pragmatic shift: empower local leaders who understand the community’s needs to lead functional literacy reform. If implemented effectively, LGU-driven programs can transform millions of lives by turning literacy into a tangible driver of opportunity, health, and civic participation. The path forward hinges on data-driven planning, local ownership, and sustained collaboration among government, schools, libraries, and civil society.
