SENATOR Loren Legarda has renewed her call for urgent and concrete action to raise literacy levels and instill cultural pride in young Filipinos.

She stressed that preparing the youth for global competitiveness begins with ensuring they can read, comprehend, and embrace their identity.

“Sa mga nakalipas na taon, kinaharap natin ang krisis sa mababang estado ng kakayahan ng ating kabataang bumasa at umintindi,” Legarda said at the launch of Wikaharian 2, a collaborative project between the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI).

Citing the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment and a 2024 World Bank study, she said 91% of 10-year-old Filipino children could not read and understand age-appropriate texts.

To help address this, the NCCA and KCFI launched Wikaharian 2, an animated educational video series for Grade 2 learners that teaches Filipino language, culture, and values.

The project follows the success of Wikaharian 1, which produced 50 episodes in 2022. An earlier 2020 initiative created 80 short video lessons with session guides using local stories and contexts for Grade 1 reading instruction.

A 2020 KCFI study showed the materials significantly improved learning outcomes, even for at-risk readers.

“Hindi natin maikakaila ang krisis sa kakayahan ng kabataang bumasa at umunawa. Ngunit hindi rin natin isusuko ang kinabukasan ng ating kabataan. Kaya tayo naririto ngayon,” said Legarda, who helped secure funding for the project.

“Ang bawat salita at kataga, bawat kwentong bayan, at mga piraso ng ating kultura at kasaysayan ay hindi lamang bahagi ng kanilang pagkatuto. Ito ay pundasyon ng kanilang pagkatao bilang isang Pilipinong may alam, may dangal, may malasakit, at may tapang na harapin ang hamon ng pagbabago,” she added.