SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian is calling for urgent reforms following the release of the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), which revealed that only 70.8% of Filipinos aged 10 to 64 are functionally literate— with most regions falling below the national average.

“This is a wake-up call,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

“While seven in ten Filipinos are functionally literate, 14 out of 18 regions fall below the national benchmark. This stark regional disparity underscores how poverty continues to hinder access to quality education,” he explained.

The senator emphasized the importance of early literacy, stressing that every Filipino child should be able to read and write by Grade 3.

He also urged the empowerment of local government units to take a leading role in promoting grassroots literacy programs.

“We must empower local government units, through local school boards, to champion literacy programs in their communities,” he said.

“Sa pagbibigay natin ng matatag na pundasyon sa ating mga kababayan, mahalagang walang mapag-iwanan sa mga repormang ating ipapatupad,” he added.

Gatchalian concluded by reaffirming that literacy is a fundamental right.

“No one should be left behind. We must act now to ensure that every Filipino, regardless of region or income, has access to the tools they need to succeed,” he stressed.