AFTER reports of low literacy rate among learners, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing for a measure that will mobilize local government units to help achieve zero illiteracy.

In an education summit recently held in Baguio City, it was revealed that based on the results of pre-tests and post-tests done from 2021 to 2022, only four out of 10 kids in Grades 4 to 7 aged 9 to 12 can properly read or write in English.

The same tests revealed that less than half of learners from Grades 3 to 7 in the city aged 8 to 9 could read or write in Filipino.

Meanwhile, a survey posted on the official website of province of Cagayan said that 12.72 percent or 29,529 out of 231,667 learners enrolled in public schools cannot read.

Gatchalian pushed for the proposed National Literacy Council Act or the Senate Bill No. 473 which will assign Local School Boards as de facto local literacy councils.

The measure seeks to strengthen the Literacy Coordinating Council, which will continue to serve as the lead inter-agency coordinating and advisory body on the formulation and implementation of measures to accelerate the universalization of literacy.

Under the bill, the strengthened LCC will formulate a three-year roadmap on achieving illiteracy in communities

“Ang isang batang hindi marunong bumasa ay problema ng buong bansa. Sa pagsugpo natin ng illiteracy, mahalaga ang papel ng ating mga lokal na mga komunidad. Kaya naman palalawigin natin ang papel ng ating mga Local School Boards sa pagpapatupad ng mga programa upang matiyak na bawat bata ay matutong bumasa at umintindi ng kanilang binabasa,” Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education. said.