SENATE Committee on Basic Education Chairman Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday urged the Philippine Statistics Authority to shorten the time in conducting the Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey.

The survey is used in identifying problems in education and gauging the type of literacy program needed in a certain locality.

During the hearing on the P12.21-billion budget of the National Economic and Development Authority and its attached agencies, Gatchalian emphasized the importance of FLEMMS.

“It is a very important tool. However, five years is a very long time and the gap is quite unrealistic considering that when you implement a program you want to see whether that program is effective or not,” he said.

NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said they will take into account the suggestion of Gatchalian when members of the Philippine Statistics Authority board meet