A proposed bill in the Senate is seeking to rename the Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) to the National Literacy Council and strengthen its powers and functions.

Senate Bill 2510, introduced by Sen. Lito Lapid, also aims to expand the LCC, its membership structure and supporting mechanisms, and appropriate funds, repealing Republic Act no. 7165.

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Lapid said that, of the country's total 97.6 million household population, 97 percent, or 94.63 million individuals, were found to be literate. This is a 1.2 percentage point increase compared to the 95.8 percent
literacy rate in 2015.

He added that recent findings from the World Bank report have brought to light a concerning issue that demands immediate attention. Despite the impressive overall literacy rate, it has been observed that nine out of ten students in the country struggle to read simple texts effectively.

Once enacted, the proposed measure will be the National Literacy Council Act.

Renaming the LCC to the National Literacy Council, it will serve as the lead inter-agency coordinating and advisory body to the various agencies of the national government, the local government units (LGUs), and the private sector, on matters pertaining to the formulation of policies and the adoption and implementation of measures for the universalization of literacy.

It will also be attached solely for budgetary coordination related purposes to the Department of Education (DepEd).

The Council shall be composed of the following 10 members:

• Secretary of the DepEd, as Chairperson, who may designate an undersecretary as permanent representative;
• Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), as co-Chairperson, who may designate an undersecretary as permanent representative;
  Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority, or a duly designated permanent representative;
• Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, or a duly designated permanent representative;
• Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education, or a duly designated permanent representative;
• Director General of the Philippine Information Agency, or a duly designated permanent representative;
• President of the Philippine Normal University, or a duly designated permanent representative;
• National Statistician and Civil Registrar General of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), or a duly designated permanent representative;
• Director of Bureau of Alternative Education (BAE) of the DepEd;
• A representative from the non-government organizations (NGOs), who is a citizen of the Philippines with a demonstrated personal or professional commitment and advocacy in the propagation of literacy; and
• A representative from the associations of private educational institutions, who is a citizen of the Philippines with a demonstrated personal or professional
  commitment and advocacy in the propagation of literacy.

The Council shall be vested with the following powers and functions:
 

• Act as the lead advisory and coordinating body of the government and initiate, promote and recommend the adoption of policy and program directions for all literacy endeavors in the country;
• Evaluate the literacy situation in the country, propose ways and means for expanding educational opportunities to citizens of varied socio-economic origins, and adopt modem communications and educational technology and other innovative modes of transmitting knowledge to support literacy endeavors at the national and local levels;
• Support and assist the BAE on matters concerning community mapping activities for the maintenance of a centralized database for out-of-school children and adults, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and other tfiarginalized and vulnerable members of society, who may not have availed of or completed their basic education and who may need intervention and support;
• Strengthen support structures identified as literacy advocates of LCDs in the city, municipal, and barangay levels, by adopting strategies that maximize private sector support for, cooperation, and involvement in literacy development programs, projects, and related activities;
• Promote and support initiatives for the conduct of research studies and similar undertakings aimed at enhancing and strengthening the crafting of relevant and timely policy recommendations, and for the effective implementation of literacy- related programs, projects, and other activities;
  
  Organize periodic assemblies, such as literacy conferences and giving of awards to increase awareness on and help strengthen good literacy practices, and engage close partnerships with literacy advocates throughout the country;
• Establish the organizational structure of the Council secretariat and determine the secretariat's staffing pattern, qualifications, duties and responsibilities, and other administrative policies including, among others, those pertaining to hiring and promotion, subject to the guidelines set forth by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Civil Service Commission;
• Prepare an annual budget proposal and ensure that the allotted annual appropriation shall be spent in accordance with the purposes as specified in the General Appropriations Act;
• Formulate necessary guidelines for business continuity, disaster recovery and backup capabilities and facilities to ensure continued operation and delivery of services in times of public health emergency, occurrence of calamity, and any other threat that requires public safety and protection; and
• Perform such other functions as may be necessary in furtherance of the purposes of this Act.

Lapid said that this bill represents a proactive step in addressing the identified challenges and ensuring that the country's educational system remains responsive to the evolving needs of society.

"By prioritizing literacy and committing resources to its advancement, we are not only securing a brighter future for our citizens but also fortifying the foundation upon which the nation's progress and prosperity stand," he added.