Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto has accepted the “Bayang Bumabasa: Mayors for Literacy” challenge by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), emphasizing that literacy and education remain top priorities in the city.

EDCOM 2 said the challenge is a nationwide social media video challenge that calls on mayors across the country to take the lead in improving foundational literacy in their localities. It encourages local chief executives to create short videos showcasing their cities’ innovative literacy initiatives, best practices, and inspiring collective action from the outset of their new administrations.

As part of his response to the challenge, Sotto on Tuesday, July 15, said the local government provides strong support to students through various initiatives, reflecting its unwavering commitment to education.

“Sa Pasig nananatiling prayoridad ang mga programa para sa edukasyon. Ang suporta sa mga mag-aaral sa pamamagitan ng iba't-ibang scholarship programs (Education continues to be a top priority in Pasig, with students receiving support through a range of scholarship programs),” Sotto said.

He shared that the city’s scholarship program currently supports a total of 26,269 students for School Year 2024–2025, including 24,684 Pasig City scholars and 1,585 PAG-ASA scholars.

Sotto also highlighted the “Malusog na Batang Pasigueño” program which provides food packs and annual physical examinations to 145,000 student beneficiaries, as well as the city’s distribution of school supplies to every enrolled student.

The local government also grants an annual connectivity allowance to both students and teachers, benefiting around 150,000 recipients in 2024.

The mayor added that the city’s most important education program is the Summer Reading Camps, which ensures that no child is left behind and that every Pasigueño grows up knowing how to read and loving it. These camps helped improve children's test scores from 14 percent in 2024 to 18.81 percent in 2025.

“Dito sa Pasig, kami ay bayang bumabasa (Here in Pasig, we are a community that reads),” he said.

Sotto accepted the challenge after being called upon by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, the first city mayor to take on EDCOM 2’s “Bayang Bumabasa” campaign.

He is now passing the challenge to Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, who is also an EDCOM 2 Advisory Council Member.

According to EDCOM 2, the “Bayang Bumabasa: Mayors for Literacy Challenge” aims to foster a love for reading and enhance literacy rates among the youth, building a stronger, more educated future for the nation.