Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, April 13, emphasized the urgency of addressing the literacy crisis in the Philippines, calling on Filipino families to strengthen reading habits as the country marks Buwan ng Panitikang Filipino.

In a video message, Duterte described literature not merely as cultural expression but as a foundational “infrastructure” that sustains democracy by keeping citizens informed, critical, and engaged.

“Sa ating pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Panitikang Filipino, dapat nating kilalanin ang isang mahalagang katotohanan: Ang panitikan ay hindi lamang dekorasyon; ito ay imprastraktura ng ating demokrasya. Ito ang pundasyon kung paano nananatiling tapat, matatag, at gising ang isang bansa (In our celebration of Filipino Literature Month, we must recognize an essential truth: Literature is not mere decoration; it is the infrastructure of our democracy. It is the foundation upon which a nation remains faithful, steadfast, and awake),” Duterte said.

“Ito ang pundasyon kung paano nananatiling tapat, matatag, at gising ang isang bansa. Ngunit ang imprastrakturang ito ay nasa ilalim ng banta (This is the foundation of how a nation remains faithful, steadfast, and awake. Yet this infrastructure is under threat),” she added.

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Duterte said that nearly 25 million Filipinos struggle with functional literacy, underscoring a major barrier to informed citizenship and national development.

Functional literacy in the Philippines refers not only to the ability to read and write but also to comprehend and apply written information in daily life—an essential skill for education, employment, and civic participation.

She illustrated the real-world consequences: a mother unable to fully understand medicine instructions or a young adult signing contracts without proper comprehension.

These gaps, Duterte warned, could affect economic productivity, decision-making, and public trust if left unaddressed.

The Vice President stressed that improving the Philippines’ literacy rate must start within households, urging parents to actively read with their children.

“Ang solusyon ay nagsisimula sa ating mga tahanan (The solution begins in our homes),” Duterte said. “Ngayong Buwan ng Panitikang Filipino, hinihimok ko ang bawat magulang: Magbasa kayo kasama ang inyong mga anak (This Filipino Literature Month, I urge every parent: Read with your children),” she added.

She encouraged multilingual reading, noting that using Filipino and regional languages such as Ilocano, Hiligaynon, and Bisaya enhances both comprehension and cultural identity.

“Magbasa sa Filipino, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Bisaya—sa kahit anong wika na ginagamit ninyo sa inyong tahanan at komunidad (Read in Filipino, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Bisaya—in whatever language you use in your home and community),” she said.

Duterte also urged families to take advantage of public learning resources, including libraries in cities, municipalities, and barangays.

Duterte emphasized that a nation cannot become fully empowered if a significant portion of its population struggles with comprehension.

“Hindi tayo makabubuo ng isang bansang mapanuri kung marami pa rin sa atin ang hirap umunawa sa binabasa (We cannot build a discerning nation if many of us still struggle to understand what we read),” she said.

She linked literacy directly to stronger civic engagement, economic resilience, and democratic participation—key pillars of long-term national development.

“Ang bawat librong binubuksan ay hakbang tungo sa isang mas matalinong mamamayan (Every book opened is a step toward a wiser citizenry),” Duterte said. “Siguraduhin nating nauunawaan ng bawat Pilipino ang mga salitang humuhubog sa ating buhay (Let us ensure that every Filipino understands the words that shape our lives),” she added.

Duterte previously served as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) from June 2022 to July 2024, where literacy and curriculum reforms were among the agency’s key priorities. 

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