March 25, 2021
4:31 PM
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by Representative Roman T. Romulo 
AN ACT 
RENAMING THE LITERACY COORDINATING COUNCIL TO NATIONAL 
LITERACY COUNCIL, STRENGTHENING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
EXPANDING ITS MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT MECHANISMS, 
REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7165, AS AMENDED, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “National Literacy Council 
Act”. 
SEC. 2.  Declaration of Policy. – Pursuant to Article II, Section 17 of the Constitution, 
it is hereby declared the policy of the State to give priority to education to foster patriotism and 
nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development. 
Article XIV, Section 2(4) of the Constitution likewise mandates the State to encourage non-
formal, informal, and indigenous learning systems, as well as self-learning, independent, and 
out-of-school study programs particularly those that respond to community needs.   
To this end, the State shall give priority to the adoption of measures for the 
universalization of literacy. 
SEC. 3. Renaming of the Literacy Coordinating Council. – The nomenclature of the 
Literacy Coordinating Council, established pursuant to Republic Act No. 7165, as amended, is 
hereby changed to National Literacy Council (NLC), hereinafter referred to in this Act as the 
“Council”. 
The Council shall 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.  
The Council shall be attached solely for budgetary coordination and related purposes 
to the Department of Education (DepEd). 
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SEC. 4.  Composition of the Council. – The Council shall be governed by the 
following: 
 
a) the Secretary of Education, as Chairperson, who may designate an undersecretary 
as permanent representative; 
 
b) the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, as co-Chairperson, who may 
designate an undersecretary as permanent representative; 
 
c) the Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), or a 
duly designated permanent representative; 
 
d) the Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 
(TESDA), or a duly designated permanent representative; 
 
e) the Director General of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), or a duly 
designated permanent representative; 
 
f) the President of the Philippine Normal University (PNU), or a duly designated 
representative; 
 
g) the Director of  the Department of Education’s Bureau of Alternative Education 
(BAE); 
 
h) 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 
 
i) 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 approve and confirm the appointment of the representative from the 
NGOs and the representative from the associations of private educational institutions through 
the adoption of a resolution.   Such representatives shall serve for a term of three (3) years, and 
may be reappointed only once for another three (3) years on the basis of merit and performance.  
 
SEC. 5.  Council Meetings. – The Council shall conduct its regular meetings quarterly 
and may hold special meetings to consider urgent matters upon the call of the chairperson or 
majority of its members. 
 
The Council shall meet at any agreed location within the Philippines, and the presence 
of a majority of all its incumbent members shall constitute a quorum. 
 
A meeting may be conducted virtually only in circumstances when meeting in person 
is impossible or impractical and when all the Council members are able to communicate 
adequately with each other during the meeting.  
 
 


 
A member of the Council shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to an 
appropriate honorarium for attendance at meetings as well as appropriate allowances and 
reimbursement of expenses related to their participation in the official activities of the Council, 
in accordance with pertinent laws, rules and regulations. 
 
The duly designated representatives to the Council shall be afforded equal opportunity 
to vote and participate in any deliberation during meetings of the Council.  Likewise, they shall 
be afforded, whenever necessary, reimbursement of any actual expenses incurred during 
Council-related functions and duties, subject to the provisions of existing laws, rules and 
regulations. 
 
 
SEC. 6.  Powers and Functions. – The Council shall be vested with the following 
powers and functions: 
 
a) As the lead advisory and coordinating body of the government, initiate,  promote 
and recommend the adoption of policy and program directions for all literacy 
endeavors in the country; 
 
b) Establish and adopt schemes on how to organize and strengthen support structures 
for the LGUs identified as literacy advocates at the provincial, city, municipal, and 
barangay levels, including the adoption of strategies to maximize private sector 
support, cooperation and involvement on literacy programs, projects, and other 
related activities; 
 
c) 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 marginalized and 
vulnerable members of society, who may not have availed of or completed their 
basic education and who may need intervention and support; 
 
d) Evaluate the literacy situation in the country, propose ways and means for 
expanding educational opportunities to citizens of varied socio-economic origins, 
and adopt modern communications and educational technology and other 
innovative modes of transmitting knowledge to support literacy endeavors at the 
national and local levels; 
 
e) 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; 
 
f) 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; 
 
g) Establish the organizational, administrative and operational structure of the Council 
secretariat and determine the secretariat’s staffing pattern, qualifications, duties and 
responsibilities, including, among others, hiring and promotion, subject to 


 
compliance with the guidelines set forth by the Department of Budget and 
Management and the Civil Service Commission; 
 
h) 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;  
 
i) Formulate necessary guidelines for business continuity, disaster recovery and 
backup capabilities and facilities to ensure  its continued operation and delivery of 
services, including the conduct of meetings, workshops and conferences, and 
National Literacy Awards (NLA), in times of public health emergency, occurrence 
of calamity and any other threat that requires public safety and protection; and           
 
j) Perform such other functions as may be necessary in furtherance of the purposes of 
this Act. 
 
SEC. 7. The Secretariat. – The secretariat shall be headed by an Executive Director, 
who shall assist the Council in the performance of its functions.     
 
The salaries of the Executive Director and other officers and employees of the Council 
secretariat shall be in accordance with the Revised Compensation and Position Classification 
System and other existing laws. 
 
The existing organizational structure and staffing pattern of the secretariat shall be 
revised so as to integrate appropriately the provisions of this Act: Provided, That no employee 
shall be affected by the amendments of the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the 
secretariat in accordance with the pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 6656, or the 
“Government Reorganization Law”. 
 
SEC. 8. Duties and Responsibilities of the Secretariat. – In the performance of its 
duties and responsibilities, the Council secretariat shall: 
 
a) provide administrative and technical support and assistance to the Council, 
including the preparation of policy recommendations, plans and programs, and 
other Council priorities and measures necessary for the advancement of basic and 
functional literacy, and other basic capabilities of out-of-school children, and 
adults, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and other 
marginalized and vulnerable members of society, who may not have availed of or 
completed their basic education and who may need intervention and support; 
 
b) consult and coordinate with NGAs, LGUs, NGOs, academic institutions, and other 
stakeholders on matters relating to the functions of the Council and on other matters 
pertaining to the propagation of literacy endeavors; 
 
c) provide technical assistance to literacy implementers relative to the programs and 
projects on literacy; 
 
d) initiate, organize, and promote the conduct of research activities, workshops, 
conferences, national literacy awards and the like, subject to the approval of the 
Council;   


 
 
e) set up, maintain, and update a management information system on literacy 
programs and projects, policies, best practices, research studies, statistical data and 
other relevant information relative to the literacy situation in the country;  
 
f) coordinate with the Philippine Statistics Authority in the conduct of the functional 
literacy education and mass media survey (FLEMMS) for purposes of providing a 
quantitative framework that will serve as one of the bases in the formulation of 
policies and programs on the improvement of literacy and education status in the 
country; 
 
g) recommend programs, projects, and other activities to be included for funding in 
the annual budget proposal of the Council, including support services in the 
preparation of the Council’s annual budget proposal; and 
 
h) perform other tasks as may be directed by the Council. 
 
SEC. 9 Collaboration and Linkages of the Council with BAE . – The Council shall 
closely coordinate with BAE concerning, but not limited to, the management of ALS programs, 
projects and activities, especially those that are geared towards the universalization of literacy, 
particularly among out-of-school children, and adults, including persons with disabilities, 
indigenous peoples, and other marginalized and vulnerable members of society.  It shall also 
collaborate with BAE on policy formulation, knowledge management, advocacy, social 
mobilization, and partnerships, among others.    
 
SEC. 10. Establishment of Local Literacy Councils. – The Council shall promote the 
establishment of Local Literacy Councils (LLCs) at the city and municipal levels, which shall 
serve as the coordinating and advisory body at the local level on matters pertaining to the 
adoption and implementation of measures for the propagation of literacy. 
 
The LLCs shall work with the LGUs in the implementation of literacy programs and 
endeavors at the local level, including the identification of priority literacy programs, provision 
of technical assistance to literacy volunteer workers, program monitoring and evaluation, and 
coordination with government and non-government partners for program support activities, 
among others. 
 
The LLCs shall closely coordinate, support and assist the BAE to ensure the 
implementation of community literacy mapping activities within the local level. 
 
The Council, upon consultation with the DILG and DepEd, shall issue the general 
guidelines for the establishment, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of LLCs. An LGU 
may, motu propio or upon the recommendation of the Council, establish its LLC within its 
jurisdiction in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Council.  
 
SEC. 11. National Literacy Awards. – The Council shall organize a periodic National 
Literacy Awards (NLA) for the purpose of recognizing, commending, and awarding deserving 
LGUs and NGOs for implementing outstanding literacy programs in their respective 
jurisdictions within the country.   
 


 
The NLA shall be held once every two (2) years and shall encourage the participation 
of all literacy advocates and stakeholders nationwide.  The event shall serve as the venue to 
exhibit, discover, and help strengthen good literacy practices and thus, engage partnerships 
with various literacy advocates and stakeholders. 
 
The Council shall formulate the guidelines for the holding of the NLA, including the 
determination of the criteria for the creation of a board of judges per category which shall be 
chosen from a panel of experts knowledgeable in the field of literacy and education, to be 
designated by the Council, and the selection of winners. 
 
SEC. 12. Subsidy for Qualified Outstanding Literacy Programs; Outstanding 
Individual Awards. – The Council shall award appropriate financial subsidies to the top 
awardees of the Search for Outstanding Literacy Programs for both LGU and NGO categories 
to fund their chosen literacy programs in their respective localities:   Provided, That the NGO 
awardees are non-stock, non-profit, and established for educational purposes.  The Council 
shall formulate and issue guidelines on the release of this financial subsidy including, but not 
limited to, the amount of the award, period and frequency of release of such amounts to the 
awardees, and conditions or qualifications for entitlement thereto.  The amounts of the financial 
subsidy to qualified awardees may be subject to periodic adjustments, as deemed necessary by 
the Council.  
 
The Council shall also designate awardees for the Outstanding Individual Literacy 
Workers and Outstanding ALS Mobile Teachers whose qualifications for entitlement to a 
financial award and the amount thereof shall be included in the guidelines. 
 
The amount necessary to fund the financial subsidy to qualified awardees for 
Outstanding Literacy Programs under this section, which shall be at least Ten Million Pesos 
(P10,000,000.00) annually, shall be allocated and charged to the budget of the Council in the 
budget of the DepEd under the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 13. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to cover the initial implementation 
of this Act shall be sourced from the appropriation of the Literacy Coordinating Council under 
the current General Appropriations Act.   Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continuous 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the budget of the Department of Education 
under the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 14. Submission of Annual Report. – The Council shall submit to the Philippine 
Senate’s Committee on Education, Arts and Culture and to the House of Representatives’ 
Committee on Basic Education and Culture a detailed annual report of its accomplishments 
which shall include, among others, its accomplishments, programs and projects, and policy 
recommendations and, if necessary, proposed legislative measures for the universalization and 
strengthening of literacy and numeracy in the country. 
 
SEC. 15.  Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within one hundred twenty (120) 
days from the approval of this Act, the Chairperson of the Council, in consultation with the 
Council members and other concerned stakeholders, shall formulate the rules and regulations 
implementing the provisions of this Act.   
 
SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. – Republic Act No. 7165, as amended by Republic Act 
No. 10122, otherwise known as “An Act Strengthening the Literacy Coordinating Council by 


 
Amending Republic Act No. 7165, Otherwise Known as An Act Creating the Literacy 
Coordinating Council, Defining Its Powers and Functions, Appropriating Funds Therefor and 
for Other Purposes”, is hereby repealed.   
 
All other laws, decrees, orders, and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
 
SEC. 17. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect. 
 
SEC. 18. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the 
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved,