Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HONORABLE WES GATCHALIAN 
AN ACT  
RENAMING THE LITERACY COORDINATING COUNCIL TO THE NATIONAL 
LITERACY COUNCIL, STRENGTHENING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
STREAMLINING ITS MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE, PROVIDING ITS LOCAL 
SUPPORT MECHANISMS, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
7165, AS AMENDED, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to the 2020 data of the Philippine Statistics Authority, for every 100 
Filipinos, 94 are “basic literate.” Basic Literacy is the ability of a person to read and 
write with understanding a simple message in any language or dialect. The Literacy 
Coordinating Council (LCC) plays an important role in this.  
The LCC was established under Republic Act No. 7165 on 15 November 1991. It is 
an inter-agency body administratively attached to the Department of Education. This 
is in line with the policy of the state to give the highest priority to the adoption of 
measures for the total eradication of illiteracy. The LCC was further strengthened by 
Republic Act No. 10122 by adding the following functions: (1) engagement of services, 
expertise, and resources for the cooperation, assistance, and support of appropriate 
government agencies or NGOs involved in literacy; (2) formulation of policies towards 
maximizing public and private sector support and involvement on literacy endeavors; 
and (3) proposing measures on how to organize and strengthen support structures 
for literacy at the regional, provincial, city, municipal, and barangay levels. 
The LCC has gone a long way in boosting literacy in the country. Despite the 
aforementioned impressive statistics, around 6 million Filipinos are still illiterate. 
These are the ones who are completely unable to read and write. Today, as most 
transactions are digitalized, especially because of the pandemic, these 6 million are 
left behind. Hence, the continued improvement of the LCC is sought in order to 
achieve the national policy of totally eradicating illiteracy.  
This bill proposes the repeal of Republic Act No. 7165 by strengthening the powers 
and functions of the newly renamed National Literacy Council (NLC). It aims to align 
the membership structure of the NLC with the following: (1) Republic Act No. 11510 
or the “Alternative Learning System Act;” and (2) Republic Act No. 11315 or the 
“Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Act.” Specifically, it is proposed that 
September 1, 2021
9:41 am
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the NLC’s secretariat be transferred to the Bureau of Alternative Education for 
administrative and technical support. It is also proposed to mobilize local 
government units through the establishment of the Local School Boards (LSB) as the 
de facto local literacy councils to provide the local support ecosystem to the NLC. 
Furthermore, the NLC will also be mandated to formulate a three-year roadmap that 
shall incorporate strategies on how to eradicate illiteracy using relevant measurable 
targets and indicators for the introduction of interventions that are based on 
empirical results. The LSB’s three-year roadmap shall be anchored on this. 
In line with the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. WES GATCHALIAN 
Representative 
1st District of Valenzuela 


 2 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HONORABLE WES GATCHALIAN 
AN ACT  
RENAMING THE LITERACY COORDINATING COUNCIL TO THE NATIONAL 
LITERACY COUNCIL, STRENGTHENING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
STREAMLINING ITS MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE, PROVIDING ITS LOCAL 
SUPPORT MECHANISMS, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
7165, AS AMENDED, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
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 
1 
Council Act”. 
2 
3 
SEC. 2.  Declaration of Policy. – Pursuant to Article II, Section 17 of the 1987 
4 
Constitution, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to give priority to education 
5 
to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total 
6 
human liberation and development.  Article XIV, Section 2(4) likewise mandates the 
7 
State to encourage non-formal, informal, and indigenous learning systems, as well 
8 
as self-learning, independent, and out-of-school study programs particularly those 
9 
that respond to community needs. 
10 
To this end, the State shall give priority to the adoption of measures for the 
11 
universalization of literacy. 
12 
13 
SEC. 3. Renaming of the Literacy Coordinating Council. – The name of the 
14 
Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC), established pursuant to Republic Act No. 7165, 
15 
as amended, is hereby changed to National Literacy Council, hereinafter referred to 
16 
in this Act as the “Council”. 
17 
The Council shall serve as the lead inter-agency coordinating and advisory body 
18 
to the various National Government Agencies (NGAs), the Local Government Units 
19 
(LGUs), and the private sector on matters pertaining to the formulation of policies 
20 
and the adoption and implementation of measures for the universalization of literacy. 
21 
The Council shall be attached to the Department of Education (DepEd).
22 
23 
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SEC. 4.  Composition of the Council. – The Council shall be governed by the 
1 
following: 
2 
a) the Secretaries of Education and the Interior and Local Government, as 
3 
Co-Chairpersons, who may designate their respective undersecretaries as 
4 
permanent representatives; 
5 
b) the National Statistician and Civil Registrar General of the Philippine 
6 
Statistics Authority (PSA) or a duly designated representative; 
7 
c) the Director of the Bureau of Alternative Education (BAE) of the DepEd; 
8 
d) the President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP); 
9 
and 
10 
e) one (1) representative from the non-government organizations (NGOs). 
11 
The NGO representative must be a citizen of the Philippines with 
12 
demonstrated personal or professional commitment and advocacy in the propagation 
13 
of literacy. 
14 
Through the adoption of a resolution, the Council shall approve and confirm 
15 
the election of the NGO representative who shall serve for a term of three (3) years, 
16 
subject to reappointment on the basis of merit and performance.  
17 
 
18 
SEC. 5.  Council Meetings. – The Council shall conduct its regular meetings 
19 
quarterly and may hold special meetings to consider urgent matters upon the call of 
20 
the Chairperson or a majority of its members. 
21 
The Council shall meet at any agreed location within the Philippines, and the 
22 
presence of a majority of all its incumbent members shall constitute a quorum. 
23 
The members of the Council shall serve without compensation, but shall be 
24 
entitled to an appropriate honorarium for attendance at meetings as well as 
25 
appropriate allowances and reimbursement of expenses related to their participation 
26 
in the official activities of the Council, in accordance with pertinent laws, rules and 
27 
regulations. 
28 
The duly designated representatives to the Council shall be afforded equal 
29 
opportunity to vote and participate in any deliberation during meetings of the 
30 
Council. They shall likewise be afforded, whenever necessary, reimbursement of any 
31 
actual expenses incurred during the performance of Council-related functions and 
32 
duties, subject to the provisions of existing laws, rules and regulations. 
33 
 
34 
SEC. 6.  Powers and Functions of the Council. – The Council shall exercise the 
35 
following powers and functions: 
36 
a) act as the lead advisory and coordinating body of the government and 
37 
initiate, promote and recommend the adoption of policies for all literacy 
38 
endeavors in the country, as well as the formulation of legislative agenda 
39 
related to literacy; 
40 
b) formulate a three-year roadmap that shall incorporate strategies on how 
41 
to achieve zero illiteracy, including relevant measurable targets and 
42 
indicators for the introduction of interventions that are based on empirical 
43 
results, and which shall be subject to annual review and updating to 
44 
determine its implementation status and ensure that the objectives of this 
45 
Act are achieved; 
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c) set up and adopt schemes on how to organize and strengthen support 
1 
structures for the LGUs identified as literacy advocates at the provincial, 
2 
city, municipal, and barangay levels, including the adoption of strategies 
3 
to maximize private sector support, cooperation and involvement on 
4 
literacy programs, projects, and other related activities; 
5 
d) promote and coordinate with NGAs, LGUs, NGOs, and academic 
6 
institutions on matters concerning local community literacy mapping 
7 
activities, consistent with the local generation and mapping of data related 
8 
to education under Republic Act No. 11510, otherwise known as the 
9 
Alternative Learning System Act”, and come up with a database for out-of-
10 
school children, youth and adults, including persons with disabilities, 
11 
indigenous peoples, and other marginalized and vulnerable members of 
12 
society, who may not have availed of or completed their basic education 
13 
and in need of intervention and support; 
14 
e) coordinate with the PSA for the regular conduct of literacy surveys, such 
15 
as the Functional Literacy Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), 
16 
every two years pursuant to Sec. 9 of this Act; 
17 
f) evaluate the literacy situation in the country, propose ways and means for 
18 
expanding educational opportunities to citizens of varied socio-economic 
19 
origins, and adopt modern communications technology and other 
20 
innovative modes of transmitting knowledge to support literacy endeavors 
21 
at the national and local levels; 
22 
g) promote and support initiatives for the conduct of research studies and 
23 
similar undertakings aimed at enhancing and strengthening the crafting 
24 
of relevant and timely policy recommendations and for the effective 
25 
implementation of literacy-related programs, projects, and other activities; 
26 
h) organize periodic assemblies such as, among others, literacy conferences 
27 
and awards, discover and help strengthen good literacy practices, and 
28 
engage close partnerships with literacy advocates throughout the country; 
29 
and 
30 
i) perform such other functions as may be necessary in furtherance of the 
31 
purposes of this Act. 
32 
 
33 
SEC. 7. The Secretariat. – The BAE shall provide secretariat support and 
34 
render the following administrative support and technical assistance to the Council: 
35 
a) prepare policy recommendations, plans, and other Council priorities and 
36 
measures necessary for the advancement of basic and functional literacy, 
37 
and other basic capabilities of out-of-school children, youth and adults, 
38 
including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and other 
39 
marginalized and vulnerable members of society, who may not have availed 
40 
of or completed their basic education and in need of intervention and 
41 
support; 
42 
b) consult and coordinate with NGAs, LGUs, NGOs, academic institutions, 
43 
and other stakeholders on matters relating to the functions of the Council 
44 
and other matters pertaining to the propagation of literacy endeavors; 
45 
c) provide technical assistance to literacy implementers relative to the 
46 
programs and projects on literacy; 
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d) initiate, organize, and promote the holding of research activities, 
1 
workshops, conferences, national literacy awards and the like, subject to 
2 
the approval of the Council;   
3 
e) set up, maintain, and update a management information system on 
4 
literacy programs and projects, policies, best practices, research studies, 
5 
statistical data and other relevant information relative to the literacy 
6 
situation in the country;  
7 
f) coordinate with the PSA in the conduct of the FLEMMS and other similar 
8 
surveys for purposes of providing a quantitative framework that will serve 
9 
as one of the bases in the formulation of policies and programs on the 
10 
improvement of literacy and education status in the country; 
11 
g) recommend programs, projects, and other activities to be included for 
12 
funding in the annual budget proposal of the Council, including support 
13 
services in the preparation of the Council’s annual budget proposal; and 
14 
h) perform other tasks as may be directed by the Council. 
15 
 
16 
SEC. 8. Establishment of Local Literacy Councils through the Local School 
17 
Boards. – The Council shall promote the establishment of Local Literacy Councils 
18 
(LLCs) at the provincial, city and municipal levels, which shall serve as the 
19 
coordinating and advisory bodies at the local level on matters pertaining to the 
20 
adoption and implementation of measures for the universalization of literacy. 
21 
For this purpose, the Local School Boards (LSBs) established pursuant to 
22 
Republic Act No. 7160 or the “Local Government Code of 1991” shall act as the de 
23 
facto LLCs in the provinces, cities and municipalities, with the following functions in 
24 
addition to Sec. 9 thereof: 
25 
a) formulate a local roadmap, anchored on the Council’s three-year roadmap 
26 
under Section 6 of this Act, to guide its strategies on how to achieve zero 
27 
illiteracy in the community, based on empirical data and determined by 
28 
relevant measurable targets and indicators, and subject to an annual 
29 
implementation review and assessment; 
30 
b) implement literacy programs and endeavors at the local level, including 
31 
the identification of priority literacy programs, provision of technical 
32 
assistance to literacy volunteer workers, program monitoring and 
33 
evaluation, and coordination with government and non-government 
34 
partners for program support activities, among others; 
35 
c) ensure the implementation of community literacy mapping activities 
36 
within the local level through a community-based monitoring system, 
37 
consistent with Republic Act No. 11315 or the “Community-Based 
38 
Monitoring System Act”, to generate updated and disaggregated data on 
39 
literacy and be able to introduce literacy interventions and allocate 
40 
resources based on empirical data; and 
41 
d) coordinate with partner NGOs and other agencies of the government in the 
42 
identification of out-of-school children, youth and adults, including 
43 
persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and other marginalized and 
44 
vulnerable members of the community who are in need of literacy 
45 
intervention and support, consistent with the local generation and 
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mapping of data related to education under RA No. 11510, as well as the 
1 
Child Find System under existing laws. 
2 
The Council shall issue the guidelines necessary for the establishment, 
3 
monitoring and evaluation of the LSBs as de facto LLCs.  
4 
 
5 
 
SEC. 9. PSA Literacy Surveys. – To ensure an evidenced-based formulation of 
6 
policies and programs on the improvement and universalization of literacy in the 
7 
country, the PSA is hereby mandated to: 
8 
a) 
conduct the FLEMMS every two years; 
9 
b) 
strengthen its core unit that is dedicated to the generation, analysis, 
10 
utilization, and dissemination of all education and literacy statistics and 
11 
information under RA No. 11315; 
12 
c) 
develop and manage a nationwide database of such statistics and 
13 
information; and 
14 
d) 
coordinate with other government agencies whose mandates require the 
15 
conduct of community mapping programs that are relevant to the 
16 
education sector such as the Department of the Interior and Local 
17 
Government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 
18 
 
19 
SEC. 10. Transfer of Existing LCC Secretariat and its Appropriations to the 
20 
BAE. – Pursuant to Sec. 7 of this Act, the existing secretariat of the LCC, including 
21 
the appropriations corresponding to their salaries and other benefits, shall be 
22 
transferred to and absorbed by the BAE of the DepEd: Provided, That such transfer 
23 
shall neither cause any diminution in the salaries of the personnel concerned nor 
24 
loss of rank and seniority: Provided, Further, That the transfer of positions and 
25 
corresponding appropriations to the BAE shall be subject to the guidelines to be 
26 
jointly issued by the DepEd and the Department of Budget and Management. 
27 
 
28 
SEC. 11. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to cover the initial 
29 
implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the appropriation of the LCC under 
30 
the current General Appropriations Act (GAA).  Thereafter, the amount necessary for 
31 
its continuous implementation shall be included in the budget of the DepEd under 
32 
the annual GAA.  
33 
 
34 
SEC. 12. Submission of Annual Report. – The Council shall submit to the 
35 
Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, and the House of 
36 
Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Culture a detailed annual report 
37 
of its accomplishments which shall include, among others, its accomplishments, 
38 
programs and projects, and policy recommendations for the universalization of 
39 
literacy in the country. 
40 
 
41 
SEC. 13.  Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from 
42 
the effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the LCC, in consultation with the 
43 
members of the Council and other stakeholders, shall issue the rules and regulations 
44 
implementing its provisions.   
45 
 
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SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. – Republic Act No. 7165, as amended by Republic 
1 
Act No. 10122 otherwise known as “An Act Strengthening the Literacy Coordinating 
2 
Council by Amending Republic Act No. 7165, Otherwise Known as ‘An Act Creating 
3 
the Literacy Coordinating Council, Defining Its Powers and Functions, Appropriating 
4 
Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes’”, is hereby repealed.  All other laws, decrees, 
5 
orders, and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of 
6 
this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
7 
 
8 
SEC. 15. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
9 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and 
10 
effect. 
11 
 
12 
SEC. 16. Effectivity. – Notwithstanding the non-issuance of the IRR, this Act 
13 
shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a 
14 
newspaper of general circulation. 
15 
 
Approved,