Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Literacy plays a vital role in transforming students into socially engaged citizens. It enables people 
to participate fully in society and contributes to the improvement of livelihood. As such, the 
importance of literacy in today’s society and to our country cannot be over emphasized.   
The concept of literacy has evolved a lot from its conventional concept of basic reading, writing 
and numeracy skills. It now includes broader notions such as functional literacy and a foundation 
for lifelong learning. The Philippine Statistic Authority reported in December 2020 that the 
country’s 2019 functional literacy rate is estimated at 91.6% which translates to 73.0 million out 
of 79.7 million Filipinos aged 10 to 64. While our country’s functional literacy rates were higher 
in 2019 than in 2013, there is still much to be done to improve our literacy rates.  
This measure shall rename the Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) established under Republic 
Act No. 7165 to National Literacy Council. The National Literacy Council shall serve as the lead 
inter-agency coordinating and advisory body to the various agencies, LGUs and the private sector 
regarding measure for the universalization of literacy. The Council is likewise mandated to 
formulate a three-year roadmap that shall serve as the country’s guide to achieving zero illiteracy. 
This measure also proposes for Local School Boards established under Republic No. 7160 to serve 
as local literacy councils across levels of LGUs. They shall serve as the coordinating and advisory 
bodies at the local level. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 27, 2021
7:10 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
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 Council Act”. 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – Pursuant to Article II, Section 17 of the 1987 
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) 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 name of the Literacy 
Coordinating Council (LCC), established pursuant to Republic Act No.7165, as amended, 
is hereby changed to National Literacy Council, 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 National Government Agencies (NGAs), the Local Government Units (LGUs), and 
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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 to the Department of Education (DepEd). 
 
Sec. 4. Composition of the Council. – The Council shall be governed by the following: 
a) the Secretaries of Education and the Interior and Local Government, as Co-
Chairpersons, who may designate their respective undersecretaries as permanent 
representatives; 
b) the National Statistician and Civil Registrar General of the Philippine Statistics 
Authority (PSA) or a duly designated representative; 
c) the Director of the Bureau of Alternative Education (BAE) of the DepEd; 
d) the President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP); and 
e) one (1) representative from the non-government organizations (NGOs). 
 
The NGO representative must be a citizen of the Philippines with demonstrated personal 
or professional commitment and advocacy in the propagation of literacy. 
 
Through the adoption of a resolution, the Council shall approve and confirm the election 
of the NGO representative who shall serve for a term of three (3) years, subject to 
reappointment 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 a 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. 
 
The members 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. They shall likewise 
be afforded, whenever necessary, reimbursement of any actual expenses incurred during 
the performance of Council-related functions and duties, subject to the provisions of 
existing laws, rules and regulations. 
 
Sec. 6. Powers and Functions of the Council. – The Council shall exercise the 
following powers and functions: 


a) act as the lead advisory and coordinating body of the government and initiate, 
promote and recommend the adoption of policies for all literacy endeavors in the 
country, as well as the formulation of legislative agenda related to literacy; 
b) formulate a three-year roadmap that shall incorporate strategies on how to achieve 
zero illiteracy, including relevant measurable targets and indicators for the 
introduction of interventions that are based on empirical results, and which shall 
be subject to annual review and updating to determine its implementation status 
and ensure that the objectives of this Act are achieved; 
c) set up 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; 
d) promote and coordinate with NGAs, LGUs, NGOs, and academic institutions on 
matters concerning local community literacy mapping activities, consistent with 
the local generation and mapping of data related to education under Republic Act 
No. 11510, otherwise known as the Alternative Learning System Act”, and come 
up with a database for out-of-school children, youth 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 in need of intervention and support; 
e) coordinate with the PSA for the regular conduct of literacy surveys, such as the 
Functional Literacy Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), every two years 
pursuant to Sec. 9 of this Act; 
f) 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 technology and other innovative modes of 
transmitting knowledge to support literacy endeavors at the national and local 
levels; 
g) 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; 
h) organize periodic assemblies such as, among others, literacy conferences and 
awards, discover and help strengthen good literacy practices, and engage close 
partnerships with literacy advocates throughout the country; and 
i) perform such other functions as may be necessary in furtherance of the purposes 
of this Act. 
 
Sec. 7. The Secretariat. – The BAE shall provide secretariat support and render the 
following administrative support and technical assistance to the Council: 
a) prepare policy recommendations, plans, and other Council priorities and measures 
necessary for the advancement of basic and functional literacy, and other basic 
capabilities of out-of-school children, youth 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 in 
need of 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 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 holding 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 PSA in the conduct of the FLEMMS and other similar surveys 
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. 8. Establishment of Local Literacy Councils through the Local School 
Boards. – The Council shall promote the establishment of Local Literacy Councils (LLCs) 
at the provincial, city and municipal levels, which shall serve as the coordinating and 
advisory bodies at the local level on matters pertaining to the adoption and 
implementation of measures for the universalization of literacy. For this purpose, the 
Local School Boards (LSBs) established pursuant to Republic Act No. 7160 or the “Local 
Government Code of 1991” shall act as the de facto LLCs in the provinces, cities and 
municipalities, with the following functions in addition to Sec. 9 thereof: 
 
a) formulate a local roadmap, anchored on the Council’s three-year roadmap under 
Section 6 of this Act, to guide its strategies on how to achieve zero illiteracy in the 
community, based on empirical data and determined by relevant measurable 
targets and indicators, and subject to an annual implementation review and 
assessment; 
b) implement 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; 
c) ensure the implementation of community literacy mapping activities within the 
local level through a community-based monitoring system, consistent with 


Republic Act No. 11315 or the “Community-Based Monitoring System Act”, to 
generate updated and disaggregated data on literacy and be able to introduce 
literacy interventions and allocate resources based on empirical data; and 
d) coordinate with partner NGOs and other agencies of the government in the 
identification of out-of-school children, youth and adults, including persons with 
disabilities, indigenous peoples, and other marginalized and vulnerable members 
of the community who are in need of literacy intervention and support, consistent 
with the local generation and mapping of data related to education under RA No. 
11510, as well as the Child Find System under existing laws. 
 
The Council shall issue the guidelines necessary for the establishment, monitoring and 
evaluation of the LSBs as de facto LLCs. 
 
Sec. 9. PSA Literacy Surveys. – To ensure an evidenced-based formulation of policies 
and programs on the improvement and universalization of literacy in the country, the PSA 
is hereby mandated to: 
a) conduct the FLEMMS every two years; 
b) strengthen its core unit that is dedicated to the generation, analysis, utilization, 
and dissemination of all education and literacy statistics and information under RA 
No. 11315; 
c) develop and manage a nationwide database of such statistics and information; and 
d) coordinate with other government agencies whose mandate s require the conduct 
of community mapping programs that are relevant to the education sector such as 
the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of 
Social Welfare and Development. 
 
Sec. 10. Transfer of Existing LCC Secretariat and its Appropriations to the BAE. 
– Pursuant to Sec. 7 of this Act, the existing secretariat of the LCC, including the 
appropriations corresponding to their salaries and other benefits, shall be transferred to 
and absorbed by the BAE of the DepEd: Provided, That such transfer shall neither cause 
any diminution in the salaries of the personnel concerned nor loss of rank and seniority: 
Provided, Further, That the transfer of positions and corresponding appropriations to the 
BAE shall be subject to the guidelines to be jointly issued by the DepEd and the 
Department of Budget and Management. 
 
Sec. 11. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to cover the initial implementation 
of this Act shall be sourced from the appropriation of the LCC under the current General 
Appropriations Act (GAA). Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continuous 
implementation shall be included in the budget of the DepEd under the annual GAA. 
 
Sec. 12. Submission of Annual Report. – The Council shall submit to the Senate 
Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, and 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 for the universalization of literacy in the country. 
 
Sec. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the LCC, in consultation with the members of 
the Council and other stakeholders, shall issue the rules and regulations implementing its 
provisions. 
 
Sec. 14. 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. 15. 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. 16. Effectivity. – Notwithstanding the non-issuance of the IRR, this Act shall take 
effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of 
general circulation. 
 
Approved,