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Republic of the Philippines
[HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES iS RECEIVED A
Quezon City = DATE _July 1, 2022
x TIME __2:21 pm
NINETEENTH CONGRESS ‘Spy
First Regular Session Ko

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HOUSE BILLNO. _930__

Introduced by Representative Roman T. Romulo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to reintroduce the Literacy Coordinating Council as the National
Literacy Council, strengthening its powers and functions, as well as expanding its
membership structure and support mechanisms, repealing Republic Act No. 7165, as
amended, for this purpose.

The Literacy Coordinating Council was established in 1991 for the “total eradication
of illiteracy” through the formulation of policies and implementation of programs on 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,? with
priority to the adoption of measures for the universalization of literacy.

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 352, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has
been conducting the Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMM) every
five (5) years.’ In this survey, Simple or Basic Literacy is defined as “the ability of a person
to read and write with understanding a simple message in any language or dialect.” Going
further to state that the simple literacy status of an individual is determined based on the
respondent's answer to the question "Can read and write a simple message in any language
or dialect?” Functional Literacy, on the other hand, is a “significantly higher level of literacy
which includes not only reading and writing skills but also numeracy skills.” The skills must
be sufficiently advanced to enable the individual to participate fully and efficiently in
activities commonly occurring in his life situation that require a reasonable capability of
communicating by written language.

Through the aforementioned Survey, the National Statistics Office, now PSA,
determined that the Basic Literacy Rate of the country for the year 1994 was 93.9% for
Filipinos 10 years old and over. In the recently conducted FLEMM Survey in 2019, the Basic
Literacy Rate improved to 96.5% or a mere 2.6 percentage points. In 1994, the functional

' Section 1, Republic Act No. 7165.
2 Exec. Onder No. 352.1996)
» National Statistics Office, 1994 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey,

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literacy rate was at 83.8%. In 2019, 91.6% of Filipinos aged 10-64 are functionally literate at
varying degrees.’ Looking closely at the data, however, it shows that only half or about
53.4% are those who have completed at least 4 years of secondary education — and of this
category, 76.7% are aged 20-24. Clearly there are gaps that need to be filled. These gaps
represent the individual lives of Filipinos that are frustrated by their inability to adequately
cope with the daily demands of life. Let us make sure that no Filipino is left behind.

Through this measure, we will effectively strengthen our efforts towards the
universalization of literacy. We will ensure that each and every Filipino will be equipped
with the necessary tools for the quality of life that they deserve— through the provision of
quality, relevant, and equitable education for all local communities, especially the
marginalized and vulnerable sectors.

The National Literacy Council, as proposed, will now be mandated to closely
coordinate with the Department of Education’s Bureau of Alternative Education on
programs and projects that are geared towards the universalization of literacy. Local
Literacy Councils will now be established 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. Through this, the
literacy programs that are to be adopted will be faithfully implemented with the necessary
support and expertise of those on the ground.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of the proposed measure is earnestly
requested.

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ROMAN T. ROMULO
Lone District, Pasig City

* Philippine S

Statistics Authority, 2019 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.__930_

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, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7165, AS
AMENDED

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be knowns the “National Literacy Council”

SECTION 2: Declaration of Policy - Pursuant to Article II, Section 17 of the
Constitution, it is the declared 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 nomenclature of
the Literacy Coordinating Council, 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 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


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related purposes to the Department of Education (DepEd).

SEC. 4. Composition. - The Council shall be composed of the following

members:

a) Secretary of the DepEd, as Chairperson, who may designate an
undersecretary as permanent representative;

b) Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG), as co- Chairperson, who may designate an undersecretary as
permanent representative;

¢) Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority, or
a duly designated permanent representative;

d) Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority, ora duly designated permanent representative;

e) Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education, or a duly
designated permanent representative;

f) Director General of the Philippine Information Agency, or a duly
designated permanent representative;

8) President of the Philippine Normal University, or a duly designated
permanent representative;

h) National Statistician and Civil Registrar General of the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA), or a duly designated permanent representative;

i) Director of the DepEd’s Bureau of Alternative Education (BAE);

i) 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

k) 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. Meetings. - The Council shall conduct its regular meetings quarterly
at any agreed location within the Philippines and may hold special meetings to consider
urgent matters upon the call of the chairperson or a majority of its members. A
majority of all its incumbent members shall constitute a quorum, the presence of
which is necessary to transact business.

‘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 during the meeting.

Members of the Council shall serve without compensation, but shall be
entitled to appropriate honoraria for attendance in 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

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regulations. The duly designated representatives to the Council shall be afforded equal
opportunity to participate in the meetings of the Council, and shall be allowed to vote
on any matter in the agenda of the Council. Likewise, they shall be afforded,
whenever necessary, reimbursement of any actual expense 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) Act as the lead advisory and coordinating body of the government

and initiate, promote and recommend the adoption of policy and
program directions for all literacy endeavors in the country;

b) 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;

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) Strengthen support structures identified as literacy advocates of LGUs
in the city, municipal, and barangay levels, by adopting strategies that
maximize private sector support for, cooperation, and involvement
in literacy development programs, projects, and related activities;

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 structure of the Council secretariat and
determine the secretariat’s staffing pattern, qualifications, duties and
responsibilities, and other administrative policies including, among
others, those pertaining to hiring and promotion, subject to the
guidelines set forth by the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM) 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

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specified in the General Appropriations Act;

i) Formulate necessary guidelines for business continuity, disaster
recovery and backup capabilities and facilities to ensure continued
operation and delivery of services, including the conduct of
meetings, workshops and conferences, and National Literacy Awards
in times of public health emergency, occurrence of calamity and any
other threat that requires public safety and protection; and

i) 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 subject to
the evaluation and review by the DBM: Provided, that no officer or employee of the
existing secretariat shall be removed from the service except for a valid cause, in
accordance with 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 national government agencies, 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 the implementers of 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,

al data and other relevant information relative to the literacy

in the country;

f) Coordinate with the PSA in the conduct of the functional literacy

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education and mass media survey (FLEMMS) for purposes of providing a
quantitative framework that shall 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 with the BAE. - The Council shall
closely coordinate with the BAE concerning the management of ALS programs,
projects and other 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 the BAE on matters
pertaining to literacy concerns for 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) as support structures at the city,
municipal, and barangay levels, which shall serve as the coordinating and advisory
body at the local level on matters pertaining to the adoption and implementation of
community-based 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.

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 shall, upon consultation with the DILG and DepEd, issue the
general guidelines for the establishment, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of
LLCs.

An LGU may, motu proprio 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 the National
literacy Awards 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 National Literacy Awards 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, share, and help

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strengthen good literacy practices and thus, engage partnerships with various literacy
advocates and stakeholders.

The Council shall formulate the guidelines on the conduct of the National
Literacy Awards, including the criteria for the creation of a board of judges per
category and the selection of winners.

The board of judges for each category shall be chosen from a panel of
the field of literacy and education.

expert:

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 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.

SEC. 13. Assistance from Special Education Fund. — Notwithstanding the
provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the “Local Government
Code of 1991”, as amended, the LGUs shall be authorized to use a portion of the
Special Education Fund to augment the funds appropriated by the LGUs for the
Purpose of implementing literacy related programs and activities at the local level.

SEC. 14. Annual Report. - The Council shall submit to the Philippine
Senate's Committee on Basic 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 its accomplishments, programs and
projects, and policy recommendations and, if necessary, propose legislation for the
universalization and continuing improvement of literacy rate and numeracy skills of
learners.

SEC. 15. Appropriations. — The initial amount for the implementation of this
Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the DepEd.
Thereafter, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred twenty
(120) days after the effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the Council shall, in
consultation with the Council members and other concerned stakeholders,

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promulgate the rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 17. Separability Clause. — \f any provision of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force
and effect.

SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. — Republic Act No. 7165, entitled, “AN ACT
CREATING THE LITERACY COORDINATING COUNCIL, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND
FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,” as
amended by Republic Act No. 10122, entitled, “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. 19. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation,

Approved