EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
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SENATE 
S.B. No. 2348
Introduced by SEN. WIN 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
The Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) was established on November 
25, 1991 under Republic Act (RA) No. 71651 which mandated the LCC to act 
as the primary agency that would spearhead the formulation of policies and 
programs to eradicate illiteracy in the country. Almost two decades later on 
May 27, 2010, RA 101222 was enacted to strengthen the LCC by adding to its 
functions the following: (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.
1 Otherwise known as "An Act Creating the Literacy Coordinating Council, Defining its Powers 
and Functions, Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes"
2 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 andfor Other Purposes”’


Despite these enactments, however, the latest numbers from the 
Philippine Statistics Authority show that the universalization of literacy in the 
country has not been achieved despite three decades since the enactment of 
RA 7165. Based on the 2019 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media 
Survey (FLEMMS), 6 out of every 100 Filipinos 5 years old and over are still not 
basically literate. This translates to 6 million Filipinos who cannot read or 
write, with understanding, simple messages. In the same year, about 8 percent 
of Filipinos aged 10 to 64 years old were functionally illiterate. Meaning 6.7 
million Filipinos in this age group do not possess the skills to participate fully 
and efficiently in daily activities that require a reasonable capability of 
communicating through a written language. It is noted that apart from literacy 
concerns, issues on the decline in the quality of education in the country, 
observed by the Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM) thirty 
years ago, also continue on to this day.3
This bill proposes to repeal RA 7165 by strengthening the LCC’s powers 
and functions, and more importantly seeks to streamline its membership 
structure to align the fulfillment of its mandate with the following recent laws 
that seek to achieve the universalization of literacy as one of their goals: 1) RA 
11510 or the “Alternative Learning System Act” (ALS) which provides a practical 
option to the existing formal instruction, including both the non-formal and 
informal sources of knowledge and skills, to improve access to education and 
other learning opportunities and raise the level of literacy to contribute to an 
individual’s sustainable future; and 2) RA 11315 or the “Community-Based 
Monitoring System Act" (CBMS) which builds the capabilities of LGUs and
Based on the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) result released 
on December 3,2019, it was revealed that the Philippines scored 353 in Mathematics, 357 in 
Science, and 340 in Reading, all below the average of participating Organisation for Economic 
Co-operation and Devdopment (OECD) countries. The 2019 Southeast Asia Primaiy Learning 
Metrics (SEA-PL^ results also showed that Filipino learners in Grade 5 did not even meet the 
minimum proficiency in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics, while the 2019 Trends in 
International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) results showed that Grade 4 Filipino 
learners lagged behind their peers in Science and Math, registering the lowest among aU 58 
participating countries for both tests.


communities in creating databases at the local level to provide useful 
information for the design, targeting and impact monitoring of poverty 
reduction programs and development initiatives, such as the universalization 
of literacy, at the national level. Thus, with the institutionalization of ALS, this 
bill proposes to transfer the Council’s secretariat to the Bureau of Alternative 
Education for administrative and technical support. Further, to complement 
and maximize the CBMS, it proposes to mobilize local government units by 
establishing the Local School Boards (LSBs) as the de facto local literacy 
councils to provide the local support ecosystem to the newly renamed National 
Literacy Council.
Finally, this legislation mandates the Council to formulate a three-year 
roadmap that shall incorporate strategies on how to achieve zero illiteracy, with 
relevant measurable targets and indicators for the introduction of interventions 
that are based on empirical results. A parallel framework shall be mirrored at 
the local level where the LSBs shall formulate a local roadmap, anchored on 
the Council’s three-year roadmap, to guide its local strategies in achieving zero 
illiteracy in the community.
I earnestly seek the immediate passage of this bill which does not only 
recognize the limitations of the law it seeks to repeal, but acknowledges the 
imperative of a more radical reform to enable every advocate and stakeholder 
of literacy to fulfill the vision of literacy for all.
N GATCHALIAN


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
1
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2348
Introduced by SEN. WIN 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:
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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.


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Sec. 3. Renaming of the Literacy Coordinating Council. - The name of the
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Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC), established pursuant to Republic Act No.
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7165, as amended, is hereby changed to National Literacy Council, hereinafter
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referred to in this Act as the “Council”.
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The Council shall serve as the lead inter-agency coordinating and advisory
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body to the various National Government Agencies (NGAs), the Local
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Government Units (LGUs), and the private sector on matters pertaining to the
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formulation of policies and the adoption and implementation of measures for
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the universalization of literacy.
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The Council shall be attached to the Department of Education (DepEd).
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Sec, 4. Composition of the Council. - The Council shall be governed by the
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following:
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a) the Secretaries of Education and the Interior and Local Government,
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as Co-Chairpersons, who may designate their respective
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imdersecretaries as permanent representative s;
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b) the National Statistician and Civil Registrar General of the Philippine
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Statistics Authority (PSA) or a duly designated representative;
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c) the Director of the Bureau of Alternative Education (BAE) of the
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DepEd;
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d) the President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines
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(ULAP); and
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e) one (1) representative from the non-government organizations
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(NGOs).
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The NGO representative must be a citizen of the Philippines with
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demonstrated personal or professional commitment and advocacy in the
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propagation of literacy.
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Through the adoption of a resolution, the Council shall approve and
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confirm the election of the NGO representative who shall serve for a term of
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three (3) years, subject to reappointment on the basis of merit and
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performance.


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Sec. 5. Coundl Meetings. - The Council shall conduct its regular
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meetings quarterly and may hold special meetings to consider urgent matters
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upon the call of the Chairperson or a majority of its members.
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The Council shall meet at any agreed location within the Philippines, and
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the presence of a majority of all its incumbent members shall constitute a
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quorum.
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The members of the Council shall serve without compensation, but shall
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be entitled to an appropriate honorarium for attendance at meetings as well as
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appropriate allowances and reimbursement of expenses related to their
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participation in the official activities of the Council, in accordance with
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pertinent laws, rules and regulations.
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The duly designated representatives to the Council shall be afforded
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equal opportunity to vote and participate in any deliberation during meetings
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of the Council. They shall likewise be afforded, whenever necessaiy,
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reimbursement of any actual expenses incurred during the performance of
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Council-related functions and duties, subject to the provisions of existing laws,
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rules and regulations.
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Sec. 6. Powers and Functions of the Council. - The Council shall exercise
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the following powers and functions:
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a) act as the lead advisory and coordinating body of the government and
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initiate, promote and recommend the adoption of policies for all
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literacy endeavors in the country, as well as the formulation of
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legislative agenda related to literacy;
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b) formulate a three-year roadmap that shall incorporate strategies on
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how to achieve zero illiteracy, including relevant measurable targets
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and indicators for the introduction of interventions that are based on
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empirical results, and which shall be subject to annual review and
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updating to determine its implementation status and ensure that the
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objectives of this Act are achieved;


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c) set up and adopt schemes on how to organize and strengthen support 
structiires 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


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practices, and engage close partnerships with literacy advocates
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throughout the country; and
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i) perform such other functions as may be necessary in furtherance of
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the purposes of this Act.
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Sec. 7. The Secretariat. - The BAE shall provide secretariat support and
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render the following administrative support and technical assistance to the
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Council:
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a) prepare policy recommendations, plans, and other Council priorities
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and measures necessary for the advancement of basic and functional
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literacy, and other basic capabilities of out-of-school children, youth
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and adults, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples,
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and other marginalized and vulnerable members of society, who may
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not have availed of or completed their basic education and in need of
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intervention and support;
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b) consult and coordinate with NGAs, LGUs, NGOs, academic
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institutions, and other stakeholders on matters relating to the
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functions of the Council and other matters pertaining to the
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propagation of literacy endeavors;
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c) provide technical assistance to literacy implementers relative to the
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programs and projects on literacy;
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d) initiate, organize, and promote the holding of research activities,
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workshops, conferences, national literacy awards and the like,
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subject to the approval of the Council;
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e) set up, maintain, and update a management information system on
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literacy programs and projects, policies, best practices, research
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studies, statistical data and other relevant information relative to the
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literacy situation in the country;
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f) coordinate with the PSA in the conduct of the FLEMMS and other
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similar surveys for purposes of providing a quantitative framework
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that will serve as one of the bases in the formulation of policies and


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programs on the improvement of literacy and education status in the
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country;
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g) recommend programs, proj ects, and other activities to be included for
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funding in the annual budget proposal of the Council, 
including
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support services in the preparation of the Council’s annual budget
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proposal; and
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h) perform other tasks as may be directed by the Council.
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Sec. 8. Establishment of Local Literacy Councils through the Local School
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Boards. - The Council shall promote the establishment of Local Literacy
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Councils (LLCs) at the provincial, city and municipal levels, which shall serve
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as the coordinating and advisory bodies at the local level on matters pertaining
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to the adoption and implementation of measures for the universalization of
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literacy.
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For this purpose, the Local School Boards (LSBs) established pursuant
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to Republic Act No. 7160 or the “Local Government Code of 1991” shall act as
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the de facto LLCs in the provinces, cities and municipalities, with the following
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functions in addition to Sec. 9 thereof:
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a) formulate a local roadmap, anchored on the Council’s three-year
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roadmap under Section 6 of this Act, to guide its strategies on how to
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achieve zero illiteracy in the community, based on empirical data and
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determined by relevant measurable targets and indicators, and
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subject to an annual implementation review and assessment;
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b) implement literacy programs and endeavors at the local level,
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including the identification of priority literacy programs, provision of
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technical assistance to literacy volunteer workers, program
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monitoring and evaluation, and coordination with government and
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non-government partners for program support activities, among
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others;


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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:
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conduct the FLEMMS every two years;
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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;
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develop and manage a nationwide database of such statistics and 
information; and
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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.


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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.
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Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 7165, as amended by
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Republic Act No. 10122 otherwise known as “An Act Strengthening the Literacy
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Coordinating Council by Amending Republic Act No. 7165, Otherwise Known
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as ‘An Act Creating the Literacy Ccx)rdinating Council, Defining Its Powers and
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Functions, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes’”, is hereby
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repealed. All other laws, decrees, orders, and rules and regulations contrary
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to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
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amended accordingly.
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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,