Quezon City, Philippines — The Philippine Statistics Authority-National Capital Region (PSA-NCR) successfully held a data dissemination forum on the findings of the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), providing a comprehensive snapshot of the region's literacy landscape. 

Key Findings:

• Basic Literacy: Approximately 92% of Filipino’s living in NCR aged 5 years old and over possess basic literacy skills, defined as the ability to read and write. 
   

• Functional Literacy: Functional literacy, encompassing reading, writing, numeracy, and comprehension, stands at 79.9% for the 10 to 64 years old.

• Gender Disparity: Women in NCR exhibit higher literacy rates compared to men, with a functional literacy rate of 81.5% versus 78.1% for men.

• Age Disparity: Individuals aged 20 to 24 years old exhibit the highest functional literacy at 84.4%, whereas those aged 10 to 14 years old have the lowest at 73.1%.

PSA-NCR Regional Director Paciano B. Dizon emphasized in his welcome remarks the importance of the FLEMMS in assessing not just reading and writing skills, but the population’s ability to apply these skills in daily life.

 “Today’s forum is more than just a presentation of statistics. It is a gathering of minds and missions — a convergence of sectors united by a common goal: to uplift the literacy and educational well-being of every Filipino. May this forum be a testament to that truth, which will serve not only as a platform for information sharing but also as a reminder that with accurate data, we lead wisely, and with shared vision, we build stronger communities.” The director stated.

DepEd-NCR’s Education Program Supervisor Mr. Arnold C. Gatus also expressed the importance of the result of the FLEMMS:

“The 2024 FLEMMS data tells us a story not just of numbers, but of lives -of the (basic) literate and the functionally literate, of those with access to digital tools and those left behind, of voices that seek understanding amid the noise of mass media. Digital literacy is rising, but access remains uneven. Exposure to mass media is widespread, but it is not always matched by the development of critical thinking skills. And although formal education levels are generally high, we must ask: are we truly preparing our citizens -young and old -with the competencies they need to thrive in an increasingly complex world?” said Mr. Gatus.

MMDA’s Planning Officer IV Ms. Mary Helene Alzona, who is also present at the event, expressed their agency’s insights into action to further enhance and develop the literacy rate in the region:

“It gives us a picture of the regional picture of the education situation. These plans and reports serve as a guide to our development planners in crafting and formulating other interventions that will contribute to achieving Ambisyon Natin 2040 vision of a Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag Na Buhay. I understand that addressing these emerging challenges in our education sector would require a lot of effort, resources, and time. But we, at the government agencies and academia in Metro Manila, will continue working hand in hand to make all these plans possible and effective to achieve quality, inclusive, adaptive, resilient, and future-ready basic education for all.” Ms. Alzona said.

The FLEMMS is a nationwide household-based survey conducted every three years. It evaluates the literacy status and education-related behaviors of Filipinos aged 5 and over. The 2024 round is the seventh iteration of the survey, with data collection carried out last October 2024. 

The results of the 2024 FLEMMS will support the design of targeted literacy programs, help monitor progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and inform regional planning.

(Sgd.) PACIANO B. DIZON
Regional Director