The cities of Mandaue and Cebu are among the top-performing highly urbanized cities (HUCs) in the Philippines in terms of basic literacy, based on the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Mandaue City recorded a basic literacy rate of 95.2 percent, securing fifth place among HUCs, while Cebu City followed closely with a 94.7 percent literacy rate, ranking eighth.

Basic literacy refers to an individual's ability to read and write simple messages in any language or dialect with comprehension, as well as to perform basic mathematical operations.

Pasay City topped the list with a basic literacy rate of 96.2 percent, meaning approximately 96 out of every 100 individuals aged five years and above can read, write, and compute.

Also in the top 10 were Cagayan de Oro (96.1 percent), San Juan and Pasig (both at 95.5 percent), Pateros (95.1 percent), Olongapo (94.9 percent), Taguig (94.6 percent), and Makati (94.3 percent).

Among provinces, Apayao emerged as the top performer with a basic literacy rate of 95.2 percent, followed by Benguet at 92.7 percent. Cebu Province did not make it to the top 10.

Rounding out the top provinces were Romblon (94.6 percent), Nueva Ecija (94.23 percent), Rizal (94.20 percent), South Cotabato excluding General Santos City (93.7 percent), Bataan (93.64 percent), Cavite (93.56 percent), and Bulacan (93.5 percent).