The cities of Mandaue and Cebu were among the top ranking highly urbanized cities (HUCs) in basic literacy.

According to the latest 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (Flemms) results released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Mandaue City recorded a basic literacy rate of 95.2 percent and Cebu City registered 94.7 percent.

Mandaue ranked fifth while Cebu ranked eighth.

Basic literacy refers to a person’s capability to read and write simple messages in any language or dialect with comprehension, as well as to carry out basic mathematical calculations.

Pasay City registered the highest basic literacy rate in the country at 96.2 percent.

The data translates to around 96 out of 100 individuals five years old and over in the city who can read, write and compute.

Completing the top 10 HUCs with the highest basic literacy rate in the country in 2024 were the cities of Cagayan de Oro (96.1 percent), San Juan (95.50 percent), Pasig (95.50 percent), Pateros (95.1 percent), Olongapo (94.9 percent), Taguig (94.6 percent) and Makati (94.3 percent).

For the provinces, Apayao emerged as the top-performing in basic literacy nationwide with an impressive rate of 95.2 percent. It was followed by Benguet with 92.7 percent.

Third was 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).

Cebu Province did not make it to the top 10.