Northern Mindanao tops literacy survey

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Northern Mindanao has posted the highest basic literacy rate among all Mindanao regions, reaching 90.8 percent, according to the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

This means that about 4.3 million of the 4.7 million residents aged five and above in the region can read, write, and do basic math, explained PSA-10 chief statistical specialist Sarah B. Balagbis during the regional data dissemination forum held Friday, May 30, at N Hotel in Cagayan de Oro.

Cagayan de Oro tops list

Cagayan de Oro City recorded the highest basic literacy rate in the region at 96.1 percent — 5.3 percentage points above the regional average. It was followed by Iligan City (93.4 percent) and Misamis Occidental (91.6 percent). Camiguin (90.7 percent), Bukidnon (90.5 percent), and Lanao del Norte (83.3 percent) posted below-average rates.

In terms of sex, females had a higher basic literacy rate (91.7 percent) compared to males (89.9 percent). The age group 20–24 years recorded the highest rate at 97.1 percent, while the lowest were among the oldest (60+) at 77.0 percent and the youngest (10–14 years) at 78.5 percent.

Still, around 6.3 percent — or seven in every 100 individuals aged five and up — are considered illiterate. Lanao del Norte had the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write (12.5 percent) and the highest share of those with minimal literacy skills (can read and write only) at 4.2 percent.

Functional literacy still trails

Northern Mindanao’s functional literacy rate — the ability to read, write, compute and comprehend — stood at 70.0 percent in 2024. This translates to around 2.7 million functionally literate individuals out of 3.9 million aged 10 to 64 years.

Again, Cagayan de Oro City topped the list with 84.4 percent, followed by Iligan (77.4 percent) and Camiguin (72.9 percent). Misamis Oriental (65.3 percent) and Lanao del Norte (56.5 percent) recorded the lowest.

Female respondents showed higher functional literacy (73.3 percent) than males (66.9 percent). The 20–24 age group had the highest rate (77.9 percent), while those aged 60–64 and 10–14 years had the lowest at 57.4 percent and 60.9 percent, respectively.

Balagbis noted a striking gap between basic and functional literacy among the 10–14 age group, where about 1 in 3 could read and write but struggled with comprehension.

New definitions, same challenges

PSA-10 regional director Janith Aves said the 2024 FLEMMS adopted updated definitions under PSA Board Resolution No. 13, Series of 2024. Basic literacy now includes understanding and basic math skills, while functional literacy includes comprehension and inference — skills not previously measured in 2019.

“Literacy isn’t just the ability to read and write — it’s the foundation for understanding, expressing, and participating meaningfully in society,” Aves emphasized. “To every Filipino: literacy is your right, and your tool to shape the future.”

What FLEMMS measures

FLEMMS is a national survey mandated by Executive Order No. 352 and serves as a key tool for guiding education policies. It measures basic and functional literacy, mass media exposure, educational attainment, and socio-economic characteristics of the population aged five and up.

Aves concluded: “Let’s dream of a Philippines where every child is inspired to learn, every school is empowered to teach, and where education is not a privilege for the few, but a promise for all.”