From 30% to 90%: Iloilo literacy program expands to more towns

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Municipal mayors across Iloilo have committed to take a more active role in improving early-grade literacy, following the signing of a memorandum of agreement with the provincial government on March 24 to expand the BES Basa program.

Provincial Administrator Dr. Raul Banias emphasized the role of mayors in ensuring the program’s success, noting that improving reading proficiency requires a collective effort.

“It means the mayors should take the lead here. We should seek accountability from the teachers as well as mobilize support from the parents, the school government council and the business sector. Reading is not entirely a problem of DepEd. It is our problem. Everybody should be involved,” Banias said.

BES Basa is a key component of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.’s Bulig Eskwela sang Probinsya education reform program.

It is a localized version of the Proof of Concept model of the Synergeia Foundation in partnership with the Department of Education.

The Synergeia Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works with local governments, schools, and communities across the Philippines to improve the quality of basic education, with a particular focus on early-grade reading and literacy through evidence-based intervention programs.

The program includes training of trainers and teachers, distribution of instructional materials and student worksheets, and the conduct of pre- and post-assessments to monitor learner progress.

The Proof of Concept was implemented in 2024 in 11 pilot municipalities: Guimbal, Igbaras, Leganes, Pavia, Maasin, Cabatuan, Mina, Sara, Lemery, Batad, and Barotac Viejo.

Pilot local government units for BES Basa also include Carles, Janiuay, Lambunao, San Miguel, Oton, and Dingle.

After one year of implementation, the program increased the reading proficiency of Grade 3 learners from 30 percent to 90 percent.

The Philippines has faced persistent challenges in early-grade literacy, with national assessments consistently showing that a significant proportion of elementary students fall below minimum proficiency levels in reading. The issue gained renewed attention following the country’s performance in international assessments, prompting both national and local governments to intensify literacy intervention programs.

It was also earlier lauded by Sen. Paolo “Bam” Benigno Aquino IV in a privilege speech.

The signing was witnessed by Board Member Jason Gonzales, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Education and Information; Provincial Education Management Office head Maria Alfreda Fajardo; and DepEd Schools Division Superintendent officer-in-charge Dr. Ruby Therese Almencion.

Almencion commended the province for taking the lead in addressing reading gaps among learners.

Barotac Viejo Mayor Nielo Tupas, speaking on behalf of the municipal mayors, expressed support for the program and its goal of improving learning outcomes.

The municipalities of Banate, Estancia, Ajuy, Bingawan, Badiangan, San Dionisio, Alimodian, Santa Barbara, and Tigbauan have signified their intention to adopt BES Basa.