The official results of the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) was officially released through a data dissemination forum staged by PSA RSSO 03 on 30 May 2025 at the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Ms. Arlene Z. Torrico, Chief Statistical Specialist, reported that Central Luzon registered the highest basic literacy rate among the 18 regions of the country.

The region has recorded 92.8 percent basic literacy rate which was 2.8 percentage points higher than the national level. This means that, nine in every 10 individuals in Region 03 are capable of reading, writing, and performing basic mathematical operations.

Moreover, Central Luzon ranked fourth among the regions with the highest functional literacy rate at 73.0 percent which was 2.2 percentage points higher than the registered national rate. This implies that seven out of 10 individuals in Region 3 can read, write, compute, and comprehend. CSS Torrico underscored that although the region has registered a high basic literacy rate, the existence of gap between basic and functional literacy is also relatively wide.

During the data dissemination forum, Mr. Kim Jayson G. Villezca, Education Program Supervisor of the Department of Education (DepEd) R03 provided statement of the policy implication of the results of the 2024 FLEMMS. Mr. Villezca shared the efforts being implemented and the proposed programs to narrow the gap between basic and functional literacy as well as ensure an uninterrupted learning succession.

Meanwhile, Ms. Divina V. Vallejo, Office-in-Charge of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) R03, highlighted that the gap between basic and functional literacy was likely wide in areas where poverty incidence is also high such as in Zambales and Aurora.

Aside from data on literacy, the data of mass media exposure was also presented by Mr. John Rey T. Duay, Statistical Specialist II. In Central Luzon, television remained to be the top media exposure platform at 86.2 percent followed by video streaming at 68.0 percent.

The 2024 FLEMMS Central Luzon Regional Data Dissemination forum was attended by PSA’s Assistant National Statistician Adrian A. Cerezo, Regional Director Arlene M. Divino, and representatives from the members of the Central Luzon Regional Statistics Committee (Regional Line Agencies, Provincial/Highly Urbanized Cities Planning and Development Offices, and State Colleges/Universities), media outfits, and delegates from the regional and provincial offices of PSA.

ARLENE M. DIVINO
Regional Director 
PSA RSSO 03