ILOILO CITY — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reports that 89.6% of individuals aged five and above in Western Visayas can read, write, and perform basic arithmetic, according to the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS).
Aklan posted the highest basic literacy rate in the region at 92.1%, followed by Guimaras (91.2%), Antique (90.1%), and Iloilo City (89.9%). Capiz and Iloilo Province trailed slightly behind, with 89.3% and 88.6%, respectively. The 20–24 age group showed the highest literacy at 96.5%, while individuals aged 60 and above had the lowest at 75%.
Despite this, the region’s functional literacy rate—which includes comprehension, computation, and critical thinking—was notably lower at 70.6%. Aklan again led with 73.9%, while Iloilo Province recorded the lowest at 68.4%.
The decline in functional literacy was more pronounced among older age groups. Those aged 20–24 scored highest at 78.8%, while senior citizens (60 and above) had a functional literacy rate of just 56.4%.
Western Visayas ranked 8th nationwide in basic literacy and 6th in functional literacy. Education experts say this gap underscores the importance of enhancing reading comprehension, analytical skills, and lifelong learning programs to meet evolving education standards.
