PASAY and San Juan cities led highly urbanized areas in literacy in 2024, with Pasay posting the highest basic literacy rate and San Juan recording the highest functional literacy rate, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The data comes from the PSA’s Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), conducted every five years since 1989.

Per the 2024 FLEMMS, basic literacy is defined as the ability to read and write a simple message with understanding, as well as perform basic mathematical operations. 

Functional literacy refers to a more advanced level of literacy that includes reading, writing, computing, and comprehending, enabling individuals to apply these skills in everyday life.

The PSA measures basic literacy among individuals aged five and older, while functional literacy rates cover those aged 10 to 64. 

Among highly urbanized areas, the top five in basic literacy are:

1. Pasay (96.2 percent)
2. Cagayan de Oro City (96.1 percent)
3. San Juan City (95.50 percent)
4. Pasig City (95.50 percent)
5. Mandaue City (95.2 percent)

In the provinces, the top five in basic literacy include:

1. Apayo (95.2 percent)
2. Romblon (94.6 percent)
3. Nueva Ecija (94.23 percent)
4. Bohol (94.22 percent)
5. Rizal (94.20 percent)

For functional literacy, the leading highly urbanized areas are:

1. San Juan City (95.5 percent)
2. Baguio City (89.8 percent)
3. Pasig City (89.1 percent)
4. Pateros (88.1 percent)
5. Makati City (87.3 percent)

Meanwhile, the top five provinces for functional literacy are:

1. Benguet (87.9 percent)
2. Rizal (82.1 percent)
3. Romblon (81.9 percent)
4. Batangas (81.3 percent)
5. Siquijor (80.0 percent)

On the other end of the spectrum, the highest illiteracy rates were recorded in:

1. Tawi-Tawi (30.5 percent)
2. Davao Occidental (21 percent)
3. Basilan (19.8 percent)
4. Northern Samar (19.5 percent)
5. Sarangani (15.7 percent)

The data highlight significant regional disparities. Urban areas and some Luzon provinces perform well, but places like Tawi-Tawi and parts of Mindanao continue to face high illiteracy rates, pointing to unequal access to quality education and resources.

This emphasizes the need for targeted educational programs that not only maintain high basic literacy but also strengthen functional literacy, particularly in underserved regions, to support more inclusive and effective learning outcomes across the country.