πAccess Here the Local Literacy Councils (LCC) Manual for Creation, Reconstitution, and Strengthening at the Local Level
π From Top-Down to Ground-Up: A Fresh Take on Local Literacy Governance
In a country where education is often centralized, a major shift is happening — and it’s happening from the ground up. The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have issued Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1, s. 2024, officially pushing for the creation, reconstitution, and strengthening of Local Literacy Councils (LLCs) at the city and municipal levels.
This directive breathes new life into Republic Act No. 10122 by giving communities the power to drive literacy efforts, based on local context, grassroots needs, and real data — not just centralized mandates.
π Access here the official LCC manual and toolkit: https://lcc.deped.gov.ph/lcc-manuals/
π£ Beyond Compliance: Local Literacy Councils as Community Anchors
Local Literacy Councils are no longer just advisory bodies. Under this revised framework, they are functional entities responsible for implementing literacy localization — adapting national goals into community-specific actions. This means crafting relevant programs for out-of-school youth, adults without basic education, and marginalized learners.
Too often, LGU initiatives stall because there's no functional structure to carry the vision forward. This JMC changes that. It calls on every city and municipality to organize, activate, and empower their LLCs to plan and implement community-based literacy programs that actually respond to the needs of their people.
π§ Grounding Literacy in Real Community Data
According to RA No. 10122, the LCC was formed as a national coordinating body. But that mission only works when local arms of the council reflect the same commitment — through actual performance, not paper presence.
The JMC pushes for the use of community-based literacy mapping, monitoring systems, and analytic tools to determine where interventions are needed most. These aren't just optional steps — they are now part of the mandate.
Functional LLCs are expected to:
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Identify gaps using accurate literacy statistics
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Prioritize learners based on local socio-economic indicators
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Create literacy programs with community engagement
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Integrate with existing ALS (Alternative Learning System) modules
π ️ What DepEd and DILG Must Do Differently Now
In this updated partnership, DepEd is tasked with providing the educational tools, modules, and training, while the DILG ensures that LGUs commit resources, policy, and logistics to support the literacy mission.
The DILG will:
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Formulate localized literacy policies
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Monitor LGU compliance
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Guide the establishment and operationalization of LLCs
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Recognize best practices across LGUs
Meanwhile, DepEd will assist in curriculum alignment, data collection, and literacy program design tailored to non-formal and lifelong learning goals.
Together, they create the mechanism for sustainable, community-rooted literacy development.
π Making Room for Recognition: The National Literacy Awards
The National Literacy Awards (NLA) continues to serve as a platform to highlight outstanding community-based literacy efforts. As of 2024, over 400 individuals, LGUs, and organizations have been honored. The common thread? Functioning, engaged LLCs.
These awards are a validation of effective localization. More than recognition, they serve as inspiration and blueprint for other LGUs still catching up.
π Why This JMC Is a Game-Changer
This isn’t just a recycling of old mandates. The manual now available at https://lcc.deped.gov.ph/lcc-manuals/ includes:
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Clear step-by-step guides for creating or reconstituting LLCs
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Templates for organizational structure
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Best practices from award-winning LGUs
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Checklists and tracking tools for monitoring literacy efforts
With this manual, LGUs now have the tools they need to translate policy into results — literacy that is seen, felt, and lived.
π¬ Final Thought: Building Literacy From the Barangay Up
The drive toward universal literacy in the Philippines isn't about one-size-fits-all programs anymore. It's about equipping LGUs to create solutions that fit their own people, languages, cultures, and challenges.
This JMC, with its comprehensive manual and operational guidance, is more than a policy — it’s an invitation. An invitation to every LGU to become a catalyst for lasting literacy.
Because literacy isn’t just taught — it’s built, by the people who know their communities best.
π Access here the LCC manual to get started: https://lcc.deped.gov.ph/lcc-manuals/