​

PASIG CITY, April 6, 2022 – The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to honor outstanding Local Government Units (LGUs) and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) for their efforts in universalizing literacy in the country at the 2022 National Literacy Awards (NLA).

“The literacy programs and projects of our government and NGOs help alleviate poverty, provide livelihood, address social welfare needs, and make education facilities more accessible for all our learners. Their unwavering commitment and dedication to eradicate illiteracy problems in the country should be acknowledged,” Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.

According to the Literacy Coordination Council (LCC), the NLA intents to recognize best literacy practices carried out by LGUs and NGOs. They were mobilized by the Department to promote and disseminate the importance of literacy in national progress and subsequently, inspire them to develop, implement, and sustain literacy programs and projects throughout the country.

“These sectors contributed immensely towards the aspiration of universalizing literacy in the country by creating public awareness of and interests in the programs, projects, and activities addressing this concern,” Sec. Briones added.

The NLA is envisioned to sustain, expand, and institutionalize literacy efforts by motivating and recognizing individuals, institutions, and LGUs through awards and appropriate recognitions.

In addition, the award-giving body encourages the development and replication of innovative, creative, and indigenous literacy programs, at the same time, bestowing honor and recognition to outstanding government and non-government organizations for their dedication, commitment, and contribution to the eradication of illiteracy in their respective communities.

Furthermore, the NLA this year will have three categories, namely Outstanding Local Government Unit, Outstanding Literacy Program, and Special Award of Excellence in Literacy.

Nominations for outstanding local government unit and literacy program categories will be submitted by LGUs and NGOs to their respective DepEd Regional Offices, through the Regional NLA Coordinator, from April 25 to May 11, 2022. Nominees for the Special Award of Excellence in Literacy category will be informed by the LCC Secretariat.

The winning regional entries validated by the DepEd ROs will be forwarded to the LCC Secretariat on or before June 6, 2022. They will be declared as the official regional NLA entries that will vie for the national-level awards.

The LCC will soon be releasing the DepEd Memorandum on the policy guidelines and procedures on the conduct of the 2022 NLA.

First launched in 1994, the NLA is a biennial program conducted every other year in conjunction with the celebration of National Literacy Week and International Literacy Day.

END