DepEd Doubles Down on Literacy: FLEMMS Survey Sparks Renewed Education Drive Across the Nation

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a powerful reaffirmation of its commitment to uplift Filipino learners, the Department of Education (DepEd) has vowed to intensify literacy efforts nationwide, as results from the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) reveal both promising gains and pressing opportunities.

The survey, conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), shows that basic literacy in the country remains strong at 93.1% among individuals aged 10 to 64. This figure signifies that a vast majority of Filipinos possess the foundational ability to read, write, and compute—skills considered the bedrock of education and empowerment.

Yet, beyond the basics lies a deeper challenge: functional literacy—defined as the capacity to understand and apply information in real-life situations—stood at 70.8%, indicating that nearly three in ten Filipinos still struggle to make meaningful use of written information in daily tasks.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in his statement during the Ceremonial Signing of the Joint Circular on the Establishment of Child Development Centers, underscored the importance of foundational learning:

“Reading to children improves their language, develops their cognitive skills, and allows them to appreciate learning... Early high-quality education supports children’s physical and emotional development, which they need for school readiness.”

DepEd has taken this directive to heart, pledging to bolster its Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) and National Reading Programs—cornerstone initiatives designed to cultivate not only literacy but lifelong learning habits.

A Tale of Two Literacies: Basic vs. Functional

While the high basic literacy rate serves as a beacon of progress, the relatively lower functional literacy rate signals an urgent call for transformation in how literacy is taught and applied.

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized this dual narrative:

“These figures affirm our ongoing efforts to strengthen foundational education while also highlighting areas where we can further enhance our learners’ skills. With a strong literacy base in place, we are poised to expand our programs to ensure that every Filipino gains the ability to think critically and engage meaningfully in society.”

Regional Triumphs and Challenges

The survey offers an insightful look into the nation's educational topography. The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) emerged as a leader in functional literacy at 81.2%, reflecting robust regional strategies that bridge learning and application. Meanwhile, Central Luzon posted the highest basic literacy rate at 92.8%, reinforcing the efficacy of targeted educational frameworks.

However, the data also reveals significant disparities between regions, prompting DepEd to develop localized interventions and differentiated instruction models tailored to the specific needs of each area.

Rewriting the Literacy Playbook

In response to these findings, DepEd is rolling out curriculum enhancements that prioritize critical thinking, analytical skills, and real-world comprehension over rote learning. Teachers will be equipped with innovative pedagogy, and schools will implement strategies that make literacy education more interactive, inclusive, and culturally relevant.

“We are continuously innovating our approaches to ensure that literacy education remains dynamic, engaging, and accessible to all,” Secretary Angara noted. “By integrating comprehension and analytical thinking into our programs, we aim to produce learners who are not only literate but also highly competent in navigating real-world challenges.”

A Collective Mission for a Literate Nation

Fostering literacy, DepEd reiterates, is not the task of a single agency. It is a shared responsibility—a collective mission that requires the synergy of government agencies, local communities, private institutions, and Filipino families.

“We celebrate these literacy milestones while also committing to continuous improvement,” said Angara. “Functional literacy is a powerful tool for national development, and we invite all sectors to join us in this mission.”

The 2024 FLEMMS surveyed 177,656 households and 572,910 individuals aged 5 and above, offering one of the most comprehensive snapshots of the country’s literacy landscape in recent years.

The Road Ahead

In an age where information is currency and knowledge the ultimate empowerment, literacy remains a pillar of national progress. As the Department of Education rises to the challenge, guided by data, bolstered by policy, and inspired by purpose, the dream of a fully literate and critically-thinking Filipino society inches closer to reality.

The battle for literacy is not just about teaching people to read and write—it’s about arming them with the tools to think, decide, and shape their own futures. And that is a cause worth fighting for.

From Venom to Victory: UP Scientists Unlock Spider Peptide’s Potential in Antibiotic Resistance Battle

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a race against one of the world’s most pressing medical threats—antimicrobial resistance—a team of brilliant scientists from the University of the Philippines has turned to one of nature’s most feared predators for answers: the venomous wolf spider Lycosa poonaensis.

In a study both groundbreaking and hauntingly poetic, researchers from the UP Diliman College of Science’s Institute of Chemistry and the Marine Science Institute have explored the effects of alanine—a simple amino acid—on the structure and antibacterial power of lyp1987, an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) sourced from the spider’s venom. The implications of their findings echo far beyond the laboratory, offering a glimmer of hope in humanity’s uphill fight against drug-resistant bacteria.

Nature’s Dark Secret Turned Lifesaver

Animal venoms have long captivated the scientific community for their potent biochemical properties. However, spider venom, in particular, has remained an underexplored treasure trove. In this study titled “The Wheel of Fortune: Helical Wheel Alanine Scanning of a Spider Venom Antimicrobial Peptide Reveals Residues Involved in Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activity,” published in ChemMedChem, the researchers zeroed in on how subtle structural modifications—replacing specific amino acids with alanine—can drastically reshape a peptide’s bacterial-killing abilities.

"We were able to synthesize the compound and its analogs in the laboratory in their pure form," said lead researcher Jomari Fernando, whose hands-on experience with both bacteria and human cells gave him a front-row seat to nature's microbial battleground. "With the help of MSI, we tested not only the antimicrobial properties of these analogs but also their toxicity toward human cells."

The Alanine Alchemy

The study revealed that replacing the amino acids Glu12 and Thr17 with alanine significantly boosted the AMP’s effectiveness against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This subtle switch turned the molecule into a more lethal agent against pathogens, while another substitution—replacing Lys9 with alanine—narrowed its focus to target Gram-positive bacteria more specifically.

However, every scientific breakthrough carries a cautionary note. “I observed that as my compounds had higher antimicrobial activity, there was also an increase in their toxicity against human cells,” Fernando admitted, shedding light on the fine line scientists walk between therapeutic power and collateral damage.

This dual effect—heightened bacterial destruction paired with increased toxicity—presents a thrilling but sobering challenge. It’s a discovery that paints the peptide as a double-edged sword: potentially life-saving, but requiring precision to avoid harm.

A Blueprint for the Future

Despite not continuing the project, the research team has laid critical groundwork for future peptide-based drug development. Their methodology—helix wheel alanine scanning—acts as a working pipeline for examining known and novel AMPs with pharmaceutical potential. As the search for next-generation antibiotics intensifies, this foundational research could guide a new wave of medical innovation.

This pioneering effort was supported by the Royal Society of Chemistry Research Fund and further establishes UP Diliman’s status as a hub for world-class scientific exploration.

A Fight We Can’t Afford to Lose

Antimicrobial resistance is more than a health issue; it’s a global crisis. Common infections are becoming harder—and in some cases impossible—to treat. The World Health Organization has flagged AMR as one of the top ten global public health threats facing humanity.

In this context, the UP team’s work isn’t just science—it’s strategy. It represents a fierce, intelligent response to a creeping global enemy. By harnessing the venom of a spider, these scientists may have spun a lifeline for us all.

BAN Toxics Urges 2025 Political Candidates: Champion a Toxics-Free and Waste-Free Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a country teetering on the brink of ecological collapse, one advocacy group is sounding the alarm—and demanding action. With the 2025 midterm elections looming, BAN Toxics, a leading environmental justice organization, is calling on all political aspirants to take a bold stand: protect public health, defend the environment, and champion a toxics-free and waste-free future.

As campaign fever ignites across the Philippines, BAN Toxics warns that beneath the colorful tarpaulins, fiery promises, and motorcades lies a silent and deadly crisis: the unrelenting assault of toxic chemicals and waste on Filipino communities.

“Our daily lives are surrounded by invisible killers—hazardous substances that infiltrate our homes, poison our children, and pollute our lands and waters,” said Jam Lorenzo, Deputy Executive Director of BAN Toxics. “Yet many of our leaders remain indifferent, trapped in outdated policies and half-hearted solutions. The time for complacency is over.”

A Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight

From mercury-laden beauty creams to lead-tainted toys, the Philippine market continues to be flooded with toxic products—many sold cheaply and without proper labels, often reaching the hands of the country’s poorest. Despite existing regulations, enforcement remains alarmingly weak.

A 2023 global study, with the participation of BAN Toxics, revealed a horrifying truth: 90% of skin-lightening products purchased online contained mercury levels far beyond safe limits—some up to 74,800 ppm, an egregious violation of safety norms. Meanwhile, everyday items like ceramic mugs and school supplies continue to carry dangerous levels of cadmium, arsenic, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

“We are being slowly poisoned—without consent, without warning,” Lorenzo added. “And our children are the most vulnerable.”

In fact, BAN Toxics’ own studies found that over 62% of plastic toys tested in the local market exceeded safety thresholds, with chemicals known to cause neurological damage, cancer, and developmental delays in children.

A proposed Safe and Non-Hazardous Children’s Products Law, passed by the 17th Congress in 2017, remains unacted upon—gathering dust as toxic toys flood the hands of unsuspecting families.

A Broken Waste System: Overflowing, Polluting, and Burning

But the threat extends beyond consumer products. The Philippines is drowning in garbage.

The Commission on Audit (COA) reported that solid waste generation surged from 9.07 million metric tons in 2000 to 16.63 million in 2020, with projections pointing to a catastrophic 24.5 million tons by 2045. Yet, only 39% of barangays have material recovery facilities, and less than a third of LGUs have access to sanitary landfills.

Incineration, often falsely marketed as “waste-to-energy,” is adding fuel to the fire. These facilities release persistent organic pollutants—dioxins and furans—that are known carcinogens. Healthcare waste, intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, added an alarming dimension, overwhelming systems with infectious and hazardous materials.

BAN Toxics is calling for a zero-waste revolution—not just better recycling, but real upstream solutions: reducing production, redesigning products, eliminating unnecessary packaging, and holding producers accountable.

Plastic: The Unforgivable Legacy

With 99% of plastics derived from fossil fuels, the industry is not only polluting—it’s accelerating climate change. In 2021 alone, 1 million tons of plastic waste in the Philippines leaked into the environment, while only a minuscule portion was recycled.

Toxic additives like phthalates, PFAS, bisphenols, and flame retardants add another layer of threat—endocrine disruptors known to wreak havoc on the human body.

The current Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law has failed to deliver. BAN Toxics is now demanding a total ban on single-use plastics, coupled with decisive policy reforms that reduce production and end the era of throwaway culture.

The E-Waste Time Bomb

In 2022, the Philippines generated 537 million kilograms of electronic waste, ranking among the top e-waste producers in Asia. Most of it? Unaccounted for. A recent study revealed that in Quezon City alone, 30% of e-waste is processed informally in junk shops—often by workers unprotected from lead, mercury, and flame retardants.

Without a dedicated e-waste law, the country is unprepared for the digital age’s dark side. BAN Toxics demands an EPR scheme for electronics, tighter import controls, and a comprehensive regulatory framework to manage this growing toxic tide.

Reform the Law. Empower the People. Protect the Planet.

The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003), once hailed as a progressive step, now groans under the weight of poor implementation. Informal waste workers—unsung heroes of recycling—remain unsupported, without health insurance, training, or tools.

BAN Toxics is calling for a full review and overhaul of the law: more MRFs, equitable landfill access, and formal integration of waste pickers into the national system.

Global Agreements, Local Commitments

BAN Toxics reminds candidates that real leadership includes honoring global commitments:

Minamata Convention – Phase out mercury and transition miners to safe alternatives.

Basel Ban Amendment – Ban hazardous waste imports.

Stockholm Convention – Enforce bans on POPs like dioxins and furans.

Paris Agreement – Align with global climate goals.

Global Plastics Treaty – Prioritize health and sustainability over industry lobbying.

Panatang Luntian: A Green Oath for the Future

BAN Toxics is part of Panatang Luntian, an expansive green agenda aimed at confronting the full spectrum of environmental threats—from deforestation to climate injustice. Aspiring leaders are invited to adopt this oath, committing not only to short-term gains but to long-term planetary survival.

“This is a moment of reckoning,” concluded Lorenzo. “The environment is not a side issue—it is the foundation of life itself. We urge every candidate in 2025 to stand for a Philippines that is safe, sustainable, and free from toxic threats. The future depends on it.”

To learn more about the Panatang Luntian and BAN Toxics’ advocacy, visit: https://bit.ly/m/PanatangLuntian

In 2025, let us not vote for promises. Let us vote for protection, prevention, and the preservation of life.