Across the Philippines, conversations about literacy continue to surface an important concern. Many learners can read words and write sentences but struggle to truly understand what they read. This challenge, known as functional illiteracy, affects not only academic performance but also a learner’s confidence, opportunities, and future.

In response, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), under the mandate of its Chairperson, Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, has encouraged higher education institutions to actively support the literacy initiatives of the Department of Education (DepEd). This directive reinforces stronger collaboration across all levels of education to improve reading comprehension nationwide and address functional illiteracy at its roots. For Holy Child Central Colleges, Inc. (HCCCI), this call resonates deeply.

Lowel D. Pasinag, LPT, MMEM, Principal of the HCCCI Basic Education Department, emphasized the need to return to strong foundations: “It's the functional illiteracy. They can read, they can write, but they cannot comprehend. They cannot comprehend what they read and what they write. So let's start from teaching, proper way of teaching. At the same time, let's start proper way of identifying those core things to teach to the students. Let's go back to the basic. For me, let's go back to the basic. Because able to write, able to read is not just that, because he needs to understand what he's reading.”

Dr. Erwin M Faller, Academic Director of HCCCI, likewise affirmed the institution’s commitment. “Holy Child Central Colleges, Inc. expresses its full support for the Commission on Higher Education’s call for higher education institutions to actively assist the Department of Education in strengthening literacy initiatives nationwide. As an institution committed to academic excellence and community engagement, we recognize that literacy is the cornerstone of educational success and national development. We affirm our readiness to collaborate with local schools and stakeholders through outreach programs, service-learning activities, and academic support initiatives that promote reading and functional literacy. In fact, we initiated the Book Nook Program in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Book Development Board (NBDB), making reading programs more accessible to communities.