AN ACT CREATING THE LITERACY COORDINATING COUNCIL

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 7165

Policy and Purpose
- The State shall give the highest priority to the total eradication of illiteracy. (Section 1)
- It shall encourage and nationalize policies and programs on non-formal, informal, indigenous learning systems, self-learning, independent, and out-of-school study programs that respond to community needs. (Section 1)

Creation of Literacy Coordinating Council
- An inter-agency body called the Literacy Coordinating Council is created, administratively attached to the Department of Education, Culture and Sports. (Section 2)

Composition of the Council
- The Council shall be composed of 8 members: (Section 3)
    - Undersecretary for Non-Formal Education of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports
    - Undersecretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government in charge of Local Governments
    - Director of the Philippine Information Agency
    - President of the Philippine Normal College
    - Representative from the National Economic and Development Authority
    - Representative from the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture of the Senate
    - Representative from the Committee on Education and Culture of the House of Representatives
    - Representative of non-government organizations involved in literacy education, appointed by the President for 3 years

Functions of the Council
- Act as the overall advisory and coordinating body, providing policy and program directions for all literacy endeavors in the country. (Section 4)
- Recommend strategies for the development of a mass movement for the total eradication of illiteracy by the year 2000. (Section 4)
- Formulate measures on the establishment and maintenance of a national data bank and information exchange and dissemination system to support literacy efforts. (Section 4)
- Assist in identifying and adopting successful management schemes of literacy programs, and adopt measures to boost research and development work in literacy. (Section 4)
- Recommend ways and means of raising funds to support literacy programs, projects, and activities. (Section 4)
- Recommend measures on how to organize and strengthen support structures for literacy at the regional and local levels. (Section 4)
- Perform other functions necessary to further the purposes of this Act. (Section 4)

Administrative and Research Staff
- The administrative and research staff shall be detailed from the existing personnel of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports. (Section 5)
- The Council may designate additional staff members as necessary. (Section 5)

Cooperation and Support
- The Council may request the cooperation, assistance, and support of appropriate government agencies and non-governmental organizations involved in literacy. (Section 6)

Appropriation
- The sum of ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00) is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the functions of the Council. (Section 7)
- Thereafter, the sum needed for the operation and maintenance of the Council shall be included in the annual Budget of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports. (Section 7)

Annual Report
- The Council shall submit an annual report to Congress, including policy recommendations that require legislative action towards the total eradication of illiteracy. (Section 7)

Repealing Clause and Separability Clause
- All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, and other issuances inconsistent with this Act are repealed. (Section 8)
- If any section or part of this Act is declared unconstitutional, it shall not invalidate other provisions. (Section 9)

Effectivity
- This Act shall take effect upon its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. (Section 10)