CALOOCAN CITY, Philippines — Senator Loren Legarda highlighted the critical importance of grassroots literacy programs during the graduation ceremony of Oplan: Talk Read – Pagpupugay sa Tagumpay ng Pagbasa on February 28, 2026.
Legarda, who serves as Co-Chair of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), drew a direct link between local initiatives like Oplan: Talk Read and national legislative reforms.
- The Literacy Gap: Legarda cited EDCOM II findings showing that many Filipino children struggle to read at grade-appropriate levels, particularly in the foundational years of Kindergarten to Grade 3.
- Legislative Push: To address this, she is championing several key bills, including:
- Early Childhood Care and Development System Act
- Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act
- K to 3 Foundational Learning and Nurturing Care Act (proposed)
The graduation ceremony celebrated learners from 17 partner schools in Caloocan who successfully completed the literacy intervention.
- Collaboration: Legarda praised Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice for his leadership in the program, which involves partnerships between DepEd, the City Government of Caloocan, and DOLE.
- The Tutors: The program utilizes a diverse group of tutors, including retired teachers, SK volunteers, and members of the “MillennialZ” group, showcasing a multi-generational commitment to education.
- The Goal: Oplan: Talk Read focuses on guided reading sessions for early-grade learners who have fallen behind, ensuring they don’t face cumulative difficulties in other subjects as they advance in school.
In her message to the completers, Legarda emphasized that reading is the “door to countless worlds,” enabling children to ask questions, understand their environment, and “dream more.” She urged for the sustained implementation of such data-driven, grassroots interventions to secure the future of the nation’s youth.