Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. showcased the province’s literacy gains at the 2026 W. SyCip National Education Summit held at the Philippine International Convention Center, reporting that 98 percent of Grade 3 learners in 12 pilot local government units (LGUs) are now reading at level.

This milestone represents a dramatic leap from the initial baseline, when just 28 percent—or about three in every ten students—were reading at grade level in English at the start of the program.

Much of this progress is attributed to the Proof of Concept (POC) model, launched in collaboration with the Synergeia Foundation.

The pilot program spanned communities from Barotac Viejo to Iloilo City, uniting diverse LGUs in a shared mission.

LGU-driven literacy reform

Through the POC framework, Iloilo embraced a whole-of-government strategy for literacy, engaging communities in needs assessments and empowering LGUs to lead tailored reading initiatives that complemented national education efforts.

The province guaranteed every teacher and student had the resources they needed, pairing this with robust monitoring from classrooms to the provincial capitol.

Mayors were inspired to champion literacy as a cornerstone of community development.

“We treat education as a core responsibility and function, notwithstanding that it is not a devolved function,” Defensor said during the summit.

‘Bulig Eskwela sang Probinsya‘

The governor also spotlighted Bulig Eskwela sang Probinsya (BES Probins), the province’s flagship reform that aims to bridge literacy gaps, fortify school facilities, and boost student growth through dynamic LGU involvement.

The initiative’s impressive outcomes captured national interest. Senator Bam Aquino, who was present at the summit, voiced plans to invite Defensor to a Senate hearing to discuss bringing the Iloilo model to the entire country.

Iloilo’s story now stands as a powerful example of how committed local leadership, strategic planning, and ongoing monitoring can close learning gaps and achieve real progress in basic education.IMT