CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Northern Mindanao Region achieved the highest basic literacy rate across the island, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

During the presentation of the functional literacy and mass media survey, PSA-10 Director Janith Aves said the region recorded a functional literacy rate of 90.8 percent for the year 2024.

"This means that nine out of every 10 individuals aged over five years old in Northern Mindanao possess the fundamental abilities to read, write and compute," Aves explained.

Nationally, the region ranked sixth in functional literacy.

Basic literacy rates within the region varied significantly among its provinces and highly urbanized cities.

Cagayan de Oro City notably recorded the highest basic literacy rate at 96.1 percent, surpassing the regional average by 5.3 percentage points.

The City of Iligan followed with a basic literacy rate of 93.4 percent and Misamis Occidental with 91.6 percent.

Meanwhile, Camiguin (90.7 percent), Bukidnon (90.5 percent) and Lanao del Norte (83.3 percent) fell below the regional average.

Dr. John Franklin Dresser, the Department of Education-10 education program supervisor, said Lanao del Norte has the highest number of out-of-school youth and adults in the region, totaling 13,692.

Of this number, approximately 11,096 enrolled in the Alternative Learning System, but only 1,219 graduated or took their required examinations. 

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